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{t:"More Like Christ",p:1,x:-523,y:898,w:113,h:20},
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{t:"7/28/09   1:34:59 PM",p:1,x:621,y:1104,w:92,h:9},
{t:"Sacrifce.",p:2,x:103,y:453,w:116,h:36},
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{t:"PETER R . HOLMES",p:2,x:59,y:901,w:374,h:47},
{t:"TheFASTING",p:2,x:75,y:87,w:366,h:157},
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{t:"Sacrifce. Clarity. Purpose. Joy",p:3,x:179,y:370,w:363,h:36},
{t:"PETER R. HOLMES",p:3,x:193,y:646,w:333,h:47},
{t:"Calling for an army of fasters",p:3,x:242,y:478,w:235,h:24},
{t:"to learn the discipline and power of fasting",p:3,x:183,y:508,w:355,h:24},
{t:"and help advance the cause of Christ.",p:3,x:206,y:538,w:309,h:24},
{t:"Authentic Publishing",p:4,x:105,y:436,w:109,h:16},
{t:"We welcome your questions and comments.",p:4,x:105,y:452,w:226,h:16},
{t:"USA ",p:4,x:105,y:484,w:28,h:16},
{t:"1820 Jet Stream Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921  www.authenticbooks.com",p:4,x:159,y:484,w:414,h:16},
{t:"UK ",p:4,x:105,y:500,w:22,h:16},
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{t:"Logos Bhavan, Medchal Road, Jeedimetla Village, Secunderabad 500 055, A.P .",p:4,x:159,y:532,w:404,h:16},
{t:"Te Fasting Journey",p:4,x:105,y:628,w:102,h:16},
{t:"ISBN-13: 978-1-60657-018-0",p:4,x:105,y:644,w:157,h:16},
{t:"Copyright © 2009 by Peter R. Holmes",p:4,x:105,y:676,w:200,h:16},
{t:"11 10 09 / 6 5 4 3 2 1",p:4,x:105,y:708,w:114,h:16},
{t:"Published in 2009 by Authentic",p:4,x:105,y:740,w:164,h:16},
{t:"All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in ",p:4,x:105,y:756,w:490,h:16},
{t:"writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or ",p:4,x:105,y:772,w:493,h:16},
{t:"reviews. ",p:4,x:105,y:788,w:43,h:16},
{t:"All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. ",p:4,x:105,y:820,w:457,h:16},
{t:"Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. ",p:4,x:105,y:836,w:506,h:16},
{t:"All rights reserved.",p:4,x:105,y:852,w:95,h:16},
{t:"Cover design: Dan Jamison",p:4,x:105,y:884,w:141,h:16},
{t:"Interior design: projectluz.com",p:4,x:105,y:900,w:158,h:16},
{t:"Editorial team: Andy Sloan, Kay Larson, Erika Bremer",p:4,x:105,y:916,w:280,h:16},
{t:"Printed in the United States of America",p:4,x:105,y:948,w:203,h:16},
{t:"DEDICATION",p:5,x:286,y:196,w:148,h:52},
{t:"To all those seeking help ",p:5,x:234,y:295,w:258,h:28},
{t:"and greater Christ-likeness:",p:5,x:221,y:335,w:278,h:28},
{t:"may the fasting journey be for you  ",p:5,x:182,y:375,w:369,h:28},
{t:"a highway to Christ and  ",p:5,x:237,y:415,w:261,h:28},
{t:"greater wholeness.",p:5,x:264,y:455,w:193,h:28},
{t:"HEALTH WARNING/DISCLAIMER",p:5,x:167,y:660,w:385,h:52},
{t:"Consult your doctor before beginning fasting, or embarking on ",p:5,x:135,y:752,w:484,h:23},
{t:"any other dietary program. Te author, publishers, distributors, their ",p:5,x:105,y:780,w:514,h:23},
{t:"agents, assigns, and afliates of this book cannot be held responsible ",p:5,x:105,y:807,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and disclaim any liability in connection with the program and advice ",p:5,x:105,y:835,w:514,h:23},
{t:"contained in this book.",p:5,x:105,y:862,w:168,h:23},
{t:"CONTENTS",p:6,x:105,y:107,w:62,h:24},
{t:"Acknowledgments ",p:6,x:105,y:160,w:134,h:23},
{t:"ix",p:6,x:603,y:160,w:12,h:23},
{t:"Foreword ",p:6,x:105,y:187,w:72,h:23},
{t:"xi",p:6,x:603,y:187,w:12,h:23},
{t:"Introduction ",p:6,x:105,y:213,w:95,h:23},
{t:"xiii",p:6,x:593,y:213,w:22,h:23},
{t:"Part 1: Introducing Fasting ",p:6,x:105,y:255,w:207,h:22},
{t:"1. My Fasting Journey ",p:6,x:105,y:297,w:161,h:23},
{t:"1",p:6,x:606,y:297,w:9,h:23},
{t:"2. Te Purpose of Fasting ",p:6,x:105,y:323,w:184,h:23},
{t:"11",p:6,x:597,y:323,w:18,h:23},
{t:"3. Te Biblical Background of Fasting  ",p:6,x:105,y:350,w:276,h:23},
{t:"25",p:6,x:597,y:350,w:18,h:23},
{t:"4. Areas of Abstinence ",p:6,x:105,y:377,w:161,h:23},
{t:"41",p:6,x:597,y:377,w:18,h:23},
{t:"5. Various Types of Fasts ",p:6,x:105,y:403,w:177,h:23},
{t:"51",p:6,x:597,y:403,w:18,h:23},
{t:"6. Fasting to the Lord ",p:6,x:105,y:430,w:158,h:23},
{t:"59",p:6,x:597,y:430,w:18,h:23},
{t:"Part 2: Te Practice of Fasting ",p:6,x:105,y:472,w:228,h:22},
{t:"7. Beginning Your Fasting Journey ",p:6,x:105,y:513,w:247,h:23},
{t:"67",p:6,x:597,y:513,w:18,h:23},
{t:"8. Getting Ready ",p:6,x:105,y:540,w:125,h:23},
{t:"75",p:6,x:597,y:540,w:18,h:23},
{t:"9. During Your Fast ",p:6,x:105,y:567,w:144,h:23},
{t:"85",p:6,x:597,y:567,w:18,h:23},
{t:"10. Te Health Benefts of Fasting ",p:6,x:105,y:593,w:246,h:23},
{t:"97",p:6,x:597,y:593,w:18,h:23},
{t:"Part 3: Fasting from Food ",p:6,x:105,y:635,w:196,h:22},
{t:"11. Considering a Water-only Fast ",p:6,x:105,y:677,w:247,h:23},
{t:"111",p:6,x:588,y:677,w:27,h:23},
{t:"12. Te Unique Benefts of a Water-only Fast ",p:6,x:105,y:703,w:324,h:23},
{t:"123",p:6,x:588,y:703,w:27,h:23},
{t:"13. Te Physical Impact of an Extended Water-only Fast ",p:6,x:105,y:730,w:403,h:23},
{t:"133",p:6,x:588,y:730,w:27,h:23},
{t:"14. Surviving a Water-only Fast ",p:6,x:105,y:757,w:227,h:23},
{t:"143",p:6,x:588,y:757,w:27,h:23},
{t:"15. Te Emotional Fall-out ",p:6,x:105,y:783,w:198,h:23},
{t:"153",p:6,x:588,y:783,w:27,h:23},
{t:"16. How to break a Water-only Fast ",p:6,x:105,y:810,w:257,h:23},
{t:"167",p:6,x:588,y:810,w:27,h:23},
{t:"Conclusion ",p:6,x:105,y:852,w:90,h:22},
{t:"Celebrating Victories: Te Fruit of Fasting ",p:6,x:105,y:893,w:303,h:23},
{t:"179",p:6,x:588,y:893,w:27,h:23},
{t:"Appendix: Te Early Church ’s Attitude toward Fasting ",p:6,x:105,y:920,w:388,h:23},
{t:"195",p:6,x:588,y:920,w:27,h:23},
{t:"Bibliography ",p:6,x:105,y:947,w:95,h:23},
{t:"201",p:6,x:588,y:947,w:27,h:23},
{t:"ACKNOWLEDGMENTS",p:7,x:105,y:421,w:249,h:52},
{t:"Because my fasting journey spans over four decades, a great number ",p:7,x:135,y:551,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of people deserve to be acknowledged and thanked. Without my wife, ",p:7,x:105,y:579,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Mary, who has written a section in this book refecting on her experi-",p:7,x:105,y:606,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ences living with someone who undertakes regular extended fasts, neither ",p:7,x:105,y:634,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this book nor my fasting journey would have been possible. Despite ",p:7,x:105,y:661,w:514,h:23},
{t:"all my eccentricities, she has stood with me over three-plus decades of ",p:7,x:105,y:689,w:514,h:23},
{t:"marriage—a difcult and challenging task on numerous occasions! I am ",p:7,x:105,y:716,w:514,h:23},
{t:"eternally grateful to Mary for her love and commitment to me.",p:7,x:105,y:744,w:443,h:23},
{t:"I would also like to thank the many people whom the Lord has led ",p:7,x:135,y:771,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to me over the years. Some have been in great need, while others simply ",p:7,x:105,y:799,w:514,h:23},
{t:"wanted to know Christ better. Tese people have been my teachers and ",p:7,x:105,y:826,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the main reason I turned to extended fasting. More than just appoint-",p:7,x:105,y:854,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ments in my datebook the last few decades, their impact upon me has ",p:7,x:105,y:881,w:514,h:23},
{t:"been enormous. As they shared their need I sought to help them in a lay ",p:7,x:105,y:909,w:514,h:23},
{t:"pastoral setting. ",p:7,x:105,y:936,w:115,h:23},
{t:"ix",p:7,x:605,y:1010,w:10,h:20},
{t:"x",p:8,x:105,y:1010,w:6,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:8,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Some of those who came to me had intractable problems beyond ",p:8,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"my experience. Some had undergone years of traditional and alternative ",p:8,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"medical treatment, professional counseling, and/or pastoral care without ",p:8,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"receiving the level of wholeness they were seeking. I would turn to the ",p:8,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Lord and fast for the way forward, something very few of them were able ",p:8,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to do for themselves. At such times, deep in a fast, touching their pain ",p:8,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in my own aching body—in some ways entering the death of Christ—I ",p:8,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"would most of the time fnd answers enough to move forward with them. ",p:8,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I thank these individuals for the privilege of being able to serve them ",p:8,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"while also learning from them. ",p:8,x:105,y:364,w:221,h:23},
{t:"I must also thank Susan Williams, my colleague, who carefully read ",p:8,x:135,y:392,w:484,h:23},
{t:"through the draft and made a number of suggestions, based on her own ",p:8,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting journey as well as her experiences of working with me while I have ",p:8,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"been fasting. ",p:8,x:105,y:474,w:93,h:23},
{t:"Tanks must also go to physician Brian McDonogh, general prac-",p:8,x:135,y:502,w:480,h:23},
{t:"titioner and nutritionist, for his invaluable input on the health science ",p:8,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"aspects of fasting.",p:8,x:105,y:557,w:123,h:23},
{t:"Finally, I want to thank and praise Christ my Lord for enduring with ",p:8,x:135,y:584,w:484,h:23},
{t:"me all these years and never faltering in His faithfulness to my earnestness. ",p:8,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"xi",p:9,x:605,y:1010,w:10,h:20},
{t:"FOREWORD",p:9,x:105,y:422,w:134,h:52},
{t:"Tis thorough and relevant treatment of the spiritual discipline of ",p:9,x:135,y:552,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fasting by Peter Holmes is a necessary addition to any serious pastoral ",p:9,x:105,y:579,w:514,h:23},
{t:"library. Dealing with a biblical practice that is often misunderstood and ",p:9,x:105,y:607,w:514,h:23},
{t:"tends to be either ignored or abused, Holmes brings a fresh and profound ",p:9,x:105,y:634,w:514,h:23},
{t:"voice of purpose and relevance to the issue of fasting. He deals carefully ",p:9,x:105,y:662,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with the biblical foundations for the practice, and addresses the theo-",p:9,x:105,y:689,w:509,h:23},
{t:"logical purpose and practical function of fasting for the church and the ",p:9,x:105,y:717,w:514,h:23},
{t:"individual Christian. His survey of the role of Greek philosophical dual-",p:9,x:105,y:744,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ism and its efects upon Western theology and culture, such as asceticism, ",p:9,x:105,y:772,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the dualism of body and spirit, and the tendency to view spirituality in a ",p:9,x:105,y:799,w:514,h:23},
{t:"penitential way provides a contrast to a biblical view of fasting as a means ",p:9,x:105,y:827,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of deepening our relationship with God through Christ. ",p:9,x:105,y:854,w:400,h:23},
{t:"Holmes ’s presentation of fasting as participation in the suferings ",p:9,x:135,y:882,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of Christ and in intercession for others is a refreshing change from ",p:9,x:105,y:909,w:514,h:23},
{t:"some of the traditional penitential, meritorious, and works-oriented ",p:9,x:105,y:937,w:514,h:23},
{t:"xii",p:10,x:105,y:1010,w:14,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:10,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"interpretations of the discipline. He points out that its purpose is to ",p:10,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"express one’s identifcation with the suferings of Christ and to become ",p:10,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"formed more fully into his image, both as persons and as a community ",p:10,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of Christ. In his words:",p:10,x:105,y:199,w:164,h:23},
{t:"We surrender to the humiliation of fasting to gain more of the pres-",p:10,x:135,y:227,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ence and purposes of the Kingdom of God in our lives and in the lives ",p:10,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of those for whom we may be fasting. . . . Te essence of the Atonement ",p:10,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is the giving of Christ’s life to all those who will accept His sacrifce. It ",p:10,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is Christ’s death for our life, an act of voluntary love on His part that we ",p:10,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"can now appropriate for ourselves. In the same way that we accept this ",p:10,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sacrifce of Christ we also accept the discipline of fasting. We surrender ",p:10,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to it, sufering for a season and thereby choosing to associate with Christ ",p:10,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in His surrendered sacrifce.",p:10,x:105,y:447,w:196,h:23},
{t:"Perhaps his most signifcant contribution to pastoral ministry is his ",p:10,x:135,y:474,w:484,h:23},
{t:"portrayal of the varieties of fasting, key practical principles for the spir-",p:10,x:105,y:502,w:509,h:23},
{t:"itual direction of fasting, and the physical implications of the discipline. ",p:10,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Growing out of the physical experiences of a lifetime of participating ",p:10,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in this discipline, his very perceptive and practical insights on how to ",p:10,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"maintain one’s health during extended fasts and the health benefts of ",p:10,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting are invaluable. As he draws from his own study and experiences, ",p:10,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Holmes presents us with a clear, biblical, experiential guide to this spir-",p:10,x:105,y:667,w:509,h:23},
{t:"itual discipline that is the most valuable pastoral treatment of fasting ",p:10,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"available to the church and individual Christian today.",p:10,x:105,y:722,w:384,h:23},
{t:"R. Larry Shelton, T.D.",p:10,x:105,y:777,w:169,h:23},
{t:"Richard B. Parker Professor of Wesleyan Teology",p:10,x:105,y:804,w:353,h:23},
{t:"George Fox Evangelical Seminary",p:10,x:105,y:832,w:236,h:23},
{t:"Portland, OR",p:10,x:105,y:859,w:96,h:23},
{t:"Author, Cross and Covenant",p:10,x:105,y:887,w:193,h:23},
{t:"xiii",p:11,x:597,y:1010,w:18,h:20},
{t:"INTRODUCTION",p:11,x:105,y:422,w:181,h:52},
{t:"Several years ago I organized the notes I had taken while fasting to ",p:11,x:135,y:552,w:484,h:23},
{t:"make them available for people I knew who were interested in pursuing ",p:11,x:105,y:579,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting as a personal or group spiritual discipline.  I called the compila-",p:11,x:105,y:607,w:509,h:23},
{t:"I called the compila-",p:11,x:468,y:607,w:147,h:23},
{t:"tion “Fasting: My Personal Journey.” For this is what fasting has been for ",p:11,x:105,y:634,w:514,h:23},
{t:"me—a personal journey. But I have come to realize that what the Lord ",p:11,x:105,y:662,w:514,h:23},
{t:"has taught me through my personal journey might also be helpful for a ",p:11,x:105,y:689,w:514,h:23},
{t:"broader range of readers. So this book is a blend of my personal experi-",p:11,x:105,y:717,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ence and some recommendations for those who may want to include the ",p:11,x:105,y:744,w:514,h:23},
{t:"spiritual discipline of fasting in their relationship with the Lord and in ",p:11,x:105,y:772,w:514,h:23},
{t:"their relationships with other believers.",p:11,x:105,y:799,w:274,h:23},
{t:"As the subtitle suggests, this journey of learning to fast includes ",p:11,x:135,y:827,w:484,h:23},
{t:"numerous aspects. Yes, it is a sacrifce, and most of the time it brings ",p:11,x:105,y:854,w:514,h:23},
{t:"profound clarity. But it must have a purpose, and it will bring joy in its ",p:11,x:105,y:882,w:514,h:23},
{t:"wake. For what you fast for in the Lord will bear fruit and allow you to ",p:11,x:105,y:909,w:514,h:23},
{t:"xiv",p:12,x:105,y:1010,w:16,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:12,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"move forward in your personal journey, as well as bless those around you. ",p:12,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Fasting is one of the main keys to Christ-like spiritual maturity. ",p:12,x:105,y:144,w:452,h:23},
{t:"My lifetime has been punctuated by periods of fasting, both learning ",p:12,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"and practicing the discipline. During these seasons I have fasted for a ",p:12,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"variety of specifc purposes, but four key ones have been my main mo-",p:12,x:105,y:227,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tivation. First, I wanted to know the Lord more intimately; second, I ",p:12,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"found myself needing understanding to help sick and damaged people; ",p:12,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"third, I needed to know how to apply this understanding; and fourth, I ",p:12,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"needed monetary provision in order to be available to them. Te second ",p:12,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and third purposes have been my righteous obsession since the 1960s, ",p:12,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"as I have had a lifetime interest in why people cannot fnd fulfllment in ",p:12,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Christ. Te journey of learning how to fast—especially how to prepare ",p:12,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"properly, what to expect, and what to avoid—now forms the contents of ",p:12,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this book. ",p:12,x:105,y:474,w:75,h:23},
{t:"I realize that I am not typical of people who want to learn to fast. ",p:12,x:135,y:502,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Most of my life I have lived by faith, with irregular sources of income. ",p:12,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"So at various points I have had to fast for fnancial provision. I have also ",p:12,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"been involved in running businesses to generate funds for furthering the ",p:12,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Kingdom of God and planting churches. Tis also required fasting. But ",p:12,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the most common form of fasting has been to gain knowledge for the ",p:12,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"people who came to me wanting to fnd emotional healing from the Lord ",p:12,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and deeper intimacy in their relationship with Him.",p:12,x:105,y:694,w:367,h:23},
{t:"Te growing body of knowledge I have gained over the years has ",p:12,x:135,y:722,w:484,h:23},
{t:"become a kind of intellectual “wholeness database” for helping others. I ",p:12,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have focused on gaining a better understanding of how human nature is ",p:12,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"constructed—and more importantly, some of the ways we get damaged ",p:12,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and sick in the frst place. By the 1980s, through study, an inquisitive ",p:12,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"nature, and knowledge that had come, among other ways, through fast-",p:12,x:105,y:859,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing, I was able to help more and more people who came to me. ",p:12,x:105,y:887,w:449,h:23},
{t:"Tese people fell into two main categories: those seeking deeper inti-",p:12,x:135,y:914,w:480,h:23},
{t:"macy with Christ and those who were ill—either physically, emotionally, ",p:12,x:105,y:942,w:514,h:23},
{t:"xv",p:13,x:603,y:1010,w:12,h:20},
{t:"INTRODUCTION",p:13,x:543,y:59,w:72,h:20},
{t:"or mentally. If they were beyond my scope at the time, they often became ",p:13,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the subject of a fast or, where appropriate, were referred to professional ",p:13,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"medical care. After years of treatment, some had already fallen out of the ",p:13,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"health care system. Sometimes I would fast for several individuals at a ",p:13,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"time. But they were all my teachers; and I was the student, as the Lord ",p:13,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"mentored me. ",p:13,x:105,y:254,w:103,h:23},
{t:"Susan was one of those who came to me in great need.1 I fasted for ",p:13,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"her often when it was clear we simply did not have the knowledge from ",p:13,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the Lord for the next step of her healing. She also fasted from time to ",p:13,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"time, sometimes to see a breakthrough in her own discipleship journey ",p:13,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and sometimes for others and the Lord’s wider work. So it is ftting that ",p:13,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"she has joined me in contributing to this manuscript.",p:13,x:105,y:419,w:376,h:23},
{t:"Tis journey of fasting has led me into a realm of understanding that ",p:13,x:135,y:447,w:484,h:23},
{t:"was quite new to me. I began to see human nature having a spiritual-",p:13,x:105,y:474,w:509,h:23},
{t:"emotional aspect, just as Scripture portrays it. But I also began to see that ",p:13,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"our spiritual-emotional nature is where much human damage seems to ",p:13,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"reside. Tis helped me see the importance of giving to the Lord our toxic ",p:13,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"emotions that may have built up from the past. ",p:13,x:105,y:584,w:338,h:23},
{t:"I also began to see how God’s perspective on human sin and baggage ",p:13,x:135,y:612,w:484,h:23},
{t:"was essential for those needing to unravel the damage of their pasts. I ",p:13,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"don ’t remember a time when the Lord did not give the necessary knowl-",p:13,x:105,y:667,w:509,h:23},
{t:"edge either to me, to the person I was trying to help, or to someone ",p:13,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"else. Te only caveat to this is that the individual seeking help also had ",p:13,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to demonstrate to the Lord that he or she was personally worthy of the ",p:13,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Lord intervening through our fasting. Having said that, however, such ",p:13,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"knowledge and its healing didn ’t always occur in the time frame or man-",p:13,x:105,y:804,w:509,h:23},
{t:"1 ",p:13,x:105,y:905,w:12,h:21},
{t:" Susan has written about her own journey in Letting God Heal: From ",p:13,x:126,y:905,w:442,h:21},
{t:"Emotional Illness to Wholeness, S. B. Williams and P. R. Holmes (Bletchley, UK: ",p:13,x:105,y:925,w:510,h:21},
{t:"Authentic Media, 2004).",p:13,x:105,y:945,w:159,h:21},
{t:"xvi",p:14,x:105,y:1010,w:16,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:14,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"ner we were asking or expecting! Some of my other books document ",p:14,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"these journeys in more detail.2",p:14,x:105,y:144,w:213,h:23},
{t:"As I thought about writing this book I also began to realize that the ",p:14,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"value of my experience of fasting has been much wider than my own ",p:14,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"personal journey or my goals at the time. Terefore the principles that I ",p:14,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"am outlining may also be helpful in any setting, for any believer or group, ",p:14,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and with any Christ-centered goal. ",p:14,x:105,y:282,w:249,h:23},
{t:"For me fasting has been both a highway to the Lord and a treasure-",p:14,x:135,y:309,w:480,h:23},
{t:"trove of ideas of how the Lord sees things and how we need to learn ",p:14,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"while earnestly at His feet. Having based the book on my own personal ",p:14,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"experience, my intent is to broaden it into a guide for others to learn how ",p:14,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to fast. It is my prayer that this will help those of you who are seeking the ",p:14,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Lord and/or fasting for whatever you might feel led to ask from the Lord. ",p:14,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Although fasting does not succeed if it is, in reality, an ego trip, I have ",p:14,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"found that there is much God can give us as we practice this discipline.",p:14,x:105,y:502,w:501,h:23},
{t:"Te Lord has taken me on a journey; and through my intercessory ",p:14,x:135,y:529,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fasting others, as well as myself, have been helped. In rewriting this mate-",p:14,x:105,y:557,w:509,h:23},
{t:"rial for a much wider readership I began to dream about what could ",p:14,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"happen if others were to pursue the same journey. So you will fnd woven ",p:14,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"into this book a clarion call for an army to rise up in every part of the ",p:14,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"world to help prepare the way for what I and others have called “the ",p:14,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"generation of the righteous”—the generation that will stand frm and ",p:14,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fnally fulfll the Great Commission, thereby helping to hasten the return ",p:14,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"2 ",p:14,x:105,y:805,w:12,h:21},
{t:" Some of the understanding I have gained is illustrated in the principles ",p:14,x:126,y:805,w:462,h:21},
{t:"documented in the testimonies of people I have helped. Changed Lives: Ex-",p:14,x:105,y:825,w:480,h:21},
{t:"traordinary Stories of Ordinary People, P. R. Holmes and S. B. Williams (Milton ",p:14,x:105,y:845,w:509,h:21},
{t:"Keynes, UK: Authentic, 2005), recounts twelve stories of individuals from our ",p:14,x:105,y:865,w:506,h:21},
{t:"church and ministry. I have explored these issues more academically in my ",p:14,x:105,y:885,w:480,h:21},
{t:"book Becoming More Human: Exploring the Interface of Spirituality, Discipleship ",p:14,x:105,y:905,w:506,h:21},
{t:"and Terapeutic Faith Community (Bletchley, Milton Keynes, UK: Paternoster, ",p:14,x:105,y:925,w:504,h:21},
{t:"2005).",p:14,x:105,y:945,w:42,h:21},
{t:"xvii",p:15,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"INTRODUCTION",p:15,x:543,y:59,w:72,h:20},
{t:"of Christ (Rev. 19:6–8) —when our wonderful Master and Friend will be ",p:15,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"reunited with both His creation and His Bride.",p:15,x:105,y:144,w:332,h:23},
{t:"Maranatha! ",p:15,x:135,y:199,w:85,h:23},
{t:"Peter R. Holmes",p:15,x:135,y:227,w:116,h:23},
{t:"(February 2009)   ",p:15,x:135,y:254,w:129,h:23},
{t:"Part 1",p:16,x:322,y:242,w:77,h:46},
{t:"INTRODUCING FASTING",p:16,x:116,y:474,w:488,h:83},
{t:"In this part of the book I am going to ",p:16,x:168,y:615,w:390,h:28},
{t:"introduce you to the idea of fasting ",p:16,x:178,y:655,w:371,h:28},
{t:"to the Lord, outlining some biblical ",p:16,x:179,y:695,w:369,h:28},
{t:"foundations together with aspects of my ",p:16,x:152,y:735,w:424,h:28},
{t:"own personal fasting journey. ",p:16,x:209,y:775,w:310,h:28},
{t:"1",p:17,x:609,y:1010,w:6,h:20},
{t:"1.",p:17,x:566,y:241,w:26,h:55},
{t:"MY FASTING JOURNEY ",p:17,x:105,y:422,w:279,h:52},
{t:"Te longest water-only fast I have done was thirty-nine days when I ",p:17,x:135,y:552,w:484,h:23},
{t:"was in my early twenties. It was an “earnestness to know the Lord” kind ",p:17,x:105,y:579,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of fast, as well as a bit of an ego trip. But after thirty-nine days I was so ill ",p:17,x:105,y:607,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that I had to break the fast. God clearly stood in my path, preventing my ",p:17,x:105,y:634,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ego from having the satisfaction of going forty days (like Jesus!). Many ",p:17,x:105,y:662,w:514,h:23},
{t:"similar extended fasts have followed over the last forty-plus years, most ",p:17,x:105,y:689,w:514,h:23},
{t:"done with far more grace and wisdom than that frst extended fast. Let ",p:17,x:105,y:717,w:514,h:23},
{t:"me give you some additional background.",p:17,x:105,y:744,w:295,h:23},
{t:"When I was fourteen, in 1961, I remember my spiritual mother, ",p:17,x:135,y:772,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Mrs. Cooper, telling me that she was doing a twenty-four-hour fast. I ",p:17,x:105,y:799,w:514,h:23},
{t:"can ’t remember now why she was doing this, but I know she fasted on ",p:17,x:105,y:827,w:514,h:23},
{t:"occasion. We talked about her fast while I was frying some eggs to put on ",p:17,x:105,y:854,w:514,h:23},
{t:"my beans on toast, a regular favorite of mine, just before the Bible study ",p:17,x:105,y:882,w:514,h:23},
{t:"at their home on Kohat Road, Wimbledon, UK. ",p:17,x:105,y:909,w:346,h:23},
{t:"2",p:18,x:105,y:1010,w:6,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:18,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"I did the fast with her on a school day, and although I cannot recall ",p:18,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"any beneft at the time I remember taking to the idea and beginning to ",p:18,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast myself on a regular basis after this. Over the next few years I read ",p:18,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"anything I could fnd in the Bible about fasting, as well as any Christian ",p:18,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"books I could aford or borrow.",p:18,x:105,y:227,w:221,h:23},
{t:"I began fasting because I wanted to fast. Tere was a certain appeal ",p:18,x:135,y:254,w:484,h:23},
{t:"in it—not to punish my body or to be masochistic, but because I wanted ",p:18,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to know more about the Lord, to draw closer to Him. I had no specifc ",p:18,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"purpose other than that. I was simply doing what Mrs. Cooper had done, ",p:18,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and fnding out for myself what it was like. ",p:18,x:105,y:364,w:308,h:23},
{t:"I found fasting to be both easy and extremely hard. It was easy in ",p:18,x:135,y:392,w:484,h:23},
{t:"that I found the discipline of not eating a simple decision—I just stopped ",p:18,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"eating. I was not that tempted by food after that. Even in those early days ",p:18,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I felt good about completing a fast. But fasting was also hard in that I ",p:18,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"had a body that enjoyed food, so it would protest even before I stopped ",p:18,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"eating. We do not recognize until we abstain from food that our bodies ",p:18,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have a presumption about always getting what they want. ",p:18,x:105,y:557,w:410,h:23},
{t:"Te central purpose in this early fasting journey was my desire to ",p:18,x:135,y:584,w:484,h:23},
{t:"know Christ better. But I also discovered fasting to be a way of “turning ",p:18,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"up the volume” with both the Lord and the Enemy. I realized that fasting ",p:18,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"was a last resort. It gave me an additional weapon in the arsenal of being ",p:18,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"able to engage myself in spiritual reality, while also discovering I could ",p:18,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"bring about change in both the spiritual and physical worlds. ",p:18,x:105,y:722,w:435,h:23},
{t:"In 1968, at the age of twenty-one, I entered Moorlands Bible College. ",p:18,x:135,y:749,w:484,h:23},
{t:"A year later I transferred to London Bible College (now London School ",p:18,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of Teology) in the West End of London. By this time I was doing a ",p:18,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"twenty-four-hour water-only fast every Friday. Te rest of the week I ate ",p:18,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"only two meals a day: breakfast and an evening meal. At lunchtime I ate ",p:18,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a piece of fruit and did my Canadian Air Force daily ftness plan. I had ",p:18,x:105,y:887,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a favorite grocer on Marylebone High Street that kept me well supplied. ",p:18,x:105,y:914,w:513,h:23},
{t:"3",p:19,x:609,y:1010,w:6,h:20},
{t:"MY FASTING JOURNEY",p:19,x:507,y:59,w:108,h:20},
{t:"I often accompanied this routine with an hour of prayer on my knees ",p:19,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"at my bedside in a room I shared with two roommates before I slept each ",p:19,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"night. I suppose it was inevitable that other students labeled me “Praying ",p:19,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Peter.” Tis discipline of fasting and intercession was an important part ",p:19,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of my schooling, a way of learning to let God talk to me. ",p:19,x:105,y:227,w:405,h:23},
{t:"After graduating from Bible college I continued to do modest fasts ",p:19,x:135,y:254,w:484,h:23},
{t:"on a regular basis while living in the Middle East or Europe in the ",p:19,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"early 1970s. I was a program director on the ship Logos with Operation ",p:19,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Mobilisation (OM), a Christian mission. Ten I left my position on ",p:19,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Logos but remained with OM in the Middle East and Asia. In 1975 I ",p:19,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"took the job of administrator of a Christian trust in the UK. Trough this ",p:19,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"privately endowed trust I helped start a variety of evangelistic initiatives, ",p:19,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"including the Greenbelt Festival and the musical “Lonesome Stone.” Tis ",p:19,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"was followed by helping to launch Care Trust and later Care Campaigns. ",p:19,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"It was during this time that I began to see a shift in the reasons for ",p:19,x:135,y:502,w:484,h:23},
{t:"my fasting. As a teenager my needs were simple and met rather easily, and ",p:19,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I had not yet been introduced to our need to change the world! But while ",p:19,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I was with OM and in my later work I began to use fasting as an extreme ",p:19,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"form of intercession. It became that extra, heavy gun I brought out of the ",p:19,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"armory when I needed it. On my spiritual “volume control,” it served as ",p:19,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the megaphone or bullhorn that expressed my passion.",p:19,x:105,y:667,w:385,h:23},
{t:"I now would describe this shift as moving from a “fast to the Lord,” ",p:19,x:135,y:694,w:484,h:23},
{t:"where I was focused on my relationship with Him, to “fasting for needs.” ",p:19,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I had already prayed for a matter and not been able to see a breakthrough; ",p:19,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"so now, through my fasting, I brought out the big guns. Tis type of ",p:19,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast allowed me to declare in life-and-death terms how serious I really ",p:19,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"was about a particular matter. God, I am putting my life on the line for ",p:19,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this—please hear me! He always did, one way or another. ",p:19,x:105,y:859,w:400,h:23},
{t:"While working my jobs I continued skipping lunch, unless I had a ",p:19,x:135,y:887,w:484,h:23},
{t:"business lunch. I also began exploring the idea of more extended fasts. I ",p:19,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"was still single at the time. I did no preparation; I simply stopped eating. ",p:19,x:105,y:942,w:514,h:23},
{t:"4",p:20,x:105,y:1010,w:6,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:20,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"I can remember very little about those days apart from the sparse notes ",p:20,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I kept. I know I sufered the withdrawal symptoms of cafeine and other ",p:20,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"things that were part of my regular diet. And when breaking a fast I would ",p:20,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"begin just normal eating. Some of these were “absolute fasts” (abstention ",p:20,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"even from water) and lasted for several days. Looking back, I now cringe ",p:20,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"at my irresponsibility toward my young body. I will attempt to outline in ",p:20,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this book how you should do it, not how I did it!",p:20,x:105,y:282,w:344,h:23},
{t:"Tis fasting routine, one way or another, has continued as part of my ",p:20,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"life ever since. And although my prayer time moved to the early morning, ",p:20,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the other routines remained in place throughout seasons of fasting. Even ",p:20,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"today missing a meal is not something I notice, like most people seem ",p:20,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to, as anyone traveling with me will testify. My wife, Mary, has learned ",p:20,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"over many years of traveling with me that she needs to take provisions, as ",p:20,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I will not think of it. ",p:20,x:105,y:474,w:151,h:23},
{t:"Te only exception to these routines occurred while I was doing my ",p:20,x:135,y:502,w:484,h:23},
{t:"PhD, when its academic disciplines and my sedentary lifestyle (hours on ",p:20,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"my backside) caused me to expand into a ball of lard—which I began ",p:20,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"losing, with a bit of help, after I had given birth to my degree!",p:20,x:105,y:584,w:436,h:23},
{t:"Since the early 1980s I have done at least one extended fast most ",p:20,x:135,y:612,w:484,h:23},
{t:"years, and some years more than one. Most of these were water-only fasts ",p:20,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"lasting from two to fve weeks. A typical length was between fourteen and ",p:20,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"twenty-one days. I have also done four fasts of over thirty days. Since the ",p:20,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"early 1970s I have kept notes while fasting. At the time these notes were ",p:20,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"only for my beneft, a record of my journey and what I had learned. But ",p:20,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"now they have become a prompt for this book.",p:20,x:105,y:777,w:331,h:23},
{t:"Fasting in Regard to Personal Issues",p:20,x:183,y:831,w:353,h:26},
{t:"I have fasted for several reasons. Some of my fasts have been moti-",p:20,x:135,y:876,w:480,h:23},
{t:"vated by more than one reason. But the main idea has been the discipline ",p:20,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of my saying to the Lord that I wanted to know Him better. I had to ",p:20,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"5",p:21,x:609,y:1010,w:6,h:20},
{t:"MY FASTING JOURNEY",p:21,x:507,y:59,w:108,h:20},
{t:"fnd ways of saying this and of learning how to clear the debris. I always ",p:21,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"believed I could do something personally toward this goal. I was never ",p:21,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"passive. I could not accept that it was all God’s responsibility and work to ",p:21,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"come in intimacy to me. ",p:21,x:105,y:199,w:177,h:23},
{t:"Initially I fasted because I knew I had things wrong with me. After ",p:21,x:135,y:227,w:484,h:23},
{t:"talking with lots of people, I still couldn ’t fnd a way of dealing with ",p:21,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"these things. Numerous individuals helped me defne the problems more ",p:21,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"precisely, but no one was able to give me a step-by-step way of sorting ",p:21,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the issues. ",p:21,x:105,y:337,w:75,h:23},
{t:"Here is an example: I had an unrighteous hate for my father. When I ",p:21,x:135,y:364,w:484,h:23},
{t:"was a child he had been physically and verbally abusive to me on numer-",p:21,x:105,y:392,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ous occasions. At age fourteen I had to leave home to stop these beatings. ",p:21,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Both my pastor and the social services had gotten involved because I ",p:21,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ended up at Nelson Hospital in Merton Park with a cut in my head that ",p:21,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"needed stitches. I hated my father deeply, but I knew this was wrong. ",p:21,x:105,y:502,w:492,h:23},
{t:"During a fast while living in Singapore in my early twenties, the ",p:21,x:135,y:529,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Lord said to me, You treat me just like your father. I was shocked and ",p:21,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"devastated. But it was so obvious and so very true; I did hate my father. ",p:21,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"No wonder I had a hard time with Father God telling me what to do. So ",p:21,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with the help of a friend I began to engage the pain. I gave the trauma of ",p:21,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the physical abuse to the Lord, together with its anger and rage. Tis was ",p:21,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"accompanied by my fasting. ",p:21,x:105,y:694,w:202,h:23},
{t:"A few weeks later my travel itinerary brought me through London, ",p:21,x:135,y:722,w:484,h:23},
{t:"and Dad ofered to pick me up at the airport so I could spend a weekend ",p:21,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"at home. After passing through customs and immigration I saw my father, ",p:21,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"standing there smiling at me. I gave him a hug, then moved of with him ",p:21,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"toward his Triumph Herald in the parking lot. As we walked together I ",p:21,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"remember looking at him and realizing that he was a complete stranger to ",p:21,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"me emotionally. I also realized that this was the frst time in my life that ",p:21,x:105,y:887,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I did not want to kill him. Te anger—the rage, hate, and revenge—was ",p:21,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"6",p:22,x:105,y:1010,w:6,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:22,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"gone. I was free! I could now get on with my life. I could begin to learn ",p:22,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what fathering was from Father God. Fasting worked! ",p:22,x:105,y:144,w:383,h:23},
{t:"By the time I was in my early twenties I had learned that fasting was ",p:22,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"a means of gaining knowledge from the Lord. It was a way of prioritizing ",p:22,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a need that God would then meet. It was my way of saying to the Lord ",p:22,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that I was serious about this issue and desperately needed His help. I ",p:22,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"needed to see the matter from His perspective, to know some of what ",p:22,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"He saw and what He might do. So the second reason for my fasting was ",p:22,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for knowledge. And the insights the Lord gave me for others frequently ",p:22,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"exposed issues that I had to be willing to deal with in my own life. God ",p:22,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"takes every opportunity to help us grow in wholeness!",p:22,x:105,y:392,w:378,h:23},
{t:"The Benefits of Fasting in My Life",p:22,x:192,y:446,w:337,h:26},
{t:"Although this is not necessarily typical for everyone, each fast I have ",p:22,x:135,y:491,w:484,h:23},
{t:"done has been specifc. In the early days it was either for getting to know ",p:22,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the Lord better or for being able to hear His voice about why this was not ",p:22,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"happening. But in time, as I sought specifc knowledge to help those who ",p:22,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"asked me for help, my fasting stopped being so much about me. Later my ",p:22,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasts broadened even further, as I sought help from the Lord for things ",p:22,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"such as fnancial provision. ",p:22,x:105,y:656,w:194,h:23},
{t:"As I began writing this book I realized something amazing: I have ",p:22,x:135,y:684,w:484,h:23},
{t:"never had a fast that totally failed. Some saw delays in being answered, ",p:22,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"while others saw answers as soon as I began fasting (although in honor of ",p:22,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the Lord I continued fasting anyway). In other instances I didn ’t know ",p:22,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that an answer had been received when the fast ended, but looking back ",p:22,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"now I can see that it had.",p:22,x:105,y:821,w:178,h:23},
{t:"Along with specifc goals, my fasts were also a spiritual discipline. ",p:22,x:135,y:849,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Tey all added something to my personal character growth and my rela-",p:22,x:105,y:876,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tionship with Christ. Although fasting is not a good way to lose weight ",p:22,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"7",p:23,x:609,y:1010,w:6,h:20},
{t:"MY FASTING JOURNEY",p:23,x:507,y:59,w:108,h:20},
{t:"permanently, and none of my fasts were done specifcally for that reason, ",p:23,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"weight loss has always been a benefcial side beneft. ",p:23,x:105,y:144,w:369,h:23},
{t:"For me fasting has been also a shortcut to knowledge of human need. ",p:23,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"It has helped me to see what is obstructing a person ’s wholeness. I have ",p:23,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"personally found that fasting is one of the ways God brings healing to ",p:23,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"people’s lives. When God gives the knowledge and it is applied, the often-",p:23,x:105,y:254,w:509,h:23},
{t:"hidden power of the damage is broken. When we come to the Lord in the ",p:23,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"earnestness of fasting, He is usually faithful in giving us, or others, such ",p:23,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"insight. Tis, in turn, will generally lead to remarkable leaps forward in ",p:23,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"healing and wholeness for the person, providing he or she is obedient in ",p:23,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"acting upon what the Lord says (see, for example, Exodus 15:26). Part ",p:23,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of my ministry has been to help identify and implement the subsequent ",p:23,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"steps after the knowledge has been given, because people often need to be ",p:23,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"taught how to apply the new understanding to their lives.",p:23,x:105,y:474,w:406,h:23},
{t:"I use the terms “healing” and “wholeness” in a slightly diferent way ",p:23,x:135,y:502,w:484,h:23},
{t:"than they are most often used. To begin with, I assume that every young ",p:23,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"convert will need to embark on a journey to become more like Christ. ",p:23,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"None of us are born Christ-like. We must all learn. So in this book I will ",p:23,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"be speaking about the release of knowledge that helps each of us move ",p:23,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"into deeper relationship with Christ. Tis knowledge can take several ",p:23,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"forms, as I will illustrate in due course, though pressing the Lord for ",p:23,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this knowledge to change is, I believe, our responsibility. Healing and ",p:23,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"wholeness is the natural outcome of the positive change of becoming ",p:23,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"more like Christ. ",p:23,x:105,y:749,w:124,h:23},
{t:"Fasting has taught me that we are all sick from a “disease” called sin, ",p:23,x:135,y:777,w:484,h:23},
{t:"a disease from which we all need some healing. Te level of damage varies ",p:23,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"from person to person, though sometimes the most damaged among us ",p:23,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are also the most gifted and anointed. It seems almost as though the ",p:23,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Enemy can somehow see into us and discern what level of threat we ",p:23,x:105,y:887,w:514,h:23},
{t:"could become to him long before we ever know. Getting the knowledge ",p:23,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to change is essential if we are to recover all that Christ would have us ",p:23,x:105,y:942,w:514,h:23},
{t:"8",p:24,x:105,y:1010,w:6,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:24,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"be. So fasting can be a tool that helps us or others move into more of our ",p:24,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"spiritual gifting and anointing.",p:24,x:105,y:144,w:217,h:23},
{t:"Another area of focus for my fasting has been the need for fnancial ",p:24,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"provision. Living by faith, my wife and I have been dependent from time ",p:24,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to time on unsolicited gifts. Until recently the only time these gifts came ",p:24,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"through were after times of fasting. God has given me adequate strength ",p:24,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and has required this discipline of me. Fasting, for me, has included the ",p:24,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"spiritual discipline of laboring for money. Over the years Mary and I have ",p:24,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"needed to trust the Lord for our provision. We see His faithfulness each ",p:24,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"day. Although I work part-time as a business consultant, the substantial ",p:24,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fnancial shortfall has always been faithfully met by the Lord. ",p:24,x:105,y:392,w:435,h:23},
{t:"I am not suggesting that my experience will also work for you. Each ",p:24,x:135,y:419,w:484,h:23},
{t:"person must fnd the best path for him or her, especially in the area of ",p:24,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"provision. Although this is how the Lord has dealt with me, His provi-",p:24,x:105,y:474,w:509,h:23},
{t:"sion may come to you in other ways. ",p:24,x:105,y:502,w:264,h:23},
{t:"Because I have fasted for knowledge for others or fnancial provision ",p:24,x:135,y:529,w:484,h:23},
{t:"for myself, fasting has been for me a confdential appointment with the ",p:24,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Lord. Asking for specifc knowledge as to why a person is sick or admitting ",p:24,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I am short of money are not things you talk about to the whole congrega-",p:24,x:105,y:612,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tion. Tis has meant that apart from my family and closest friends no one ",p:24,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"has known what I was doing. Tis becomes awkward when someone of-",p:24,x:105,y:667,w:509,h:23},
{t:"fers you lunch, cofee, or a donut or some other sweet. Keeping your fast ",p:24,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"secret while also honoring others can be difcult, especially in a case like ",p:24,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"mine in which many of those I work with are unbelievers. Nevertheless, ",p:24,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"keeping my practice of fasting private has been a great beneft to me, as it ",p:24,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"has taught me the humility and graciousness of service. ",p:24,x:105,y:804,w:393,h:23},
{t:"Doing extended fasts while holding down a full-time job poses chal-",p:24,x:135,y:832,w:480,h:23},
{t:"lenges. It can be an emotional and relational nightmare. In always seek-",p:24,x:105,y:859,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing to appear normal I believe I am following Jesus’ words in Scripture ",p:24,x:105,y:887,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that call for an approach with no ostentation (Matthew 6:16–18). But ",p:24,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"long-term fasting is an incredible battle. Unlike others I have read about, ",p:24,x:105,y:942,w:514,h:23},
{t:"9",p:25,x:609,y:1010,w:6,h:20},
{t:"MY FASTING JOURNEY",p:25,x:507,y:59,w:108,h:20},
{t:"I have never had the luxury of taking of a month or more of work to do ",p:25,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a fast and then to recover. I have always had to keep working, though I do ",p:25,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have to slow down. But except for the people close to me no one would ",p:25,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have known I was fasting. Te benefts of learning how to do this have ",p:25,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"been enormous for me, and I believe that anyone who has done the same ",p:25,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"would agree. ",p:25,x:105,y:254,w:94,h:23},
{t:"Te fnal beneft I want to mention is that I have always had a sense ",p:25,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of destiny—a sense that I am writing history, both with the Lord and ",p:25,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"others. As evidence of this perception, I have hundreds of pages of notes ",p:25,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"recorded before, during, and after fasts. Some of this makes terrible read-",p:25,x:105,y:364,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing, since my extended fasts have been so tremendously difcult. Tis ",p:25,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is not the experience of everyone who fasts.1 Each person ’s journey is ",p:25,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"unique, and you will discover in time what your own will be. ",p:25,x:105,y:447,w:435,h:23},
{t:"Personally, I cannot imagine life without the discipline of fasting. It ",p:25,x:135,y:474,w:484,h:23},
{t:"has made me the man I now am: healthier and ftter, more aware of the ",p:25,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"spiritual and material realities around me. Fasting has given me a deep ",p:25,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"love for the Lord and His created world, as well as a sense of His pleasure ",p:25,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"upon my life. But more than any of these is knowing I have done just a ",p:25,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"little in spurring on the return of Christ—because of what I have learned, ",p:25,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what I have given to others from the Lord, and what I can yet accomplish ",p:25,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"before He calls me home. ",p:25,x:105,y:667,w:184,h:23},
{t:"In Summary",p:25,x:300,y:721,w:120,h:26},
{t:"My journey of fasting might sound a little intimidating. Extended ",p:25,x:135,y:766,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fasting has become a regular part of my life and ministry. But remember, ",p:25,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"we all have to start somewhere—usually somewhere much more gentle! ",p:25,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"1 ",p:25,x:105,y:885,w:12,h:21},
{t:" See, for example, Derek Prince, Shaping History Trough Prayer and Fasting ",p:25,x:126,y:885,w:487,h:21},
{t:"(Fort Lauderdale: Derek Prince Ministries, 1973); Arthur Wallis, God’s Chosen ",p:25,x:105,y:905,w:504,h:21},
{t:"Fast: A Spiritual and Practical Guide to Fasting (Eastbourne, UK: Kingsway, ",p:25,x:105,y:925,w:485,h:21},
{t:"1982).",p:25,x:105,y:945,w:42,h:21},
{t:"10",p:26,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:26,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"In fact, the subtitle of this book probably refects a greater balance. My ",p:26,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting journey has touched on all four aspects: the clear sacrifce, the ",p:26,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"clarity I so often gained either during or after the fast, the purpose for ",p:26,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"doing so, and the outcome of joy when the fruit became apparent. ",p:26,x:105,y:199,w:472,h:23},
{t:"When I began fasting my fasts were simply to know the Lord better, ",p:26,x:135,y:227,w:484,h:23},
{t:"a way of expressing my earnestness to know Him. Tey focused on my ",p:26,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"relationship with the Lord, helping to promote a growing maturity in ",p:26,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Christ. But over time I also wanted to make a more signifcant contribu-",p:26,x:105,y:309,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tion to the Kingdom of God, though in the beginning I had little idea ",p:26,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what that meant and how it would be achieved. It was only after gaining ",p:26,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"more experience that I began to learn how to focus my fasting toward ",p:26,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"specifc needs. ",p:26,x:105,y:419,w:104,h:23},
{t:"Looking back I can see this subtle shift throughout my teenage years ",p:26,x:135,y:447,w:484,h:23},
{t:"and into my twenties: from seeking the Lord for myself to seeking things ",p:26,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"from the Lord, from learning deeper intimacy with Him to beginning to ",p:26,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"carry the needs of others, as well as my own. ",p:26,x:105,y:529,w:317,h:23},
{t:"Perhaps you are considering your frst fast. Don ’t let my examples put ",p:26,x:135,y:557,w:484,h:23},
{t:"you of. We all learn by starting with small fasts. Fasting is a discipline ",p:26,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that we grow into by starting gradually. I will describe in this book how ",p:26,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to do this.",p:26,x:105,y:639,w:72,h:23},
{t:"On the other hand, you might be preparing for your frst extended ",p:26,x:135,y:667,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fast. I have deliberately included my own experience of such fasting in ",p:26,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"detail in order to enable others to learn safely. I will be very specifc about ",p:26,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the impact of fasting, providing numerous examples from my own life. ",p:26,x:105,y:749,w:504,h:23},
{t:"Regardless of how much or little you have practiced the discipline of ",p:26,x:135,y:777,w:484,h:23},
{t:"spiritual fasting, I hope this book will be a valuable resource for you in ",p:26,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"your own journey.",p:26,x:105,y:832,w:128,h:23},
{t:"11",p:27,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"2.",p:27,x:566,y:241,w:26,h:55},
{t:"THE PURPOSE OF FASTING",p:27,x:105,y:422,w:321,h:52},
{t:"In every instance fasting has had a positive impact on me and my ",p:27,x:135,y:552,w:484,h:23},
{t:"deepening intimacy with Christ. As you grow in your own fasting journey ",p:27,x:105,y:579,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I would expect you to experience the same. I know of no more efective ",p:27,x:105,y:607,w:514,h:23},
{t:"way of growing in your relationship with God and in your capacity both ",p:27,x:105,y:634,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to stand with Him and to serve Him.",p:27,x:105,y:662,w:263,h:23},
{t:"Fasting has been a key spiritual discipline throughout the history ",p:27,x:135,y:689,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of the church and its leaders. In the histories of Israel, the church, and ",p:27,x:105,y:717,w:514,h:23},
{t:"many nations a call to fasting has heightened the importance of a need, ",p:27,x:105,y:744,w:514,h:23},
{t:"bringing the earnestness of circumstances to the attention of others and ",p:27,x:105,y:772,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to the Lord. ",p:27,x:105,y:799,w:89,h:23},
{t:"Te purpose of fasting must be considered from two perspectives. ",p:27,x:135,y:827,w:484,h:23},
{t:"One is the beneft it brings to us personally in our relationship with ",p:27,x:105,y:854,w:514,h:23},
{t:"God. But the other is the wider beneft it brings to the Kingdom of God. ",p:27,x:105,y:882,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Sometimes the latter does not directly proft us. Fasting is often a way of ",p:27,x:105,y:909,w:514,h:23},
{t:"paying the price in order that others might beneft.",p:27,x:105,y:937,w:359,h:23},
{t:"12",p:28,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:28,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Te biblical message seems clear. Fasting, when undertaken righ-",p:28,x:135,y:117,w:480,h:23},
{t:"teously, is a spiritual discipline that God is pleased with and is efective in ",p:28,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"achieving goals that might otherwise be unobtainable. Although much of ",p:28,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"our focus in a fast is on what we deny ourselves, part of the signifcance ",p:28,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"from God’s perspective is what is achieved in our own spiritual life. Here ",p:28,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are some suggestions, based on my own experience. At the end of the ",p:28,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"book I have included more specifc examples of how this has played out ",p:28,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in my life.",p:28,x:105,y:309,w:72,h:23},
{t:"Growing in Christ",p:28,x:271,y:363,w:178,h:26},
{t:"Tis is the most fundamental purpose of fasting. When I began the ",p:28,x:135,y:409,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fasting journey in my teens I sensed that such a commitment pleased the ",p:28,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Lord as well as introduced me to Him. Tis deepening intimacy with ",p:28,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Christ happened in a number of ways. I could spend time with the Lord ",p:28,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for an hour or so each day because I was not eating. Having the extra ",p:28,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"time allowed me to pray—often just waiting on the Lord or learning to ",p:28,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"listen to Him, rather than doing lots of intercession. ",p:28,x:105,y:574,w:373,h:23},
{t:"Other things changed as well. I began to experience some pain in ",p:28,x:135,y:601,w:484,h:23},
{t:"my fasting, and this challenged my will. I found not eating, and the ",p:28,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"breaking of the routines of eating, to be hard. My body, like anyone ",p:28,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"else’s, rebelled. My will was frm; once I had decided not to eat that was ",p:28,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the end of the matter. But having the will did not stop the hunger or ",p:28,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the temptation, or the breaking of the eating cycle. I also began to learn ",p:28,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that we cannot stop the Enemy from tempting us, but we can stop him ",p:28,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"from doing us damage. ",p:28,x:105,y:794,w:171,h:23},
{t:"An illustration of the purpose of fasting was that when I fasted from ",p:28,x:135,y:821,w:484,h:23},
{t:"lunch while at Bible college, eating only fruit, I could then spend time ",p:28,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"praying with friends such as Steve. Our prayer times may not have had ",p:28,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"measurable goals like my later fasts did, but they increased my passion ",p:28,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for what is now called the 10/40 Window. We were praying for Central ",p:28,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"13",p:29,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE PURPOSE OF FASTING",p:29,x:487,y:59,w:128,h:20},
{t:"Asia to open up to the Gospel, for God to somehow allow us to move ",p:29,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"into those countries. We had no idea at the time that it would actually ",p:29,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"happen! But this discipline began to help us engage with just how much ",p:29,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the Lord loved this part of the world. ",p:29,x:105,y:199,w:267,h:23},
{t:"Tese missed meals didn ’t cripple me physically. In fact, they helped ",p:29,x:135,y:227,w:484,h:23},
{t:"keep me ft and healthy! I had no life-changing purpose in mind with ",p:29,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this fasting, but it became one way for me to take part in the Great ",p:29,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Commission, my calling in Christ to help build the Kingdom of God. ",p:29,x:105,y:309,w:500,h:23},
{t:"Another example of how this intimacy with Christ grew in me was ",p:29,x:135,y:337,w:484,h:23},
{t:"that even between prayer times I could still sense a focus on the Lord. ",p:29,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Tough maybe not focusing specifcally on Him, I began to realize He ",p:29,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"was still at my side. ",p:29,x:105,y:419,w:140,h:23},
{t:"Self-Denial",p:29,x:305,y:473,w:110,h:26},
{t:"Te essence of fasting is self-denial. Every fast, in some way, is a ",p:29,x:135,y:519,w:484,h:23},
{t:"denial of our way of life. Every fast takes us into the death of self, its ",p:29,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"desires and often its physical needs. From God’s perspective, this is a ",p:29,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"major beneft! Life becomes a little more God-centered and a little less ",p:29,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"self-centered.",p:29,x:105,y:629,w:93,h:23},
{t:"In the act of surrender to the discipline of fasting we are voluntarily ",p:29,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"choosing to enter into a type of self-denial that can naturally invoke a ",p:29,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"brokenness of spirit if we let it. Te Lord will not normally humble us, as ",p:29,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this is something we should do for ourselves (James 4:10). We surrender ",p:29,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to the humiliation of fasting to gain more of the presence and purposes ",p:29,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of the Kingdom of God in our lives and in the lives of those for whom ",p:29,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"we may be fasting.",p:29,x:105,y:821,w:130,h:23},
{t:"In the act of the denial of fasting we are choosing to submit to the ",p:29,x:135,y:849,w:484,h:23},
{t:"“sackcloth and ashes,” the shame and the weakness that fasting brings. It ",p:29,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is embarrassing to discover that missing even one meal is a battle for us, ",p:29,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"or that we become bad-tempered when trying to fast for twelve hours. ",p:29,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"14",p:30,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:30,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"As an extreme example, when I am doing an extended fast I don ’t have ",p:30,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the strength in my arms to carry my large business briefcase, which also ",p:30,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"contains my laptop. So I am reduced to letting a colleague carry it, or ",p:30,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"taking just my pad and pencil to work or meetings. ",p:30,x:105,y:199,w:366,h:23},
{t:"But this process of self-denial goes further. Te very act of fasting is ",p:30,x:135,y:227,w:484,h:23},
{t:"itself a way of choosing to make ourselves more vulnerable. Te routines ",p:30,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and habits we rely upon are undone. When I fast, I am fragile. Te disci-",p:30,x:105,y:282,w:509,h:23},
{t:"pline of fasting does not engender strength in me, but weakness. Tough ",p:30,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I have met people who told me that they feel stronger, this has not been ",p:30,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"my normal experience. Quite the opposite has proven true. I have to ",p:30,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"reschedule my life, removing all the demanding activities. Even taking ",p:30,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"out the garbage or carrying in the groceries from the car can be too much. ",p:30,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"It is humbling to have to admit that you cannot do the things you usually ",p:30,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"do, or that you aren ’t feeling too well.",p:30,x:105,y:474,w:264,h:23},
{t:"Te denial of self means that you have to accept that the normally ",p:30,x:135,y:502,w:484,h:23},
{t:"arrogant, strong self is not in charge anymore, and that without it you ",p:30,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"feel quite weak and exposed. Tough humiliating for this to happen, it ",p:30,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"can lead to a deeper humility and brokenness of spirit.",p:30,x:105,y:584,w:383,h:23},
{t:"Your Will Takes Precedence over Your Body",p:30,x:148,y:638,w:425,h:26},
{t:"Te denial of the fast also impacts the way you are as a person. By ",p:30,x:135,y:684,w:484,h:23},
{t:"denying yourself something you want and have relied upon, you are ",p:30,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"changing all your basic priorities. Tings are turned upside down. You ",p:30,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will look at your life from a diferent perspective, as those elements that ",p:30,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have propped up your day-to-day existence are withdrawn. You encoun-",p:30,x:105,y:794,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ter elements of yourself of which you may have been unaware.",p:30,x:105,y:821,w:438,h:23},
{t:"When you are abstaining from food there is an added dimension. ",p:30,x:135,y:849,w:484,h:23},
{t:"You are no longer living to eat, or eating to live. You are doing neither. ",p:30,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Instead, you are saying to your body, Shut up! Be quiet! Stop moaning! It ",p:30,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"can moan quite a lot, even if you simply miss your usual evening meal. ",p:30,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"15",p:31,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE PURPOSE OF FASTING",p:31,x:487,y:59,w:128,h:20},
{t:"Your fast is placing your spirit and will over and above your body’s needs. ",p:31,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"You are entering a time of signifcant self-denial where you are exploring ",p:31,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what will happen to you physically as you stop eating. You have not been ",p:31,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"here before with your body. Tis is a frst. ",p:31,x:105,y:199,w:297,h:23},
{t:"But something much deeper is also happening. You are shifting your ",p:31,x:135,y:227,w:484,h:23},
{t:"priorities so that you have time on your hands that would otherwise be ",p:31,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"used to meet your appetites. You are telling your body you are in control ",p:31,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of the situation, and you are not going to allow your physical self to have ",p:31,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"its wishes. Such rights, demands, and appetites are at an end for a season. ",p:31,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Tere are other things in life that you are placing at the top of your list, ",p:31,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"above your physical needs. So your body should be silent while you get ",p:31,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"on with the far more important task of self-denial. ",p:31,x:105,y:419,w:359,h:23},
{t:"Affirming Your Earnestness",p:31,x:227,y:473,w:267,h:26},
{t:"As part of asserting your will over your body you are also making ",p:31,x:135,y:519,w:484,h:23},
{t:"declarations about the seriousness of your intent. Tis is an act of sacri-",p:31,x:105,y:546,w:509,h:23},
{t:"fce. Te stakes are higher; the intensity of your commitment is stronger. ",p:31,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Te daily routine of your life is interrupted. Instead of competing with ",p:31,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"other demands, through your fast you can engage a depth of priority that ",p:31,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you would not fnd any other way.",p:31,x:105,y:656,w:243,h:23},
{t:"I often hear people say that they could never fast. Tey don ’t want ",p:31,x:135,y:684,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to give up an aspect of their life for a season, especially if that aspect is ",p:31,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"food! But I know they could do it if they wanted to and were willing to ",p:31,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"begin to practice. Te psychology is simple. We are always faithful to our ",p:31,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"own personal needs. We all have a basic instinct to put ourselves frst, ",p:31,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"though few of us ever consciously admit this. We all have the tendency ",p:31,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to deny that we can do something, if we don ’t want to do it, while often ",p:31,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"somewhat deviously afrming outwardly that we wish we could. What ",p:31,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"we don ’t admit to ourselves is that we will not do what we do not want to ",p:31,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"do. We all fnd the will to do what we want to do. By choosing to fast we ",p:31,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"16",p:32,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:32,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"are making a commitment to fully cooperate with ourselves in allowing ",p:32,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this to happen. ",p:32,x:105,y:144,w:110,h:23},
{t:"My point is that we must be serious about the discipline of the pro-",p:32,x:135,y:172,w:480,h:23},
{t:"cess. We are choosing not to waiver, even though we have no idea what ",p:32,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will happen. We are not going to change our minds when we get our ",p:32,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"frst headache, or discover that we overlooked a dinner date—the perfect ",p:32,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"excuse to stop fasting. What I am commending here is the mindset of the ",p:32,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"hunger striker. We can learn much from such people. I am not necessarily ",p:32,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"commending the cause, just the dedication. Fasting is the ultimate eyes-",p:32,x:105,y:337,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ahead, regardless-of-the-cost, focused commitment, whether for one day, ",p:32,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"three days, or longer. ",p:32,x:105,y:392,w:152,h:23},
{t:"Or it is like the soldier, under orders from his commander, who walks ",p:32,x:135,y:419,w:484,h:23},
{t:"into the oncoming fre bracing himself for the shells. He will not run, ",p:32,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"cower, or hide. Most men at one time or another feel this type of call on ",p:32,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"their lives. Tey just need to get on and do it. Women likewise can have ",p:32,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the same mindset taking on the risk of childbirth. You are dead serious. ",p:32,x:105,y:529,w:507,h:23},
{t:"But such uncompromising resolve impacts us in other ways as well. ",p:32,x:135,y:557,w:478,h:23},
{t:"Surrender to Christ",p:32,x:265,y:611,w:191,h:26},
{t:"Perhaps the most signifcant purpose of a fast for most of us will ",p:32,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"be the act of love in submission to Christ. If you are open to the idea ",p:32,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of fasting to the Lord, He could easily lead you into a fast for no other ",p:32,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"reason than obedience or surrender to Him. Your reason for fasting could ",p:32,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"simply be nothing more than the fact that the Lord requires or invites ",p:32,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you to do so. Our discipleship journey is one of increasing surrender to ",p:32,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Christ as part of our growing Christ-likeness. Fasting is a very tangible ",p:32,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"way of achieving this.",p:32,x:105,y:849,w:152,h:23},
{t:"17",p:33,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE PURPOSE OF FASTING",p:33,x:487,y:59,w:128,h:20},
{t:"Fasting as Prayer",p:33,x:278,y:117,w:165,h:26},
{t:"Of course, whatever the specifc reason for fasting, it is always an act ",p:33,x:135,y:162,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of intercession. Its core beneft is to unleash more of God’s purposes by ",p:33,x:105,y:189,w:514,h:23},
{t:"standing in allegiance with Christ. Fasting for me, personally, has had ",p:33,x:105,y:217,w:514,h:23},
{t:"very little to do with the Enemy, though that may be the case for some. ",p:33,x:105,y:244,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Fasting has always been between Father God and me. Regardless of what ",p:33,x:105,y:272,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I am fasting for—the nation or renewal, knowledge or money—the ",p:33,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"nature of the fasts and their function all tend to be quite diferent. One ",p:33,x:105,y:327,w:514,h:23},
{t:"thing all of them have had in common, however, is that a prolonged fast ",p:33,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is its own prayer: praying in an intercessory way as you are before God. ",p:33,x:105,y:382,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Troughout a fast you need to see your life as prayer. ",p:33,x:105,y:409,w:377,h:23},
{t:"During a shorter water-only fast it is easy to see the fast as simply ",p:33,x:135,y:437,w:484,h:23},
{t:"missing a meal. I would discourage you from this. Tink of it as a ",p:33,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"four-hour fast, or as a six-, eight-, twelve-, or twenty-four-hour fast. ",p:33,x:105,y:492,w:514,h:23},
{t:"When you start your fast, your act of intercession begins, even if the ",p:33,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"next mealtime is several hours away. Be aware that you are fasting, even ",p:33,x:105,y:547,w:514,h:23},
{t:"if you are taking the children to school or functioning in your normal ",p:33,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"employment. You may spend the mealtime in prayer instead of eating, ",p:33,x:105,y:602,w:514,h:23},
{t:"but that is simply a more concentrated part of the intercession that ",p:33,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"began several hours earlier.",p:33,x:105,y:657,w:193,h:23},
{t:"Although I fnd it difcult to pray in the traditional posture of bended ",p:33,x:135,y:684,w:484,h:23},
{t:"knee during extended fasts, the essence of the fast itself is intercessory ",p:33,x:105,y:712,w:514,h:23},
{t:"prayer. Your life, pain, and obedience are the intercession. Here your ",p:33,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"weakened physical condition and its submission is your prayer. Your fast-",p:33,x:105,y:767,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing is itself your plea to the Lord. Te very act of fasting is a declaration ",p:33,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to the Lord of what you desire. It is an act of importunity, your persistent ",p:33,x:105,y:822,w:514,h:23},
{t:"hammering on the doors of heaven—but in a meek and humble way that ",p:33,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is brought about by your devitalized condition. Listen! Look at me! I am ",p:33,x:105,y:877,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in earnest! I am desperate! I am in great need! Answer me, please! ",p:33,x:105,y:904,w:439,h:23},
{t:"18",p:34,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:34,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"As the days go by during an extended fast, just staying on the fast is ",p:34,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the major victory each day; and your life and condition are your prayers ",p:34,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to the Lord. Just continuing in obedience is enough. After the initial pe-",p:34,x:105,y:172,w:509,h:23},
{t:"riod of settling into the fast, it can get easier for a few days—though you ",p:34,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"remain aware that what you are doing is prayer, that God is listening. But ",p:34,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"later I have regularly experienced a deep weariness, not caused by the lack ",p:34,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of food but merely by the length of time. Tis is when the intercession ",p:34,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of your life bites deep. Your pain and its weariness becomes your prayer. ",p:34,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"You begin to realize that going further will become an even greater battle. ",p:34,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"At this time, especially, my life truly becomes my intercessory prayer. I ",p:34,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"become my own sacrifce.  ",p:34,x:105,y:392,w:190,h:23},
{t:"A Means of Change",p:34,x:266,y:446,w:189,h:26},
{t:"Another common purpose and beneft of fasting is that it achieves ",p:34,x:135,y:491,w:484,h:23},
{t:"change where it previously has not been possible. Tis change can be ",p:34,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"either a personal matter or something related to others. It could be for ",p:34,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a congregation or even for a nation. Tis is the kind of fast that we do ",p:34,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"when we need to break the mold. We need to make a new start, to break ",p:34,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a deadlock. ",p:34,x:105,y:629,w:84,h:23},
{t:"A parallel in Scripture is when David turned around at the walls of ",p:34,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Jebus, or Jerusalem, and said, “Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites ",p:34,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will become commander-in-chief ” (1 Chronicles 11:6). Joab was over ",p:34,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the wall frst, and lived on as commander of the army for almost all of ",p:34,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"David’s reign. Someone had to break the deadlock and move forward. ",p:34,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"When Joab did so, then everyone else could follow. ",p:34,x:105,y:794,w:365,h:23},
{t:"Fasting is a spiritual weapon, like Joab himself was on this occasion. ",p:34,x:135,y:821,w:484,h:23},
{t:"It is the act of the spiritual warrior, the leader, the commander, the cap-",p:34,x:105,y:849,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tain. It is the men or women who take authority by taking responsibility ",p:34,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for the need for change. Tey step out, and through their fast they begin ",p:34,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to possess what change is needed. I have numerous personal examples of ",p:34,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"19",p:35,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE PURPOSE OF FASTING",p:35,x:487,y:59,w:128,h:20},
{t:"this, but the one I especially recall was when our business was close to ",p:35,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"marketing a key product and we didn ’t have enough money to launch ",p:35,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it. Te normal sources, like banks, were closed to us. Te future of the ",p:35,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"company depended on it, so I fasted and began to see the necessary funds ",p:35,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"come in. ",p:35,x:105,y:227,w:66,h:23},
{t:"I have won most of the battles in which I have engaged. I believe my ",p:35,x:135,y:254,w:484,h:23},
{t:"failure rate has been greatly reduced because I was merely following the ",p:35,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Lord in these conficts. Fasting is one of the ways we can “turn up the ",p:35,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"volume” in helping to win a battle. By this I mean that we can, through ",p:35,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting, bring a much greater pressure for positive change to bear on ",p:35,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"spiritual reality. ",p:35,x:105,y:392,w:113,h:23},
{t:"Often I have found myself talking to the Lord about a fast for some ",p:35,x:135,y:419,w:484,h:23},
{t:"time before I actually enter the fast. A fast normally grows on me over ",p:35,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a month or two, because fasting is always the fnal act. Fasting is the ",p:35,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fnal form of intercession, when everything else has failed. You may sense ",p:35,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you have the answer already, but you know you need to act by taking ",p:35,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"authority and responsibility over the situation to actually change it. Your ",p:35,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"prayer will be your action. You are now taking authority, confdent that ",p:35,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the fast you are on will deliver what you need if you act in obedience and ",p:35,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"humility. All of my fasts have been based on very specifc goals. Tese ",p:35,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"goals themselves become the prayer. ",p:35,x:105,y:667,w:257,h:23},
{t:"Repentance",p:35,x:304,y:721,w:112,h:26},
{t:"Repentance as a nation or self-denial before battle in war is another ",p:35,x:135,y:766,w:484,h:23},
{t:"kind of fast. Fasting preceded historic moments in Israel’s history and the ",p:35,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"church ’s history. We can observe three such fasts in Scripture. In one we ",p:35,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"see the Law of God being given through Moses (Exodus 34:28), in other ",p:35,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"instances we see the Israelites fasting in times of crisis (Judges 20:24–26; ",p:35,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"2 Chronicles 20:1–4), and then we see the perfecting of the Lamb of ",p:35,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"God. Jesus came out of the fasting temptations (Luke 4:1–13) in absolute ",p:35,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"20",p:36,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:36,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"purity, so by His life, which was His prayer, He could go to His death ",p:36,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and bring about our life. Along similar lines, Daniel’s fast recorded ",p:36,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in Daniel 9 was prayer that brought about the salvation of Israel. By ",p:36,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"changing our focus away from our day-to-day life, God’s perspective can ",p:36,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"become clearer, and such “truth” efectively enables our repentance (see ",p:36,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"2 Timothy 2:25–26).",p:36,x:105,y:254,w:150,h:23},
{t:"You may feel there is an area of your life or the life of another that ",p:36,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"you need to engage with a deeper repentance. Fasting is a signifcant way ",p:36,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of focusing yourself on this goal.",p:36,x:105,y:337,w:229,h:23},
{t:"Growth in Spiritual Gifting",p:36,x:225,y:391,w:270,h:26},
{t:"I had always sensed that I had received a particular spiritual gift from ",p:36,x:135,y:436,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the Lord at my conception. However, the ability to use this gift freely ",p:36,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"came only after I had done a specifc fast. Te obedience of the fast re-",p:36,x:105,y:491,w:509,h:23},
{t:"leased it to me. Along similar lines I found myself fasting for money from ",p:36,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the Lord that, in a sense, He had already provided through someone. He ",p:36,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"had told this person to give it to me. During the fast I realized that this ",p:36,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"man was waiting for me to ask, and only then would I see the provision ",p:36,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I was seeking. ",p:36,x:105,y:629,w:101,h:23},
{t:"When our ministry is made more efective through fasting, there is ",p:36,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"signifcant beneft to the Kingdom of God. ",p:36,x:105,y:684,w:308,h:23},
{t:"Engaging the Enemy",p:36,x:260,y:738,w:201,h:26},
{t:"Perhaps you have a personal problem, or a stalemate with a person ",p:36,x:135,y:783,w:484,h:23},
{t:"you are seeking to help, and it won ’t shift. Or maybe your congregation ",p:36,x:105,y:810,w:514,h:23},
{t:"or house group is facing an obstacle. You have tried everything else; fast-",p:36,x:105,y:838,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing is all that remains. You then do what Christ has told you to do. You ",p:36,x:105,y:865,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are now cast upon the Lord in a last-hope bid to see the matter resolved. ",p:36,x:105,y:893,w:514,h:23},
{t:"If you are experienced in fasting, you might commit to an extended fast. ",p:36,x:105,y:920,w:514,h:23},
{t:"21",p:37,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE PURPOSE OF FASTING",p:37,x:487,y:59,w:128,h:20},
{t:"But be careful. You should never be so presumptuous as to address ",p:37,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the Enemy directly or pretend you have some spell or power over the ",p:37,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"demonic just because you are fasting. Normally you will be weaker, not ",p:37,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"stronger, in body and spirit. So it is important that in any and every fast ",p:37,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"your focus is on Christ Himself. He is your Lord and you answer to Him ",p:37,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"alone. It is from Him that you are seeking knowledge and change. You ",p:37,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are not seeking some special power over the Enemy. Te answer to your ",p:37,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"prayers and your fasting are with Christ, Son of the Living God, second ",p:37,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Person of the Social Trinity and the author of all life. ",p:37,x:105,y:337,w:375,h:23},
{t:"As a result of your fast you may gain the knowledge that you need ",p:37,x:135,y:364,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to break the power of the darkness. Alternately, you may simply discover ",p:37,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that God has intervened in an apparently unrelated way and the problem ",p:37,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"no longer exists. Whatever the outcome, the balance of power in the ",p:37,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"spiritual world will be diferent because of your fast, and God will have ",p:37,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"more room to act. ",p:37,x:105,y:502,w:132,h:23},
{t:"Sharing in Christ’s Sufferings",p:37,x:216,y:556,w:289,h:26},
{t:"Te essence of the Atonement is the giving of Christ’s life to all those ",p:37,x:135,y:601,w:484,h:23},
{t:"who will accept His sacrifce. It is Christ’s death for our life, an act of ",p:37,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"voluntary love on His part that we can now appropriate for ourselves. ",p:37,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"In the same way that we accept this sacrifce of Christ we also accept the ",p:37,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"discipline of fasting. We surrender to it, sufering for a season and thereby ",p:37,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"choosing to associate with Christ in His surrendered sacrifce. Tis is the ",p:37,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"kind of attitude Paul had in mind when he suggested that to share in His ",p:37,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"glory we must also be willing to share in His suferings (Romans 8:17).",p:37,x:105,y:794,w:500,h:23},
{t:"As with baptism, I believe that as we go under the “waters” of fasting ",p:37,x:135,y:821,w:484,h:23},
{t:"so we can rise again later into the life Christ has promised us all. For a ",p:37,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"season we voluntarily place ourselves under the waters of darkness, so ",p:37,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that by our denial we are able to seek the Lord in a way we would not be ",p:37,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"able to in the normal routines of our life. Just claiming back the time we ",p:37,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"22",p:38,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:38,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"normally spend eating can provide an extra two to three hours per day, ",p:38,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"making a critical diference in our prayer and intercession life. We are ",p:38,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"standing with Christ for a season in a more sacrifcial way. ",p:38,x:105,y:172,w:413,h:23},
{t:"In Summary",p:38,x:300,y:226,w:120,h:26},
{t:"Two simple goals under-gird fasting. Initially fasting should be an ",p:38,x:135,y:271,w:484,h:23},
{t:"act of knowing God better and deepening our relationship with Him. ",p:38,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"But it will soon evolve so that the ongoing goal will be to see change ",p:38,x:105,y:326,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and breakthrough in areas where they would not otherwise be possible. ",p:38,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Te act of fasting should take you from sacrifce to clarity. We may not ",p:38,x:105,y:381,w:514,h:23},
{t:"necessarily start with these battles. Simply learning how to fast is battle ",p:38,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"enough for some of us. But in time, as we grow in this discipline, fasting ",p:38,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will become a treasured means of achieving a God-given goal that has ",p:38,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"remained elusive.",p:38,x:105,y:491,w:121,h:23},
{t:"Of course, fasting is in part a mystery. We should never treat it as a ",p:38,x:135,y:519,w:484,h:23},
{t:"formula, a way to manipulate God to give us what we are seeking. It must ",p:38,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"always remain Christ-centered and fully in submission to His purposes ",p:38,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and priorities. For some of us it will be a weapon we use frequently. ",p:38,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"For others it may be more occasional. But I feel Scripture is clear that ",p:38,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting will yield signifcant fruit for all who are willing to enter into the ",p:38,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"suferings of Christ in this way.",p:38,x:105,y:684,w:219,h:23},
{t:"As I close this chapter I would suggest that you give some thought to ",p:38,x:135,y:711,w:484,h:23},
{t:"this question: If you were to start fasting, what would be your purpose? ",p:38,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Would it be to learn more about this spiritual discipline? Perhaps you ",p:38,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"know that God wants to stretch you in new areas of your relationship ",p:38,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with Him and this is one way of doing it. If so, fasting will represent a ",p:38,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"major step forward in your Christian life. Or perhaps your purpose for ",p:38,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting would focus on a particular need you are facing. I will address ",p:38,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"these more specifc goals later, helping you learn how to identify them. ",p:38,x:105,y:904,w:502,h:23},
{t:"23",p:39,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE PURPOSE OF FASTING",p:39,x:487,y:59,w:128,h:20},
{t:"Whatever your purpose for fasting, you have a demanding and yet ",p:39,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"rewarding journey ahead of you.",p:39,x:105,y:144,w:228,h:23},
{t:"25",p:40,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"3.",p:40,x:566,y:241,w:26,h:55},
{t:"THE BIBLICAL BACKGROUND OF FASTING",p:40,x:105,y:422,w:500,h:52},
{t:"Although the Bible does not have a lot to say about fasting, what ",p:40,x:135,y:552,w:484,h:23},
{t:"it does say helps set the stage for the modern practice of the discipline. ",p:40,x:105,y:579,w:514,h:23},
{t:"In this chapter I will outline some of the basic teaching from Scripture, ",p:40,x:105,y:607,w:514,h:23},
{t:"quoting the verses using the New International Version text. ",p:40,x:105,y:634,w:429,h:23},
{t:"I will comment on these verses where helpful or necessary. I would ",p:40,x:135,y:662,w:484,h:23},
{t:"encourage you to read the passages in their full context in your Bible, ",p:40,x:105,y:689,w:514,h:23},
{t:"inviting the Lord to speak to you through the passages. We have much to ",p:40,x:105,y:717,w:514,h:23},
{t:"learn about how to encourage each other to fast.",p:40,x:105,y:744,w:340,h:23},
{t:"Old Testament Passages",p:40,x:245,y:798,w:231,h:26},
{t:"Almost all major religions practice fasting. Te motives for fasting in ",p:40,x:135,y:844,w:484,h:23},
{t:"paganism are for defense and protection. For instance, in many religions ",p:40,x:105,y:871,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it is thought that, following an individual’s death, it is not wise to eat ",p:40,x:105,y:899,w:514,h:23},
{t:"when the dead person ’s spirit is still around, as revenging spirits infect the ",p:40,x:105,y:926,w:514,h:23},
{t:"26",p:41,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:41,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"food. Fasting is recommended.1 Tough we normally think of fasting in ",p:41,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the context of food, other forms of abstinence were practiced as well. For ",p:41,x:105,y:145,w:514,h:23},
{t:"example, the Israelites, along with other ancient societies, abstained from ",p:41,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sexual relations prior to a battle.",p:41,x:105,y:200,w:226,h:23},
{t:"In broad terms, the Old Testament references represent fasting as a ",p:41,x:135,y:227,w:484,h:23},
{t:"discipline for seeking guidance, for sufering vicariously, and for express-",p:41,x:105,y:255,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing grief, penitence, brokenness, or humility. Fasting held a signifcant ",p:41,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"place in Israel’s religious life, being mandated by law and required of all ",p:41,x:105,y:310,w:514,h:23},
{t:"citizens. Tough not mentioned frequently, it was part of the basic fabric ",p:41,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of religious life in Israel.",p:41,x:105,y:365,w:169,h:23},
{t:"Christianity today can be quite passive, as we expect others to look ",p:41,x:135,y:392,w:484,h:23},
{t:"after us spiritually. Here in Scripture we see examples of God’s people ",p:41,x:105,y:420,w:514,h:23},
{t:"actively participating in a sacrifcial way to achieve God’s purposes. Tis ",p:41,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is at the heart of the discipline of fasting. In Hebrew, the most common ",p:41,x:105,y:475,w:514,h:23},
{t:"word for fasting has the same root as “to humble” or “to afict” one’s self ",p:41,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"or soul.2 Afiction of oneself is seen as correction: of changing (i.e., re-",p:41,x:105,y:530,w:509,h:23},
{t:"pentance), or birthing, or bringing about a desired goal. In Psalm 119:71 ",p:41,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the psalmist says, “It was good for me to be aficted so that I might learn ",p:41,x:105,y:585,w:514,h:23},
{t:"your decrees.”",p:41,x:105,y:612,w:98,h:23},
{t:"Preparation for Service. Fasting is associated with religious ritual ",p:41,x:135,y:640,w:484,h:23},
{t:"in preparing oneself for sacred service, where individuals focus on their ",p:41,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"spiritual and emotional preparation and state, thereby denying their ",p:41,x:105,y:695,w:514,h:23},
{t:"physical needs. Te following Scriptures echo this practice of aficting ",p:41,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"oneself as a purifcation rite in the context of the Day of Atonement:",p:41,x:105,y:750,w:484,h:23},
{t:"1 ",p:41,x:105,y:861,w:12,h:21},
{t:" F. S. Rothenberg, “Fasting,” in C. Brown, ed., Te New International Dic-",p:41,x:126,y:861,w:475,h:21},
{t:"tionary of New Testament Teology (Exeter, UK: Paternoster, 1971), 611–14.",p:41,x:105,y:881,w:484,h:21},
{t:"2 ",p:41,x:105,y:905,w:12,h:21},
{t:" P . Wenger, “to humble” (semantic feld 6700), in W. A. van Gemeren, ed., ",p:41,x:126,y:905,w:483,h:21},
{t:"Te New International Dictionary of Old Testament Teology and Exegesis (Car-",p:41,x:105,y:925,w:495,h:21},
{t:"lisle, UK: Paternoster, 1996),  451.",p:41,x:105,y:945,w:224,h:21},
{t:"27",p:42,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE BIBLICAL BACKGROUND OF FASTING",p:42,x:415,y:59,w:200,h:20},
{t:"Tis is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day ",p:42,x:150,y:117,w:424,h:23},
{t:"of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do ",p:42,x:150,y:144,w:424,h:23},
{t:"any work—whether native-born or an alien living among ",p:42,x:150,y:172,w:424,h:23},
{t:"you—because on this day atonement will be made for you, ",p:42,x:150,y:199,w:424,h:23},
{t:"to cleanse you. (Leviticus 16:29–30)",p:42,x:150,y:227,w:256,h:23},
{t:"Te tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. ",p:42,x:150,y:277,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an ",p:42,x:150,y:304,w:424,h:23},
{t:"ofering made to the Lord by fre. (Leviticus 23:27)",p:42,x:150,y:332,w:361,h:23},
{t:"A Facet of Prayer. Fasting can be both an essential attitude and ",p:42,x:135,y:367,w:484,h:23},
{t:"practice for a person conversing with God.",p:42,x:105,y:394,w:301,h:23},
{t:"When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of ",p:42,x:150,y:437,w:424,h:23},
{t:"stone, the tablets of the covenant that the Lord had made ",p:42,x:150,y:464,w:424,h:23},
{t:"with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty ",p:42,x:150,y:492,w:424,h:23},
{t:"nights; I ate no bread and drank no water. (Deuteronomy ",p:42,x:150,y:519,w:424,h:23},
{t:"9:9, See also Exodus 34:28.)",p:42,x:150,y:547,w:199,h:23},
{t:"David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went ",p:42,x:150,y:597,w:424,h:23},
{t:"into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. Te ",p:42,x:150,y:624,w:424,h:23},
{t:"elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from ",p:42,x:150,y:652,w:424,h:23},
{t:"the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food ",p:42,x:150,y:679,w:424,h:23},
{t:"with them. (2 Samuel 12:16–17)",p:42,x:150,y:707,w:232,h:23},
{t:"So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he ",p:42,x:150,y:757,w:424,h:23},
{t:"answered our prayer. (Ezra 8:23)",p:42,x:150,y:784,w:229,h:23},
{t:"When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some ",p:42,x:150,y:834,w:424,h:23},
{t:"days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of ",p:42,x:150,y:862,w:424,h:23},
{t:"heaven. (Nehemiah 1:4)",p:42,x:150,y:889,w:170,h:23},
{t:"28",p:43,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:43,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in ",p:43,x:150,y:117,w:424,h:23},
{t:"prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. ",p:43,x:150,y:144,w:424,h:23},
{t:"(Daniel 9:3)",p:43,x:150,y:172,w:88,h:23},
{t:"It was following Moses’ fast that he was given the Ten Commandments. ",p:43,x:135,y:207,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Tis was a supernatural fast. Not eating for forty days is possible, but go-",p:43,x:105,y:234,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing without water for that period is practically impossible. Most people ",p:43,x:105,y:262,w:514,h:23},
{t:"could go without water for only two or three days before doing serious ",p:43,x:105,y:289,w:514,h:23},
{t:"damage to their body. Moses was clearly supernaturally sustained by God ",p:43,x:105,y:317,w:514,h:23},
{t:"during his fast. When God wants to begin a new thing He always accom-",p:43,x:105,y:344,w:509,h:23},
{t:"panies it with the supernatural, and fasting is often part of that process.",p:43,x:105,y:372,w:502,h:23},
{t:"Times of Peril. Te Israelites called for fasts when there was a danger ",p:43,x:135,y:399,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of war or plague or at critical moments in their history.",p:43,x:105,y:427,w:388,h:23},
{t:"When the Benjamites came out from Gibeah to oppose ",p:43,x:150,y:469,w:424,h:23},
{t:"them, they cut down another eighteen thousand Israelites, ",p:43,x:150,y:497,w:424,h:23},
{t:"all of them armed with swords. Ten the Israelites, all the ",p:43,x:150,y:524,w:424,h:23},
{t:"people, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before ",p:43,x:150,y:552,w:424,h:23},
{t:"the Lord. Tey fasted that day until evening and presented ",p:43,x:150,y:579,w:424,h:23},
{t:"burnt oferings and fellowship oferings to the Lord. (Judges ",p:43,x:150,y:607,w:424,h:23},
{t:"20:25–26)",p:43,x:150,y:634,w:74,h:23},
{t:"Uriah said to David, “Te ark and Israel and Judah are stay-",p:43,x:150,y:684,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ing in tents, and my master Joab and my lord’s men are ",p:43,x:150,y:712,w:424,h:23},
{t:"camped in the open felds. How could I go to my house to ",p:43,x:150,y:739,w:424,h:23},
{t:"eat and drink and lie with my wife? As surely as you live, I ",p:43,x:150,y:767,w:424,h:23},
{t:"will not do such a thing!” (2 Samuel 11:11)",p:43,x:150,y:794,w:307,h:23},
{t:"Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, ",p:43,x:150,y:844,w:299,h:23},
{t:"“ A ",p:43,x:454,y:844,w:21,h:23},
{t:"vast army is ",p:43,x:480,y:844,w:95,h:23},
{t:"coming against you from Edom, from the other side of ",p:43,x:150,y:872,w:424,h:23},
{t:"the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). ",p:43,x:150,y:899,w:424,h:23},
{t:"29",p:44,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE BIBLICAL BACKGROUND OF FASTING",p:44,x:415,y:59,w:200,h:20},
{t:"Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to enquire of the Lord, and ",p:44,x:150,y:117,w:424,h:23},
{t:"he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. (2 Chronicles 20:2–3)",p:44,x:150,y:144,w:399,h:23},
{t:"Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces ",p:44,x:150,y:194,w:424,h:23},
{t:"with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—",p:44,x:150,y:222,w:420,h:23},
{t:"young and old, women and little children—on a single day, ",p:44,x:150,y:249,w:424,h:23},
{t:"the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, ",p:44,x:150,y:277,w:424,h:23},
{t:"and to plunder their goods. A copy of the text of the edict ",p:44,x:150,y:304,w:424,h:23},
{t:"was to be issued as law in every province and made known ",p:44,x:150,y:332,w:424,h:23},
{t:"to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for ",p:44,x:150,y:359,w:424,h:23},
{t:"that day. . . . In every province to which the edict and order ",p:44,x:150,y:387,w:424,h:23},
{t:"of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, ",p:44,x:150,y:414,w:424,h:23},
{t:"with fasting, weeping and wailing. (Esther 3:13–14; 4:3)",p:44,x:150,y:442,w:399,h:23},
{t:"Ten Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather to-",p:44,x:150,y:492,w:419,h:23},
{t:"gether all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not ",p:44,x:150,y:519,w:424,h:23},
{t:"eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids ",p:44,x:150,y:547,w:424,h:23},
{t:"will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, ",p:44,x:150,y:574,w:424,h:23},
{t:"even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” ",p:44,x:150,y:602,w:424,h:23},
{t:"(Esther 4:15–16)",p:44,x:150,y:629,w:120,h:23},
{t:"What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have ",p:44,x:150,y:679,w:424,h:23},
{t:"eaten; what the great locusts have left the young locusts ",p:44,x:150,y:707,w:424,h:23},
{t:"have eaten; what the young locusts have left other locusts ",p:44,x:150,y:734,w:424,h:23},
{t:"have eaten. . . . Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. ",p:44,x:150,y:762,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house ",p:44,x:150,y:789,w:424,h:23},
{t:"of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord. (Joel 1:4,14)",p:44,x:150,y:817,w:420,h:23},
{t:"Fasting was also used to call out to God for a safe journey:",p:44,x:135,y:859,w:410,h:23},
{t:"Tere, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we ",p:44,x:150,y:902,w:424,h:23},
{t:"might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a ",p:44,x:150,y:929,w:424,h:23},
{t:"30",p:45,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:45,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"safe journey for us and our children, with all our posses-",p:45,x:150,y:117,w:419,h:23},
{t:"sions. (Ezra 8:21)",p:45,x:150,y:144,w:123,h:23},
{t:"Breaking Oppression. It was practiced when a person or the nation ",p:45,x:135,y:187,w:484,h:23},
{t:"was oppressed by great problems. Sometimes accompanied by the mock-",p:45,x:105,y:214,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing of others:",p:45,x:105,y:242,w:93,h:23},
{t:"“David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went ",p:45,x:150,y:284,w:424,h:23},
{t:"into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. Te ",p:45,x:150,y:312,w:424,h:23},
{t:"elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from ",p:45,x:150,y:339,w:424,h:23},
{t:"the ground. But he refused, and he would not eat any food ",p:45,x:150,y:367,w:424,h:23},
{t:"with them.” (2 Samuel 12:16–23)",p:45,x:150,y:394,w:239,h:23},
{t:"“Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled ",p:45,x:150,y:444,w:424,h:23},
{t:"myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me un-",p:45,x:150,y:472,w:419,h:23},
{t:"answered, I went about mourning as though for my friend ",p:45,x:150,y:499,w:424,h:23},
{t:"or brother . . . But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; ",p:45,x:150,y:527,w:424,h:23},
{t:"attackers gathered against me when I was unaware, they ",p:45,x:150,y:554,w:424,h:23},
{t:"slandered me without ceasing.” (Psalm 35:13–15)",p:45,x:150,y:582,w:350,h:23},
{t:"“When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn.” (Psalm 69:10)",p:45,x:150,y:632,w:420,h:23},
{t:"Confession and Cleansing. Fasting is associated with repentance. ",p:45,x:135,y:674,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Crying out to God for spiritual cleansing can be accompanied by fasting.",p:45,x:105,y:702,w:509,h:23},
{t:"Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will inter-",p:45,x:150,y:744,w:419,h:23},
{t:"cede with the Lord for you.” When they had assembled at ",p:45,x:150,y:772,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. ",p:45,x:150,y:799,w:424,h:23},
{t:"On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have ",p:45,x:150,y:827,w:424,h:23},
{t:"sinned against the Lord.” (1 Samuel 7:5–6)",p:45,x:150,y:854,w:304,h:23},
{t:"31",p:46,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE BIBLICAL BACKGROUND OF FASTING",p:46,x:415,y:59,w:200,h:20},
{t:"When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on ",p:46,x:150,y:117,w:424,h:23},
{t:"sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around ",p:46,x:150,y:144,w:424,h:23},
{t:"meekly. (1 Kings 21:27)",p:46,x:150,y:172,w:170,h:23},
{t:"On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites ",p:46,x:150,y:222,w:424,h:23},
{t:"gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and hav-",p:46,x:150,y:249,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ing dust on their heads. . . . Tey stood in their places and ",p:46,x:150,y:277,w:424,h:23},
{t:"confessed their sins and the wickedness of their fathers. ",p:46,x:150,y:304,w:424,h:23},
{t:"(Nehemiah 9:1–2)",p:46,x:150,y:332,w:131,h:23},
{t:"Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: “Forty more days ",p:46,x:150,y:382,w:424,h:23},
{t:"and Nineveh will be overturned.” Te Ninevites believed ",p:46,x:150,y:409,w:424,h:23},
{t:"God. Tey declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest ",p:46,x:150,y:437,w:424,h:23},
{t:"to the least, put on sackcloth. (Jonah 3:4–5)",p:46,x:150,y:464,w:311,h:23},
{t:"Tis type of fasting was ordained in the Law of Moses for the Day ",p:46,x:135,y:507,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of Atonement:",p:46,x:105,y:534,w:103,h:23},
{t:"Te Lord said to Moses, “Te tenth day of this seventh ",p:46,x:150,y:577,w:424,h:23},
{t:"month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly ",p:46,x:150,y:604,w:424,h:23},
{t:"and deny yourselves, and present an ofering made to the ",p:46,x:150,y:632,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Lord by fre. Do no work on that day, because it is the Day ",p:46,x:150,y:659,w:424,h:23},
{t:"of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the ",p:46,x:150,y:687,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Lord your God. Anyone who does not deny himself on that ",p:46,x:150,y:714,w:424,h:23},
{t:"day must be cut of from his people. . . . It is a sabbath of rest ",p:46,x:150,y:742,w:424,h:23},
{t:"for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of ",p:46,x:150,y:769,w:424,h:23},
{t:"the ninth day of the month until the following evening you ",p:46,x:150,y:797,w:424,h:23},
{t:"are to observe your sabbath.” (Leviticus 23:26–32)",p:46,x:150,y:824,w:356,h:23},
{t:"An Act of Remembrance. Following the destruction of Jerusalem ",p:46,x:135,y:867,w:484,h:23},
{t:"in 586 BC, four fast days were instituted as a way of remembering four ",p:46,x:105,y:894,w:514,h:23},
{t:"specifc events associated with those lamentable days.",p:46,x:105,y:922,w:373,h:23},
{t:"32",p:47,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:47,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Ten the word of the Lord Almighty came to me: “Ask all ",p:47,x:150,y:117,w:424,h:23},
{t:"the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and ",p:47,x:150,y:144,w:424,h:23},
{t:"mourned in the ffth and seventh months for the past sev-",p:47,x:150,y:172,w:419,h:23},
{t:"enty years, was it really for me that you fasted?’” (Zechariah ",p:47,x:150,y:199,w:424,h:23},
{t:"7:4–5)",p:47,x:150,y:227,w:47,h:23},
{t:"Again the word of the Lord Almighty came to me. Tis is ",p:47,x:150,y:277,w:424,h:23},
{t:"what the Lord Almighty says: “Te fasts of the fourth, ffth, ",p:47,x:150,y:304,w:424,h:23},
{t:"seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occa-",p:47,x:150,y:332,w:419,h:23},
{t:"sions and happy festivals for Judah. Terefore love truth and ",p:47,x:150,y:359,w:424,h:23},
{t:"peace.” (Zechariah 8:18–19)",p:47,x:150,y:387,w:200,h:23},
{t:"In Times of Loss. Fasting is frequently associated with times of ",p:47,x:135,y:429,w:484,h:23},
{t:"mourning.",p:47,x:105,y:457,w:75,h:23},
{t:"Ten David and all the men with him took hold of their ",p:47,x:150,y:499,w:424,h:23},
{t:"clothes and tore them. Tey mourned and wept and fasted ",p:47,x:150,y:527,w:424,h:23},
{t:"till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army ",p:47,x:150,y:554,w:424,h:23},
{t:"of the Lord and the house of Israel, because they had fallen ",p:47,x:150,y:582,w:424,h:23},
{t:"by the sword. (2 Samuel 1:11–12)",p:47,x:150,y:609,w:241,h:23},
{t:"Fasting also exposed personal inner torment:",p:47,x:135,y:652,w:314,h:23},
{t:"I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. ",p:47,x:150,y:694,w:424,h:23},
{t:". . . My knees give way from fasting; my body is thin and ",p:47,x:150,y:722,w:424,h:23},
{t:"gaunt. (Psalm 109:22, 24)",p:47,x:150,y:749,w:185,h:23},
{t:"National or Regional Fasts. Calling a fast of the whole nation was ",p:47,x:135,y:792,w:484,h:23},
{t:"not uncommon during a crisis. Many of the Scriptures I have cited were ",p:47,x:105,y:819,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasts called by the leaders of the nation or a region or town. As a modern ",p:47,x:105,y:847,w:514,h:23},
{t:"example of something similar, during the darkest days of World War II ",p:47,x:105,y:874,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Britain was called to fast and pray in light of the imminent threat of ",p:47,x:105,y:902,w:514,h:23},
{t:"33",p:48,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE BIBLICAL BACKGROUND OF FASTING",p:48,x:415,y:59,w:200,h:20},
{t:"invasion from Hitler’s Germany. Te invasion never came, and instead ",p:48,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the Allies were able to invade Europe and bring the war to an end. ",p:48,x:105,y:144,w:471,h:23},
{t:"Length. Tough the lengths of fasts varied, they often lasted from ",p:48,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"morning until evening: ",p:48,x:105,y:199,w:168,h:23},
{t:"Ten the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, and ",p:48,x:150,y:242,w:424,h:23},
{t:"there they sat weeping before the Lord. Tey fasted that day ",p:48,x:150,y:269,w:424,h:23},
{t:"until evening and presented burnt oferings and fellowship ",p:48,x:150,y:297,w:424,h:23},
{t:"oferings to the Lord. (Judges 20:26)",p:48,x:150,y:324,w:258,h:23},
{t:"As we have seen, David and his men fasted till evening upon hearing ",p:48,x:135,y:367,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:11–12), and the fast ",p:48,x:105,y:394,w:514,h:23},
{t:"accompanying the Day of Atonement lasted from the evening of one day ",p:48,x:105,y:422,w:514,h:23},
{t:"till the evening of the next day (Leviticus 23:32). After Saul’s death some ",p:48,x:105,y:449,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of the Israelites fasted for seven days (1 Samuel 31:13).",p:48,x:105,y:477,w:386,h:23},
{t:"Inefective Fasting. Not every fast recorded in the Old Testament ",p:48,x:135,y:504,w:484,h:23},
{t:"was pleasing to the Lord. God took exception to the hypocrisy of Israel’s ",p:48,x:105,y:532,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasts, and the prophets declared that without right conduct fasting was ",p:48,x:105,y:559,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in vain.",p:48,x:105,y:587,w:53,h:23},
{t:"“Why have we fasted,” they say, “and you have not seen it? ",p:48,x:150,y:629,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?” ",p:48,x:150,y:657,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and ",p:48,x:150,y:684,w:424,h:23},
{t:"exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and ",p:48,x:150,y:712,w:424,h:23},
{t:"strife, and in striking each other with wicked fsts. You can-",p:48,x:150,y:739,w:419,h:23},
{t:"not fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard ",p:48,x:150,y:767,w:424,h:23},
{t:"on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for ",p:48,x:150,y:794,w:424,h:23},
{t:"a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one’s head ",p:48,x:150,y:822,w:424,h:23},
{t:"like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what ",p:48,x:150,y:849,w:424,h:23},
{t:"you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? ",p:48,x:150,y:877,w:313,h:23},
{t:"34",p:49,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:49,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the ",p:49,x:150,y:117,w:424,h:23},
{t:"chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the ",p:49,x:150,y:144,w:424,h:23},
{t:"oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your ",p:49,x:150,y:172,w:424,h:23},
{t:"food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with ",p:49,x:150,y:199,w:424,h:23},
{t:"shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to ",p:49,x:150,y:227,w:424,h:23},
{t:"turn away from your own fesh and blood? (Isaiah 58:3–7)",p:49,x:150,y:254,w:412,h:23},
{t:"Ten the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for the well-being ",p:49,x:150,y:304,w:424,h:23},
{t:"of this people. Although they fast, I will not listen to their ",p:49,x:150,y:332,w:424,h:23},
{t:"cry; though they ofer burnt oferings and grain oferings, I ",p:49,x:150,y:359,w:424,h:23},
{t:"will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the ",p:49,x:150,y:387,w:424,h:23},
{t:"sword, famine and plague.” (Jeremiah 14:11–12)",p:49,x:150,y:414,w:344,h:23},
{t:"Ask all the people of the land and the priests, “When you ",p:49,x:150,y:464,w:424,h:23},
{t:"fasted and mourned in the ffth and seventh months for ",p:49,x:150,y:492,w:424,h:23},
{t:"the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted?” ",p:49,x:150,y:519,w:424,h:23},
{t:"(Zechariah 7:4–5)",p:49,x:150,y:547,w:128,h:23},
{t:"Tough it is evident that not every fast is a success, that should not ",p:49,x:135,y:589,w:484,h:23},
{t:"stop us from practicing the discipline. But we must always be cautious ",p:49,x:105,y:617,w:514,h:23},
{t:"about measuring fasting by outcomes. Some of my longest fasts had the ",p:49,x:105,y:644,w:514,h:23},
{t:"least visible positive outcomes at the time. I have entered fasts in which ",p:49,x:105,y:672,w:514,h:23},
{t:"afterward I could see they were only for the purpose of breaking my ",p:49,x:105,y:699,w:514,h:23},
{t:"eating habit or my presumption about food or money. We should always ",p:49,x:105,y:727,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ask ourselves, What has the fast done within me? How have I been changed ",p:49,x:105,y:754,w:514,h:23},
{t:"by the fast?",p:49,x:105,y:782,w:73,h:23},
{t:"New Testament Passages",p:49,x:242,y:836,w:236,h:26},
{t:"Considering the signifcance of fasting in the Old Testament period, ",p:49,x:135,y:881,w:484,h:23},
{t:"there are relatively few references to the practice in the Synoptics (the frst ",p:49,x:105,y:909,w:514,h:23},
{t:"three Gospels) and very little elsewhere in the New Testament. However, ",p:49,x:105,y:936,w:514,h:23},
{t:"35",p:50,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE BIBLICAL BACKGROUND OF FASTING",p:50,x:415,y:59,w:200,h:20},
{t:"historian Oskar Skarsaune demonstrates that fasting, like other aspects of ",p:50,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Jewish religious life, found its way into the early church.3 Since fasting ",p:50,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"was such a well-established part of Jewish religious tradition, it is safe to ",p:50,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"assume that as Jesus grew up He would have been drilled in its practice. ",p:50,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Prior to his public ministry, I feel quite certain that Jesus regularly prac-",p:50,x:105,y:227,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ticed fasting during the religious fasts of Judaism. ",p:50,x:105,y:254,w:352,h:23},
{t:"By the time of Christ there were two established fast days per week. ",p:50,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"In Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, the Pharisee ",p:50,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"congratulated himself for fasting twice a week (Luke 18:12). Fasting, ",p:50,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"however, was not a practice needed by Christ’s disciples during His ",p:50,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"earthly ministry:",p:50,x:105,y:392,w:120,h:23},
{t:"Now John ’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some ",p:50,x:150,y:434,w:424,h:23},
{t:"people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John ’s dis-",p:50,x:150,y:462,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but ",p:50,x:150,y:489,w:424,h:23},
{t:"yours are not?” ",p:50,x:150,y:517,w:112,h:23},
{t:"Jesus answered, ",p:50,x:150,y:544,w:117,h:23},
{t:"“How can the guests of the bridegroom ",p:50,x:271,y:544,w:304,h:23},
{t:"fast while he is with them? Tey cannot, so long as they ",p:50,x:150,y:572,w:424,h:23},
{t:"have him with them. But the time will come when the ",p:50,x:150,y:599,w:424,h:23},
{t:"bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they ",p:50,x:150,y:627,w:424,h:23},
{t:"will fast.” (Mark 2:18–20)",p:50,x:150,y:654,w:189,h:23},
{t:"Tis has led some to argue that because we now have Christ and we ",p:50,x:135,y:697,w:484,h:23},
{t:"are in a new period of history with God, fasting is no longer required. ",p:50,x:105,y:724,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Tis argument can be supported in part by the very sparse evidence in ",p:50,x:105,y:752,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the New Testament of the practice among believers. But in reality the ",p:50,x:105,y:779,w:514,h:23},
{t:"argument that the practice has been superseded by Jesus Himself is not ",p:50,x:105,y:807,w:514,h:23},
{t:"valid for several reasons. Scripture hints at the possibility that Christ ",p:50,x:105,y:834,w:514,h:23},
{t:"may have merely suspended fasting among His immediate disciples for ",p:50,x:105,y:862,w:514,h:23},
{t:"1 ",p:50,x:105,y:925,w:12,h:21},
{t:" Oskar Skarsaune, In the Shadow of the Temple: Jewish Infuences on Early ",p:50,x:126,y:925,w:464,h:21},
{t:"Christianity (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2002), 363. ",p:50,x:105,y:945,w:378,h:21},
{t:"36",p:51,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:51,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"the three years He was training them, while assuming that following ",p:51,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"His departure His disciples would fast:",p:51,x:105,y:144,w:279,h:23},
{t:"Jesus answered, “Can you make the guests of the bride-",p:51,x:150,y:187,w:419,h:23},
{t:"groom fast while he is with them? But the time will come ",p:51,x:150,y:214,w:424,h:23},
{t:"when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those ",p:51,x:150,y:242,w:424,h:23},
{t:"days they will fast.” (Luke 5:34–39)",p:51,x:150,y:269,w:258,h:23},
{t:"Jesus instructed His followers how to fast properly, avoiding draw-",p:51,x:135,y:312,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ing attention to themselves. Clearly His intention was to ensure that ",p:51,x:105,y:339,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a new code of conduct would accompany fasting in the lives of His ",p:51,x:105,y:367,w:514,h:23},
{t:"followers. Traditions and practices needed to change when His follow-",p:51,x:105,y:394,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ers fasted: ",p:51,x:105,y:422,w:75,h:23},
{t:"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, ",p:51,x:150,y:464,w:424,h:23},
{t:"for they disfgure their faces to show men they are fasting. ",p:51,x:150,y:492,w:424,h:23},
{t:"I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. ",p:51,x:150,y:519,w:424,h:23},
{t:"But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your ",p:51,x:150,y:547,w:424,h:23},
{t:"face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are ",p:51,x:150,y:574,w:424,h:23},
{t:"fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your ",p:51,x:150,y:602,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ",p:51,x:150,y:629,w:424,h:23},
{t:"(Mathew 6:16–18)",p:51,x:150,y:657,w:137,h:23},
{t:"In Matthew 17 we read about Jesus healing and delivering a boy ",p:51,x:135,y:699,w:484,h:23},
{t:"who sufered from seizures as a result of a demon. When Jesus’ disciples ",p:51,x:105,y:727,w:514,h:23},
{t:"asked Him why they had been unable to drive out the demon, He ",p:51,x:105,y:754,w:514,h:23},
{t:"answered, ",p:51,x:105,y:782,w:75,h:23},
{t:"“Because you have so little faith” (Matthew 17:20). Jesus ",p:51,x:184,y:782,w:436,h:23},
{t:"then assured them, “Nothing will be impossible for you.” Tough its ",p:51,x:105,y:809,w:514,h:23},
{t:"textual credibility has been questioned by scholars involved in newer ",p:51,x:105,y:837,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Bible translations, the footnote of the New International Version re-",p:51,x:105,y:864,w:509,h:23},
{t:"cords that Jesus also said: ",p:51,x:105,y:892,w:195,h:23},
{t:"“But this kind does not go out except by ",p:51,x:303,y:892,w:316,h:23},
{t:"37",p:52,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE BIBLICAL BACKGROUND OF FASTING",p:52,x:415,y:59,w:200,h:20},
{t:"prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21). Tis is what the Lord has spoken ",p:52,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"about with me many times as part of my fasts.",p:52,x:105,y:144,w:334,h:23},
{t:"I would contend, therefore, that Jesus taught that certain demonic ",p:52,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"enslavement necessitated fasting for healing, though we have no record ",p:52,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of Him fasting in order to do this Himself. Nevertheless, He seems to ",p:52,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"be instructing us in fnding keys to help people who are enslaved. In ",p:52,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"my own ministry experiences this teaching has proven true, as I will be ",p:52,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"illustrating later.",p:52,x:105,y:309,w:118,h:23},
{t:"As noted earlier, Oskar Skarsaune makes a compelling case that ",p:52,x:135,y:337,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the early church naturally adopted a number of Jewish ritual practices, ",p:52,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"from the Seder (sacred meal), to meeting for hymns and exaltation, to ",p:52,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the writing of literature to maintain the traditions and values taught by ",p:52,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Christ.4 I believe it is also safe to assume that the frst believers adopted ",p:52,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"practices regarding the importance of fasting, as seen in the following ",p:52,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"verses:",p:52,x:105,y:502,w:45,h:23},
{t:"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the ",p:52,x:150,y:544,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for ",p:52,x:150,y:572,w:424,h:23},
{t:"the work to which I have called them.” So after they had ",p:52,x:150,y:599,w:424,h:23},
{t:"fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and ",p:52,x:150,y:627,w:424,h:23},
{t:"sent them of. (Acts 13:2–3)",p:52,x:150,y:654,w:204,h:23},
{t:"Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them ",p:52,x:150,y:704,w:358,h:23},
{t:"in each ",p:52,x:514,y:704,w:60,h:23},
{t:"church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to ",p:52,x:150,y:732,w:424,h:23},
{t:"the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. (Acts 14:23)",p:52,x:150,y:759,w:410,h:23},
{t:"Tree times in his letters Paul referred to his fasting, though the ",p:52,x:135,y:802,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fasting might not have always been voluntary!",p:52,x:105,y:829,w:331,h:23},
{t:"2 ",p:52,x:105,y:925,w:12,h:21},
{t:" Much of Skarsaune’s book, In the Shadow of the Temple, pertains to this ",p:52,x:126,y:925,w:462,h:21},
{t:"topic. ",p:52,x:105,y:945,w:40,h:21},
{t:"38",p:53,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:53,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"I have labored and toiled and have often gone without ",p:53,x:150,y:117,w:424,h:23},
{t:"sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone ",p:53,x:150,y:144,w:424,h:23},
{t:"without food; I have been cold and naked. (2 Corinthians ",p:53,x:150,y:172,w:424,h:23},
{t:"11:27, See also 1 Corinthians 4:11 and 2 Corinthians 6:5.)",p:53,x:150,y:199,w:419,h:23},
{t:"Jesus fasted for forty days prior to the commencement of His ",p:53,x:135,y:242,w:484,h:23},
{t:"ministry. Tis was a unique moment in Christ’s life, as we do not read ",p:53,x:105,y:269,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that He fasted again. Only Moses and Elijah shared the experience of ",p:53,x:105,y:297,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a forty-day fast.",p:53,x:105,y:324,w:113,h:23},
{t:"Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by ",p:53,x:150,y:367,w:424,h:23},
{t:"the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was ",p:53,x:150,y:394,w:424,h:23},
{t:"hungry. (Matthew 4:1–2)",p:53,x:150,y:422,w:180,h:23},
{t:"Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights ",p:53,x:150,y:472,w:424,h:23},
{t:"without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the ",p:53,x:150,y:499,w:424,h:23},
{t:"tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. ",p:53,x:150,y:527,w:424,h:23},
{t:"(Exodus 34:28)",p:53,x:150,y:554,w:109,h:23},
{t:"Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to ",p:53,x:150,y:604,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he ",p:53,x:150,y:632,w:424,h:23},
{t:"himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a ",p:53,x:150,y:659,w:424,h:23},
{t:"broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ",p:53,x:150,y:687,w:424,h:23},
{t:". . . Ten he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. ",p:53,x:150,y:714,w:370,h:23},
{t:"All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” ",p:53,x:150,y:742,w:424,h:23},
{t:"He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread ",p:53,x:150,y:769,w:424,h:23},
{t:"baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank ",p:53,x:150,y:797,w:424,h:23},
{t:"and then lay down again. ",p:53,x:150,y:824,w:182,h:23},
{t:"Te angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched ",p:53,x:150,y:852,w:424,h:23},
{t:"him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much ",p:53,x:150,y:879,w:424,h:23},
{t:"for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by ",p:53,x:150,y:907,w:424,h:23},
{t:"39",p:54,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE BIBLICAL BACKGROUND OF FASTING",p:54,x:415,y:59,w:200,h:20},
{t:"that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he ",p:54,x:150,y:117,w:424,h:23},
{t:"reached Horeb, the mountain of God. (1 Kings 19:3–8)",p:54,x:150,y:144,w:395,h:23},
{t:"Tese three fasts symbolize three signifcant stages related to the birth ",p:54,x:135,y:187,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of the church. Moses was the Lawgiver, Elijah was the Prophet applying ",p:54,x:105,y:214,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the Law, and Jesus was the King fulflling the Law. Each stage was ac-",p:54,x:105,y:242,w:509,h:23},
{t:"companied by a forty-day fast. ",p:54,x:105,y:269,w:219,h:23},
{t:"Tough Scripture does not hint that we need to take up the practice ",p:54,x:135,y:297,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of a forty-day fast, I fnd clear biblical evidence that through fasting we ",p:54,x:105,y:324,w:514,h:23},
{t:"can participate in seeing breakthroughs in specifc areas of our own lives ",p:54,x:105,y:352,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and the lives of others, as well as in our churches, towns, and other areas. ",p:54,x:105,y:379,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I would conclude, therefore, that fasting is a spiritual discipline that God ",p:54,x:105,y:407,w:514,h:23},
{t:"encourages us to develop and to learn to use efectively.",p:54,x:105,y:434,w:388,h:23},
{t:"Adopted by the Church?",p:54,x:241,y:488,w:237,h:26},
{t:"What we see in the Old Testament is a kind of recidivism, or backslid-",p:54,x:135,y:534,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ing: the people of Israel embracing covenant relationship with the Lord ",p:54,x:105,y:561,w:514,h:23},
{t:"but then compromising their commitment through sins of greed, selfsh-",p:54,x:105,y:589,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ness, and unwillingness to follow the Law of Moses. Fasting followed ",p:54,x:105,y:616,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this pattern and expressed the same ebb and fow, being undermined by ",p:54,x:105,y:644,w:514,h:23},
{t:"human baggage and sin. Nevertheless, the practice of fasting continued ",p:54,x:105,y:671,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to be part of the religious life of Israel into the postexilic period—surviv-",p:54,x:105,y:699,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing even to the time of Christ. ",p:54,x:105,y:726,w:218,h:23},
{t:"In the Synoptic Gospels we read that Jesus criticized the hypocritical ",p:54,x:135,y:754,w:484,h:23},
{t:"practice of fasting. Christ himself fasted, however, as part of His prepara-",p:54,x:105,y:781,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tion for ministry. And the early church doesn ’t seem to have questioned ",p:54,x:105,y:809,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the value of the discipline. ",p:54,x:105,y:836,w:190,h:23},
{t:"In fact, fasting became a regular part of the spiritual disciplines of ",p:54,x:135,y:864,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the church after the New Testament period, used as a valuable tool for ",p:54,x:105,y:891,w:514,h:23},
{t:"self-humbling, intercession in crisis, and as a source of income for the ",p:54,x:105,y:919,w:514,h:23},
{t:"40",p:55,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:55,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"poor—as believers gave to the needy either the food that they abstained ",p:55,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"from eating or the money they would have spent to buy food. What we ",p:55,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"see, some would say, is an overzealous commitment to fasting as a way ",p:55,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of life. Fasting was practiced for a number of reasons, including breaking ",p:55,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"physical lust, disciplining the body, and progressing toward Christ-",p:55,x:105,y:227,w:510,h:23},
{t:"likeness and spiritual maturity.5 Some of these values and principles are ",p:55,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of importance to us now, as we shall note in due course. ",p:55,x:105,y:282,w:399,h:23},
{t:"Richard Foster, in his popular book, Celebration of Discipline, ofers ",p:55,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"us a signifcant overview of the biblical and historical precedent of fast-",p:55,x:105,y:337,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing: “Te list of biblical personages who fasted becomes a ‘Who ’s Who’ ",p:55,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of Scripture: Moses the lawgiver, David the king, Elijah the Prophet, ",p:55,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Esther the queen, Daniel the seer, Anna the prophetess, Paul the apostle, ",p:55,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Jesus Christ the incarnate Son. Many of the great Christians throughout ",p:55,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"church history fasted and witnessed to its value; among them were Martin ",p:55,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, David ",p:55,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Brainerd, Charles Finney and Pastor Hsi of China.”6",p:55,x:105,y:529,w:369,h:23},
{t:"3 ",p:55,x:105,y:741,w:12,h:21},
{t:"Teresa Shaw has carefully reviewed this area in Te Burden of the Flesh: ",p:55,x:130,y:741,w:452,h:21},
{t:"Fasting and Sexuality in Early Christianity (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1998). ",p:55,x:105,y:761,w:502,h:21},
{t:"Together with others, she has documented the move toward extreme behavior ",p:55,x:105,y:781,w:502,h:21},
{t:"in suppressing physical needs, etc. Te graphic detail of some of this behavior ",p:55,x:105,y:801,w:500,h:21},
{t:"would be ofensive to us today—especially women starving their bodies in ",p:55,x:105,y:821,w:479,h:21},
{t:"order to look more masculine, following the Greek adoration of the male body ",p:55,x:105,y:841,w:508,h:21},
{t:"(pp. 220–252). For those interested in more of the background of the post-",p:55,x:105,y:861,w:483,h:21},
{t:"New Testament church ’s attitudes toward fasting, see the appendix at the end ",p:55,x:105,y:881,w:497,h:21},
{t:"of this book. ",p:55,x:105,y:901,w:85,h:21},
{t:"4 ",p:55,x:105,y:925,w:12,h:21},
{t:" Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline: Te Path to Spiritual Growth (New ",p:55,x:126,y:925,w:490,h:21},
{t:"York: Harper and Row), 42.",p:55,x:105,y:945,w:180,h:21},
{t:"41",p:56,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"4.",p:56,x:566,y:241,w:26,h:55},
{t:"AREAS OF ABSTINENCE",p:56,x:105,y:422,w:281,h:52},
{t:"In this chapter we are going to look in a broad way at the concept of ",p:56,x:135,y:552,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fasting. Over the years, most of my fasts have meant denying myself food. ",p:56,x:105,y:579,w:514,h:23},
{t:"But on numerous occasions the Lord has touched other areas of my life ",p:56,x:105,y:607,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I have needed to surrender to Him. You too may want or need to look ",p:56,x:105,y:634,w:514,h:23},
{t:"at a fast that is not food-related. Tese can be efective spiritually, while ",p:56,x:105,y:662,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sometimes being less demanding on your physical and emotional health. ",p:56,x:105,y:689,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Tis may be where you need to begin in learning how to fast.",p:56,x:105,y:717,w:431,h:23},
{t:"All fasting, by its very nature, targets that which is important to us, ",p:56,x:135,y:744,w:484,h:23},
{t:"that which we value highly. Tis principle is at the heart of fasting: a ",p:56,x:105,y:772,w:514,h:23},
{t:"denial of what we want, what we feel we need, or what we are using to ",p:56,x:105,y:799,w:514,h:23},
{t:"help us cope with daily life. It is only when we consider fasting that we ",p:56,x:105,y:827,w:514,h:23},
{t:"begin to discover those things we depend upon—our “soft addictions.”",p:56,x:105,y:854,w:499,h:23},
{t:"Te types of fast one can do are endless. Most books on fasting will ",p:56,x:135,y:882,w:484,h:23},
{t:"mention a variety of fasts that could be relevant to the reader. ",p:56,x:105,y:909,w:436,h:23},
{t:"42",p:57,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:57,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"The Concept of Abstinence",p:57,x:227,y:117,w:266,h:26},
{t:"Behind all of our behavior we are making choices: choices to do this, ",p:57,x:135,y:162,w:484,h:23},
{t:"not to do that, take this, change that, and so on. In fasting we choose to ",p:57,x:105,y:189,w:514,h:23},
{t:"abstain from something—to refuse to do something that we normally ",p:57,x:105,y:217,w:514,h:23},
{t:"do. Fasting is about denying ourselves something that we routinely enjoy. ",p:57,x:105,y:244,w:514,h:23},
{t:"When we ask ourselves what kind of fast we are going to do, the issue ",p:57,x:135,y:272,w:484,h:23},
{t:"is what we are going to abstain from. Some would argue that fasting is a ",p:57,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"time of doing something, such as praying. But we will normally be able to ",p:57,x:105,y:327,w:514,h:23},
{t:"do this one thing only if we have abstained from other things. ",p:57,x:105,y:354,w:441,h:23},
{t:"So what will you abstain from in your fasting? Te answers are end-",p:57,x:135,y:382,w:480,h:23},
{t:"less, because the level of abstinence and the kind of thing(s) we abstain ",p:57,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"from depend on how big a statement we want to make to the Lord and ",p:57,x:105,y:437,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the Enemy. For instance, not watching TV for a week is not nearly as ",p:57,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"much abstinence as giving your TV away!",p:57,x:105,y:492,w:293,h:23},
{t:"In answering this question, therefore, you must set your own rules. ",p:57,x:135,y:519,w:484,h:23},
{t:"But the key rule in this decision-making process is that you must begin ",p:57,x:105,y:547,w:514,h:23},
{t:"small. Don ’t try to run before you can walk. You do not need to start ",p:57,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"your journey of fasting by denying yourself the thing you love most in ",p:57,x:105,y:602,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the world. Abstaining from cofee, for example, may be a good idea but ",p:57,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"if you are addicted to cofee, it might be too demanding a place to start.  ",p:57,x:105,y:657,w:512,h:23},
{t:"In deciding on the type of fast, you must take into account your ",p:57,x:135,y:684,w:484,h:23},
{t:"lifestyle and the people around you. Fasting from food is feasible if you sit ",p:57,x:105,y:712,w:514,h:23},
{t:"at a desk all day. But if you are a construction worker you will probably ",p:57,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have to try abstaining from something other than food. Otherwise you ",p:57,x:105,y:767,w:514,h:23},
{t:"may not be able to carry your load—literally! And being a grouch is not ",p:57,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"helpful to those close to you. ",p:57,x:105,y:822,w:208,h:23},
{t:"Terefore, a frst step could be to list on a sheet of paper the things ",p:57,x:135,y:849,w:484,h:23},
{t:"that come to mind that you could abstain from as a form of fasting. I ",p:57,x:105,y:877,w:514,h:23},
{t:"would be surprised if you couldn ’t think of at least twenty things. ",p:57,x:105,y:904,w:464,h:23},
{t:"43",p:58,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"AREAS OF ABSTINENCE",p:58,x:503,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Fasting for me has fallen into two distinct areas. Fasting from food ",p:58,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"is the one type of fast, and fasting from other things is the other. Some ",p:58,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"people carry such hate for their bodies that they can starve themselves for ",p:58,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a week and not notice. For others missing just a mere snack causes panic, ",p:58,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"as their stomachs growl in pain and discontent. So your frst decision is ",p:58,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what path of abstinence you are going down: food or non-food.",p:58,x:105,y:254,w:449,h:23},
{t:"Fasting from Things Other Than Food",p:58,x:172,y:308,w:376,h:26},
{t:"Te idea of denial is much wider than abstaining from food or fuids. ",p:58,x:135,y:354,w:484,h:23},
{t:"For instance, we might deny ourselves the use of our car for a week—or ",p:58,x:105,y:381,w:514,h:23},
{t:"use it just for work and walk everywhere else. Alternately, we could keep ",p:58,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the bicycle in the rack of the car and use it more. For some this would ",p:58,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"represent signifcant denial. ",p:58,x:105,y:464,w:197,h:23},
{t:"However, in our Western world one denial stands head and shoul-",p:58,x:135,y:491,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ders over most others: television. Turning of the TV would be one of our ",p:58,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"greatest sacrifces. Turning it of for a week—spending the time instead ",p:58,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"reading Scripture, visiting friends, or enjoying meeting the Lord in a ",p:58,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"good Christian book—would be real denial. ",p:58,x:105,y:601,w:316,h:23},
{t:"I would put watching TV in the same category as addictions to ",p:58,x:135,y:629,w:484,h:23},
{t:"food and other compulsions. To stop watching TV shows and/or new ",p:58,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"or rented DVDs would be a sacrifce indeed for most of us. Many of us ",p:58,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"live in denial of what is really important to us or what we are addicted ",p:58,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to, especially TV. We are in total control of what is likely the ultimate ",p:58,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"pacifer, and therefore many of us waste several hours a day watching TV. ",p:58,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Abstaining from TV for, say, a week could be a valid fast, providing we ",p:58,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"choose a productive alternative to fll the time. (No, not playing video or ",p:58,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"computer games!) Many folks would be lost without the comforter called ",p:58,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"TV. Would you?",p:58,x:105,y:876,w:116,h:23},
{t:"Many other soft addictions are possible targets for fasting abstinence. ",p:58,x:135,y:904,w:484,h:23},
{t:"An article I read recently suggested that we all have about fve hundred ",p:58,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"44",p:59,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:59,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"addictions and compulsions from which to choose. Anything we are ",p:59,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"capable of enjoying to excess can become an addiction for us. So denial ",p:59,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"via fasting can be a good idea. ",p:59,x:105,y:172,w:215,h:23},
{t:"What are your potential soft addictions? Some are edible, like cofee, ",p:59,x:135,y:199,w:484,h:23},
{t:"chocolate, and other snacks. Others are far subtler. One of the most com-",p:59,x:105,y:227,w:509,h:23},
{t:"mon is spending money we do not have by using credit cards or other ",p:59,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"forms of debt. For some of us, curbing our lifestyle and eliminating our ",p:59,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"debts would be an act of profound sacrifce. I’m not talking about a home ",p:59,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"mortgage, but other voluntary debts that we can easily accumulate. ",p:59,x:105,y:337,w:477,h:23},
{t:"Another form of denial that would be a real sacrifce for some would ",p:59,x:135,y:364,w:484,h:23},
{t:"be to put a pornography block or flter on their computer. For others ",p:59,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it could be smoking or chewing tobacco, drinking alcohol, eating out ",p:59,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"repeatedly, or buying expensive clothes. A soft addiction for many is ",p:59,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"“soft” drinks! ",p:59,x:105,y:474,w:97,h:23},
{t:"When we are thinking about fasting we should never forget the host ",p:59,x:135,y:502,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of things we enjoy that would result in genuine denial if we were to stop ",p:59,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"them for a season, in honor of the Lord. Many of these involve sins or ",p:59,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"baggage that we need to clear from our lives. Denial is the path to greater ",p:59,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"holiness in these areas. ",p:59,x:105,y:612,w:162,h:23},
{t:"I am hesitant to even mention one fnal area of denial. In this age of ",p:59,x:135,y:639,w:484,h:23},
{t:"chronic sleep deprivation, most of us don ’t get enough sleep. Since the ",p:59,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"invention of electricity (and then TV and movies at home), most of us ",p:59,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"stay up too late and sleep neither long enough nor deeply enough. We ",p:59,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are also guilty of waking before we complete our sleep cycles. Te impact ",p:59,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of this on our immune system and other body cycles is a serious problem ",p:59,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"today in the Western world. ",p:59,x:105,y:804,w:202,h:23},
{t:"But having said that, denial of sleep could be the basis of several ",p:59,x:135,y:832,w:484,h:23},
{t:"types of fasts. Going without sleep for a night of prayer and meditation ",p:59,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"can be a genuine fast. Te problem with losing more than a night’s sleep ",p:59,x:105,y:887,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is that your body begins to go into a form of shock similar to jet lag. For a ",p:59,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"couple of days after losing even one night’s sleep most of us are incapable ",p:59,x:105,y:942,w:514,h:23},
{t:"45",p:60,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"AREAS OF ABSTINENCE",p:60,x:503,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"of making any serious or intelligent decisions. Look at your calendar and ",p:60,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"workload, then plan to do half a night, or perhaps even a whole night ",p:60,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of prayer with friends, rather than sleep. Tis type of fasting is more ",p:60,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"common in some parts of Europe, or in countries where Christianity is ",p:60,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"illegal, than it is at present in USA.",p:60,x:105,y:227,w:247,h:23},
{t:"Alternately, you might choose to get up an hour earlier, for a period ",p:60,x:140,y:254,w:480,h:23},
{t:"of time, as a fast. You could use this time to spend with the Lord in prayer ",p:60,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and Bible study. You also could combine this with another fast, such as ",p:60,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"denying yourself tea or cofee until after your hour of prayer or doing a ",p:60,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"four-hour water-only fast.",p:60,x:105,y:364,w:182,h:23},
{t:"Before moving on to look at abstaining from food and liquids it ",p:60,x:135,y:392,w:484,h:23},
{t:"is important to mention one relevant principle. We should never deny ",p:60,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ourselves things that would do us harm by abstaining from them. I am ",p:60,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"thinking of things like not taking our prescribed medicine, not wearing ",p:60,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a motorcycle or bicycle helmet, or not seeing the doctor when we are ",p:60,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sick. Instead of seeing such behavior as irrational, we can be tempted ",p:60,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to argue that since we are doing it for the Lord He will protect and ",p:60,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"keep us. In reality, such behavior could be an ofense against God and an ",p:60,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"irresponsible witness to others. ",p:60,x:105,y:612,w:221,h:23},
{t:"Denying Ourselves Food or Liquids",p:60,x:185,y:666,w:349,h:26},
{t:"Te critical rule regarding all fasting, but especially abstaining from ",p:60,x:135,y:711,w:484,h:23},
{t:"food or liquids, is to start modestly. Let yourself grow gradually in the ",p:60,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"experience of denial, both in the type of fast and the length. I suggest ",p:60,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that you begin cautiously, never underestimating the impact of either ",p:60,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the act of denial on your body and spirit or your ability to absorb the ",p:60,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sudden change.",p:60,x:105,y:849,w:111,h:23},
{t:"With this in mind, let’s look at some specifc types of food and liquid ",p:60,x:135,y:876,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fasts. As we go through these examples I will share some principles, based ",p:60,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"on my own experience, about learning to fast. You will see that sometimes ",p:60,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"46",p:61,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:61,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"there is a fne line between what is a fast and what is simply a healthy, ",p:61,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"responsible way of eating—adjustments that we may need to make for ",p:61,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the rest of our lives. Although a fast is a time of specifc denial, you may ",p:61,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fnd that beginning a journey of fasting will also involve beginning a ",p:61,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"healthier overall relationship with your body.",p:61,x:105,y:227,w:316,h:23},
{t:"My frst and most important comment is that you must be careful not ",p:61,x:135,y:254,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to deny yourself fuids. It is better to begin by not eating. For instance, ",p:61,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"miss one meal or deny yourself a favorite compulsive food like cofee or ",p:61,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"chocolate. Try several fasts like this, and then you will be ready to miss ",p:61,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"two meals. Let this build into more over time. As you gain experience, ",p:61,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"try a twenty-four-hour fast in which you deny all food, but drink plenty ",p:61,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of liquids (more on that later). Each of these can be described as diferent ",p:61,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"types of fasts.",p:61,x:105,y:454,w:94,h:23},
{t:"A One-Food-Only Fast ",p:61,x:249,y:508,w:227,h:26},
{t:"In this type of fast you eat one kind of food exclusively (along with ",p:61,x:135,y:554,w:484,h:23},
{t:"drinking water). For a short period of time you can choose almost any ",p:61,x:105,y:581,w:514,h:23},
{t:"kind of food, but choosing well can also be a health gain. For medical ",p:61,x:105,y:609,w:514,h:23},
{t:"reasons, some people fast by eating just one fruit. Common choices are ",p:61,x:105,y:636,w:514,h:23},
{t:"grapes, apples, a variety of juices, or even certain types of vegetables. ",p:61,x:105,y:664,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Tese fasts suit most people and can be the easiest of all fasts. ",p:61,x:105,y:691,w:435,h:23},
{t:"I have done a number of these fasts. My favorite has been eating ",p:61,x:135,y:719,w:484,h:23},
{t:"just grapes, plus drinking water. Tis can be particularly good in the ",p:61,x:105,y:746,w:514,h:23},
{t:"autumn when grapes are plentiful and inexpensive. Some nutritionists ",p:61,x:105,y:774,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will tell you that the best juice fasts are apple or grape. Grapes, especially ",p:61,x:105,y:801,w:514,h:23},
{t:"black grapes, are one of the most holistic fruits. Tey have a great deal of ",p:61,x:105,y:829,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fructose (natural sugar) and are almost all liquid. Because of their juicy ",p:61,x:105,y:856,w:514,h:23},
{t:"favor, for some this could be more of a delight than a fast! Other foods, ",p:61,x:105,y:884,w:514,h:23},
{t:"such as apples, rice, or boiled potatoes, might be more appropriate.",p:61,x:105,y:911,w:473,h:23},
{t:"47",p:62,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"AREAS OF ABSTINENCE",p:62,x:503,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Excluding One Food ",p:62,x:260,y:117,w:206,h:26},
{t:"Often called a partial fast, this is the opposite of the one-food-only ",p:62,x:135,y:162,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fast. Here you are denying yourself just one item. But what item? Go for ",p:62,x:105,y:189,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the most difcult to deny yourself, which for most of us is either cofee or ",p:62,x:105,y:217,w:514,h:23},
{t:"chocolate. Tea (with lots of sugar?) likely comes a close second or third, ",p:62,x:105,y:244,w:514,h:23},
{t:"probably followed by snack foods such as chips, cookies, and ice cream.",p:62,x:105,y:272,w:503,h:23},
{t:"Te time length of such fasts is something you will need to decide. ",p:62,x:135,y:299,w:484,h:23},
{t:"On health grounds alone, some of us should fast from them for the rest ",p:62,x:105,y:327,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of our lives! But we live in a culture addicted to cafeine, sugar, unhealthy ",p:62,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"snacks, and fast foods. If you don ’t want to drink beverages loaded with ",p:62,x:105,y:382,w:514,h:23},
{t:"cafeine and/or sugar, for instance, then the only other options, other ",p:62,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"than water, may be juices and cafeine-free diet soft drinks. Many of these ",p:62,x:105,y:437,w:514,h:23},
{t:"diet drinks, however, are high in aspartame, which some say is worse than ",p:62,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sugar! ",p:62,x:105,y:492,w:45,h:23},
{t:"I most always resort to fltered, chilled water from our refrigerator ",p:62,x:135,y:519,w:484,h:23},
{t:"water dispenser. Although I develop a strong dislike for water on my ",p:62,x:105,y:547,w:514,h:23},
{t:"extended fasts, I do regain a taste for water afterwards. Having said that, ",p:62,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"we have few alternatives to water or natural juices if we do not want ",p:62,x:105,y:602,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to return to addictive and unhealthy beverages. So, like others, I have ",p:62,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"compromised, drinking mostly water and diet drinks, along with no ",p:62,x:105,y:657,w:514,h:23},
{t:"more than one cup of cofee a day. ",p:62,x:105,y:684,w:247,h:23},
{t:"A Water-Only Fast ",p:62,x:270,y:738,w:185,h:26},
{t:"Tis is the type of fast I practice most often. A water-only fast ",p:62,x:135,y:783,w:484,h:23},
{t:"has numerous merits in addition to its spiritual benefts. Such a fast ",p:62,x:105,y:811,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will be a health gain for you if you are physically capable of doing it. ",p:62,x:105,y:838,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Te health benefts include discovering what might be wrong with you, ",p:62,x:105,y:866,w:514,h:23},
{t:"especially in regard to your stomach, kidneys, and digestive tract, and ",p:62,x:105,y:893,w:514,h:23},
{t:"letting your stomach and digestive system rest for a while. During an ",p:62,x:105,y:921,w:514,h:23},
{t:"48",p:63,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:63,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"extended fast, however, such benefts wane as the grueling days of the ",p:63,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast slowly move on. ",p:63,x:105,y:144,w:151,h:23},
{t:"One of the long-term physical benefts of water-only fasting is that ",p:63,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"with an ongoing healthy diet (see my discussion of the “Daniel fast” ",p:63,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"later) you will not regain the weight that you lose. In fact, you will even ",p:63,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"continue to lose weight if you exercise and eat moderate-sized portions. ",p:63,x:105,y:254,w:507,h:23},
{t:"I must warn you that my years of fasting left me with an aversion ",p:63,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to water in almost any form, a problem that has taken me years to ",p:63,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"overcome. When doing a water-only fast I sometimes add a little lemon ",p:63,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"juice to reduce the water’s bitterness. Te important thing is that there ",p:63,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is no nourishment in the water, which allows you to know that you are ",p:63,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"denying your body of any beneft beyond the water. ",p:63,x:105,y:419,w:370,h:23},
{t:"On the other hand, a variation of the water-only fast is to drink a ",p:63,x:135,y:447,w:484,h:23},
{t:"liquid other than water. But be careful about drinking diet beverages. ",p:63,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Some health scientists are warning us about artifcial sweeteners like ",p:63,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"aspartame and saccharin. Taken over long periods of time they apparently ",p:63,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"can be dangerous.1 What is becoming obvious is that almost anything in ",p:63,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"excess is harmful. ",p:63,x:105,y:584,w:126,h:23},
{t:"An Absolute Fast ",p:63,x:278,y:638,w:170,h:26},
{t:"Tis is when you neither eat nor drink. Nothing at all passes your lips. ",p:63,x:135,y:684,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Although I have done this on rare occasion for up to a day, I have met ",p:63,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"people who have done absolute fasts for up to three days. I don",p:63,x:105,y:739,w:448,h:23},
{t:"’",p:63,x:553,y:739,w:4,h:23},
{t:"t recom-",p:63,x:556,y:739,w:59,h:23},
{t:"mend this type of fast, and would go further and strongly caution against ",p:63,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it. Moses fasted on Mount Sinai for forty days without eating or drinking ",p:63,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"(Exodus 34:28), but this was supernatural. It probably won",p:63,x:105,y:821,w:409,h:23},
{t:"’",p:63,x:514,y:821,w:4,h:23},
{t:"t be when you ",p:63,x:516,y:821,w:103,h:23},
{t:"do it! Te other fasts mentioned in Scripture that were clearly “absolute” all ",p:63,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"arose from dire emergencies (see Esther 4:6–16; Jonah 3:4–9; Acts 9:3–9).",p:63,x:105,y:876,w:510,h:23},
{t:"1 ",p:63,x:105,y:925,w:12,h:21},
{t:"Janet Starr Hull, Sweet Poison: How the World’s Most Popular Artifcial Sweet-",p:63,x:126,y:925,w:485,h:21},
{t:"ener Is Killing Us—My Story (New York: New Horizon Press, 2000).",p:63,x:105,y:945,w:435,h:21},
{t:"49",p:64,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"AREAS OF ABSTINENCE",p:64,x:503,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"It is normally impossible for the human body to sustain an absolute ",p:64,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fast for any length of time. Te real danger is in the denial of liquids ",p:64,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to the body. People have been known to live for ten to fourteen days ",p:64,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"without water. But doing so is highly discouraged. For someone with ",p:64,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fragile health such a fast could kick in a range of problems, such as dam-",p:64,x:105,y:227,w:509,h:23},
{t:"age to the kidneys and a weakening of the immune system. So although ",p:64,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the absolute fast is an act of unusually deep penitence, it should only be ",p:64,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"practiced in the most severe of circumstances and under clear direction ",p:64,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"from the Lord. ",p:64,x:105,y:337,w:109,h:23},
{t:"If you are led to do an absolute fast, do it for just a few hours. You ",p:64,x:135,y:364,w:484,h:23},
{t:"will probably be shocked at how difcult it is. Side efects like the drying ",p:64,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of the mouth are unpleasant and unavoidable. Rinsing out your mouth is ",p:64,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"not permitted in my opinion. Friends have told me that during this fast ",p:64,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"they have unthinkingly wandered over to the tap and flled a glass. Doing ",p:64,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"such a fast for twenty-four hours can be debilitating. During the second ",p:64,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"day some people feel they are going mad without liquids. You begin to ",p:64,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"wonder, Should I moisten my lips, or is that cheating? ",p:64,x:105,y:557,w:366,h:23},
{t:"My recommendation in regard to an absolute fast is, simply, Don",p:64,x:135,y:584,w:473,h:23},
{t:"’t ",p:64,x:607,y:584,w:13,h:23},
{t:"go there! I see little merit, and many more hazards, in comparison to a ",p:64,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"water-only fast. ",p:64,x:105,y:639,w:113,h:23},
{t:"In Summary",p:64,x:300,y:693,w:120,h:26},
{t:"For some, choosing what to abstain from will be an easy decision. If ",p:64,x:135,y:739,w:484,h:23},
{t:"you are a chef, tasting food is an essential part of your professional life. ",p:64,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"On days that you are working, you will need to fnd alternatives that are ",p:64,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"far more practical. But if you work behind a desk all day, then abstinence ",p:64,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"from food might be a way forward. ",p:64,x:105,y:849,w:252,h:23},
{t:"You may be overweight, in which case fasting from food may also be ",p:64,x:135,y:876,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of beneft in breaking unhealthy eating habits. If you have to admit that ",p:64,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you spend many hours a week in front of a TV, or some other addictive ",p:64,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"50",p:65,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:65,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"electronic device, then chances are you have discovered an activity from ",p:65,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"which to “fast.”",p:65,x:105,y:144,w:108,h:23},
{t:"Te issue is how high you are willing to “turn up the volume.” Where ",p:65,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"is your starting point? What would be both practical and sacrifcial? You ",p:65,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"may fnd yourself giving more emphasis to either direction. Talk to others ",p:65,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"about your fasting choices, especially in regard to how they might be ",p:65,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"impacted. ",p:65,x:105,y:282,w:74,h:23},
{t:"Perhaps the most intimate, and important, question you need to ",p:65,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"answer is this: What do you least want to abstain from? Is that the place ",p:65,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"where you need to start? ",p:65,x:105,y:364,w:175,h:23},
{t:"In whatever area you begin, please start small—recognizing that even ",p:65,x:135,y:392,w:484,h:23},
{t:"a minor abstinence will probably be a battle. ",p:65,x:105,y:419,w:318,h:23},
{t:"51",p:66,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"5.",p:66,x:566,y:241,w:26,h:55},
{t:"VARIOUS TYPES OF FASTS",p:66,x:105,y:422,w:321,h:52},
{t:"Deciding what to abstain from is one of the choices you must make ",p:66,x:135,y:552,w:484,h:23},
{t:"when preparing to fast. Te other is about the type of fast you will un-",p:66,x:105,y:579,w:509,h:23},
{t:"dertake. Will you be fasting privately or with a group? For how long will ",p:66,x:105,y:607,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you fast? Most of my fasts are private, extended water-only fasts. Tis is ",p:66,x:105,y:634,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the most demanding type of fast and is therefore likely to be the most ",p:66,x:105,y:662,w:514,h:23},
{t:"efective. However, it will take most people quite some time to work up ",p:66,x:105,y:689,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to this; and many will never take on this type of fast. In this chapter we ",p:66,x:105,y:717,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will look at the various types of fasts you can undertake.",p:66,x:105,y:744,w:395,h:23},
{t:"Occasional Short Fasts",p:66,x:249,y:798,w:222,h:26},
{t:"Tis is where most people start. Whether denying yourself food or ",p:66,x:135,y:844,w:484,h:23},
{t:"some other pleasure, an occasional fast that lasts six, twelve, or twenty-",p:66,x:105,y:871,w:510,h:23},
{t:"four hours is the most manageable. Nevertheless, you must treat it with ",p:66,x:105,y:899,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the same sincerity as a longer fast. It is not insignifcant just because it is ",p:66,x:105,y:926,w:514,h:23},
{t:"52",p:67,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:67,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"short. But it does allow you to move gently into the discipline and to let ",p:67,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the Lord instruct you. You are not necessarily making a commitment to ",p:67,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"do this type of fast again, as it is a one-time fast for a specifc purpose.",p:67,x:105,y:172,w:492,h:23},
{t:"Once you have decided what you are abstaining from you will be able ",p:67,x:135,y:199,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to plan accordingly. If you are fasting from chocolate, then plan ahead ",p:67,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"so there is no chocolate in the house. Giving it away may be sacrifce ",p:67,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"enough! If you are abstaining from TV, then pull the plug out of the wall ",p:67,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and put a cloth over the screen. You must get serious, even if only for a ",p:67,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"brief, occasional fast.",p:67,x:105,y:337,w:146,h:23},
{t:"If you are doing a short water-only fast, don ’t presume that it will ",p:67,x:135,y:364,w:484,h:23},
{t:"be easy. Some people are shocked when they frst abstain from food. ",p:67,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Your blood sugar level may drop and your instinct will be to rush for a ",p:67,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"chocolate bar. But then you will remember that you are supposed to be ",p:67,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting, though I have known people who have impulsively eaten before ",p:67,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"realizing what they were doing. Such an outcome can be discouraging; ",p:67,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"but do not despair; things will change once you get into the rhythm of ",p:67,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting.  Another temptation is to binge during the meal before or after a ",p:67,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast. Both are equally unacceptable!",p:67,x:105,y:584,w:248,h:23},
{t:"Intermittent Fasts",p:67,x:272,y:638,w:176,h:26},
{t:"Tis is normally a regular act of abstinence, for example one day a ",p:67,x:135,y:684,w:484,h:23},
{t:"week. You may abstain from food, or make some other sacrifce. Tis type ",p:67,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of fast is a way of integrating the spiritual discipline of fasting into your ",p:67,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"life on an ongoing basis.",p:67,x:105,y:766,w:171,h:23},
{t:"Some people might contend they are on an intermittent fast, perhaps ",p:67,x:135,y:794,w:484,h:23},
{t:"abstaining one day a week from high-cafeine drinks, while knowing that ",p:67,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in fact they really need to stop drinking so many of these beverages every ",p:67,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"day.  Where is the pain or gain in abstaining for just one day a week? ",p:67,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Others exercise instead of eating lunch, but thoroughly enjoy it. So where ",p:67,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is the abstinence?",p:67,x:105,y:931,w:121,h:23},
{t:"53",p:68,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"VARIOUS TYPES OF FASTS",p:68,x:487,y:59,w:128,h:20},
{t:"If a person is addicted to buying romance novels or music CDs, then ",p:68,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to “fast” for one week every month might be a real jolt. Likewise, if you ",p:68,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"max out a bunch of credit cards on designer clothing, then you need to ",p:68,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"stop what you ’re doing—not just “fast.” Be wise in your choice of what to ",p:68,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"abstain from, and be honest. An intermittent fast will be just as sacrifcial ",p:68,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"as any other type, if you have chosen wisely.",p:68,x:105,y:254,w:309,h:23},
{t:"I used to fast one meal every day: I would eat a good breakfast, then ",p:68,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"eat only fruit for lunch, then eat again in the evening. I did this for ",p:68,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"several years while in college. Another option is to follow the Catholic ",p:68,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"tradition of eating a reduced diet one day a week as a way of fasting. ",p:68,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Some churches have a regular monthly day of prayer and fasting. ",p:68,x:105,y:392,w:461,h:23},
{t:"Partial fasts (denying yourself one or more specifc foods) are useful ",p:68,x:135,y:419,w:484,h:23},
{t:"because they help you establish a routine. Tose close to you accept it as ",p:68,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"well. Such intermittent partial fasts are also the type of fast you might ",p:68,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"commit to if, as a group, you were undertaking a round-the-clock fast. ",p:68,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Each of you commit to fast for a specifc period on a rotating basis, so ",p:68,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that there is always one person fasting. We have done this a number ",p:68,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of times in our church, ministry, and business, often describing it as a ",p:68,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"“24/7 fast.”",p:68,x:105,y:612,w:82,h:23},
{t:"Longer Fasts",p:68,x:299,y:666,w:123,h:26},
{t:"Longer fasts likewise can take the form of abstinence from food or ",p:68,x:135,y:711,w:484,h:23},
{t:"some other sacrifce. Some good options for a non-food fast would be ",p:68,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"abstaining from watching TV from Monday to Friday, reading a biog-",p:68,x:105,y:766,w:509,h:23},
{t:"raphy of a great man or woman of God each week, or dedicating every ",p:68,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"evening for a week to praying with friends. Other things may need to get ",p:68,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"cancelled in order for you to do this. ",p:68,x:105,y:849,w:262,h:23},
{t:"A longer water-only fast might last from one to three days. If you ",p:68,x:135,y:876,w:484,h:23},
{t:"are fasting from something other than food, your longer fast might last a ",p:68,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"week. Some use Lent as a time for a longer fast. Going through cafeine ",p:68,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"54",p:69,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:69,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"withdrawal by not drinking cofee or tea or eating chocolate could be a ",p:69,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"good Lenten fast. Or you could spend every evening reading Scripture ",p:69,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"rather than watching TV or DVDs. Abstaining from driving your car by ",p:69,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"traveling to work with someone else might be an appropriate sacrifce.",p:69,x:105,y:199,w:493,h:23},
{t:"What is most signifcant about such fasts is their potential to change ",p:69,x:135,y:227,w:484,h:23},
{t:"your lifestyle. A friend of mine encountered a huge battle when he com-",p:69,x:105,y:254,w:509,h:23},
{t:"mitted to getting up half an hour earlier each day to spend time in prayer. ",p:69,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"He quickly found all kinds of reasons why he couldn ’t do it, until we sat ",p:69,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"down and began unpacking the obstacles. A year later he was still enjoy-",p:69,x:105,y:337,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing this time with the Lord, having moved on from the abstinence stage.",p:69,x:105,y:364,w:510,h:23},
{t:"Extended Fasts",p:69,x:288,y:418,w:145,h:26},
{t:"Tis is the hard path of fasting—choosing to give up something that ",p:69,x:135,y:464,w:484,h:23},
{t:"you need or value for an extended period of time. One non-food extended ",p:69,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast would be to get up an hour earlier each day for a month in order to ",p:69,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"pray, worship, or read Scripture or a Christian book. Such a move can ",p:69,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"revolutionize our lives. To do this, we should also go to bed earlier. ",p:69,x:105,y:574,w:474,h:23},
{t:"In referring to “extended fasts” I am deliberately being vague. It isn ’t ",p:69,x:135,y:601,w:484,h:23},
{t:"possible or even helpful to suggest a time period for an extended fast. Te ",p:69,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"length of time will vary from one person to the next and will probably ",p:69,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"also increase as your experience of fasting grows. I would not recommend ",p:69,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that you begin fasting with extended fasts.",p:69,x:105,y:711,w:297,h:23},
{t:"Water-only extended fasts must be approached with particular ",p:69,x:135,y:739,w:484,h:23},
{t:"care. Tis is discussed extensively later in the book, so I won ’t go into ",p:69,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"detail here. ",p:69,x:105,y:794,w:86,h:23},
{t:"Open-ended Fasts",p:69,x:273,y:848,w:174,h:26},
{t:"Some extended fasts are open-ended, for example, where you make a ",p:69,x:135,y:893,w:484,h:23},
{t:"commitment not to break your fast until your goals have been achieved. ",p:69,x:105,y:920,w:514,h:23},
{t:"55",p:70,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"VARIOUS TYPES OF FASTS",p:70,x:487,y:59,w:128,h:20},
{t:"Defning your goals is particularly important here. Again, this type of fast ",p:70,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"should not be considered until you have gained some experience. You ",p:70,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"must be particularly cautious if you are doing a water-only, open-ended ",p:70,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast.",p:70,x:105,y:199,w:28,h:23},
{t:"Non-food fasts are also a possibility with this kind of fasting. One ",p:70,x:135,y:227,w:484,h:23},
{t:"person I know woke early to study Hebrew for an hour each weekday, ",p:70,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"while another stopped at a parking lot on his way to work to spend time ",p:70,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with the Lord. But in terms of their efects on a person, these types of ",p:70,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"open-ended fasts can ’t be compared to the open-ended water-only fast. ",p:70,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Don",p:70,x:105,y:364,w:30,h:23},
{t:"’t even think about this kind of fast until you have a proven track record ",p:70,x:133,y:364,w:486,h:23},
{t:"and know what you are committing to. ",p:70,x:105,y:392,w:281,h:23},
{t:"Occasional Group Fasts",p:70,x:245,y:446,w:231,h:26},
{t:"Most of my extended fasts have been private. But I have also par-",p:70,x:135,y:491,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ticipated in many group fasts. Such fasts can be called by a church or a ",p:70,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"group of churches or, on a larger scale, even to a nation during a time ",p:70,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of crisis. Alternately, such fasts can be called by a small group or even by ",p:70,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a Christian business. With the right leadership, calling groups to prayer ",p:70,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and fasting can be a very powerful tool. ",p:70,x:105,y:629,w:282,h:23},
{t:"I must confess that I have a problem with some group fasts in that ",p:70,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"you fast, then you break the fast, then you get on with your life, and then ",p:70,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you are frequently unable to measure whether you achieved anything. ",p:70,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Group fasts can be a helpful way of introducing the discipline of fast-",p:70,x:105,y:739,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing, but perhaps they could be better constructed so that one is able to ",p:70,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"measure the benefts. For instance, the group might agree on a sum of ",p:70,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"money that is needed and declare that openly as the goal. Or they might ",p:70,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"seek a person ’s healing, being specifc about what they are asking of the ",p:70,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Lord. Tis will help encourage more fasting. Tere will always be some ",p:70,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"benefts, even if it is merely that the faith community did something ",p:70,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"56",p:71,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:71,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"together. Set clear goals and live by them (see also the discussion of goals ",p:71,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in chapter eight).",p:71,x:105,y:144,w:121,h:23},
{t:"Tere are times when it is helpful for groups to fast together, such ",p:71,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"as when a congregation is going through difcult times or a mission ",p:71,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"organization needs to see a substantial breakthrough. In the history of ",p:71,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the church there has always been a signifcant place for fasting together ",p:71,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in groups. It is encouraging to be part of a team, as well as the wider body ",p:71,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of Christ. National fasts, priestly fasts (i.e., those called by a priest or a ",p:71,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"leader of a faith community), tribal fasts (as in the Old Testament where ",p:71,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"an extended family or clan stand together), or family fasts can all carry ",p:71,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a great deal of weight. Fasting can be a powerful form of intercessory ",p:71,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"prayer.",p:71,x:105,y:419,w:47,h:23},
{t:"A signifcant blessing lies in the preparation itself for the community ",p:71,x:135,y:447,w:484,h:23},
{t:"or group to do a fast. I have prepared groups in this way a number of ",p:71,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"times, and this book is the result of my having written notes for such ",p:71,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"training years ago. One should be careful not to expect too much too ",p:71,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"soon from the group, however. You also need to make sure that folks do ",p:71,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"not get caught up in a group fast when they are not ready to begin fasting. ",p:71,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"On the other hand, such fasts can be a very good introduction to ",p:71,x:135,y:612,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fasting for those who have never done it before. Tey discover the chal-",p:71,x:105,y:639,w:509,h:23},
{t:"lenges and benefts of fasting in a supportive way. Many people never ",p:71,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"would have thought of fasting had they not frst been part of a group ",p:71,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"where they discovered the power of fasting.  ",p:71,x:105,y:722,w:313,h:23},
{t:"Longer Group Fasts ",p:71,x:264,y:776,w:198,h:26},
{t:"Te range of options for a group fast is extensive. Are you all going ",p:71,x:135,y:821,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to fast at the same time, or are you setting up a rotation? If you are going ",p:71,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to do a water-only fast, are there some who need to do a partial fast for ",p:71,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"health reasons? Is this an open-ended fast until a goal is achieved, or ",p:71,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are you fasting for a specifcally defned period? Tese factors must be ",p:71,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"57",p:72,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"VARIOUS TYPES OF FASTS",p:72,x:487,y:59,w:128,h:20},
{t:"carefully considered so that the fast is efective and no one feels excluded, ",p:72,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"but also so that no damage is done to anyone’s health. Pastoral support ",p:72,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"should be available, especially for those who have not fasted before.",p:72,x:105,y:172,w:474,h:23},
{t:"When we did our frst workshops in Rwanda in 2006, our church set ",p:72,x:135,y:199,w:484,h:23},
{t:"up a rotation of two people fasting (water-only) for twenty-four hours at ",p:72,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a time. Tis was clearly a signifcant part of the success of the trip. ",p:72,x:105,y:254,w:469,h:23},
{t:"You might want to practice various kinds of abstinence in a group ",p:72,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"setting. For instance, one person might abstain from watching TV, an-",p:72,x:105,y:309,w:509,h:23},
{t:"other might go without cofee, and another might get up an hour early to ",p:72,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"pray. But you commit to the fast together and report back to each other ",p:72,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"on your progress and battles. ",p:72,x:105,y:392,w:207,h:23},
{t:"If the group is abstaining from various things, it is important to know ",p:72,x:135,y:419,w:484,h:23},
{t:"what each person is agreeing to do. Write this information down and see ",p:72,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that everyone has a copy of it. Make sure that all are honored, regardless ",p:72,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of their chosen type of fast. In setting goals, outline the conditions for ",p:72,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ending the fast so that everyone is aware of what they are aiming at and ",p:72,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what is to happen as they end the fast. ",p:72,x:105,y:557,w:274,h:23},
{t:"An extended or open-ended group fast is particularly demanding. I ",p:72,x:135,y:584,w:484,h:23},
{t:"have been involved in such an undertaking several times: for example, to ",p:72,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"intercede for fnancial provision or for healing for a member of the church ",p:72,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"injured in a car accident. If there are, say, seven of you fasting, each of you ",p:72,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"might commit to fasting one day a week and assume that would not be ",p:72,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"too demanding. But beware—fasting one day a week for six months will ",p:72,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"drain you signifcantly, not because of the physical demands but because ",p:72,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of the spiritual exhaustion caused by the battle you are engaging.",p:72,x:105,y:777,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Long-term fasts need to be well regulated. Goals need to be set ",p:72,x:135,y:804,w:484,h:23},
{t:"precisely and owned by everyone who wants to be involved. Te group ",p:72,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"needs to stay connected either by meeting together in person or by com-",p:72,x:105,y:859,w:509,h:23},
{t:"municating via the Internet. Also, the leader of the group must be fully ",p:72,x:105,y:887,w:514,h:23},
{t:"satisfed that none of those participating will be harmed by fasting. If you ",p:72,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"58",p:73,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:73,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"have doubts about some individuals, then suggest they check with their ",p:73,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"doctor frst. ",p:73,x:105,y:144,w:87,h:23},
{t:"Be aware that asking a whole group to fast can be difcult, as I found ",p:73,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"once when my business was in trouble and all the directors began a fast-",p:73,x:105,y:199,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing rotation. In some cases the lack of food can impact both performance ",p:73,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and temperament! But I know of no better way than group fasts to ",p:73,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"introduce someone to the power of fasting. ",p:73,x:105,y:282,w:308,h:23},
{t:"In Summary",p:73,x:300,y:336,w:120,h:26},
{t:"Learning the discipline of fasting will be a unique journey for all ",p:73,x:135,y:381,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of us. We must each take responsibility for carefully choosing the most ",p:73,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"appropriate type of fast. If we do too much too soon, it will perhaps ",p:73,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"detract from other priorities in our lives and hinder rather than release ",p:73,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"God’s purposes as we grow in Christ.",p:73,x:105,y:491,w:260,h:23},
{t:"Are you someone who is given to extremes? If so, beware of jump-",p:73,x:135,y:519,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ing into too much fasting too quickly. Sometimes the sacrifce of fasting ",p:73,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"attracts people for the wrong reasons, especially those who struggle from ",p:73,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"time to time with issues of self-hatred. Try to follow the suggestions of ",p:73,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this chapter, starting with occasional short fasts. ",p:73,x:105,y:629,w:341,h:23},
{t:"For some of us a short water-only fast would be little sacrifce, while ",p:73,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"turning of the TV, radio, and stereo for twenty-four hours would be a ",p:73,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"signifcant challenge. Likewise, deciding to abstain from going dancing ",p:73,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is not a fast when you hate dancing anyway! Once you have made a ",p:73,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"decision regarding the type of fast you are going to try you are then able ",p:73,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to decide whether you are going to do this simply as an act of obedience ",p:73,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to the Lord or to see some specifc need met. Let us turn now to the frst ",p:73,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"category, that which I call a “fast to the Lord.” ",p:73,x:105,y:849,w:329,h:23},
{t:"59",p:74,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"6.",p:74,x:566,y:241,w:26,h:55},
{t:"FASTING TO THE LORD",p:74,x:105,y:422,w:272,h:52},
{t:"A common scenario of fasting in Scripture is that of a last resort, ",p:74,x:135,y:552,w:484,h:23},
{t:"sometimes even a panicked response (1 Kings 21:27, 1 Samuel 31:13, ",p:74,x:105,y:579,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Zechariah 8.18–19). Over seventy times in Scripture we see references ",p:74,x:105,y:607,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to fasting. But few of those fall into the category that I have come to ",p:74,x:105,y:634,w:514,h:23},
{t:"call a “fast to the Lord.” By this I mean a fast that has no goal other ",p:74,x:105,y:662,w:514,h:23},
{t:"than to focus on the Lord. Such a fast is intended simply to deepen our ",p:74,x:105,y:689,w:514,h:23},
{t:"relationship with Him. ",p:74,x:105,y:717,w:170,h:23},
{t:"I began doing this type of fast when I was in my teens. It is a fast ",p:74,x:135,y:744,w:484,h:23},
{t:"borne out of a deep desire to know Christ better, to see life from His ",p:74,x:105,y:772,w:514,h:23},
{t:"perspective, and to commune with Him in a more relaxed and gracious ",p:74,x:105,y:799,w:514,h:23},
{t:"way. I would encourage everyone to undertake this type of fast, as it is ",p:74,x:105,y:827,w:514,h:23},
{t:"an excellent way of learning the discipline.",p:74,x:105,y:854,w:307,h:23},
{t:"Tis isn ’t a fast with a specifc goal, such as defeating the Enemy, ",p:74,x:135,y:882,w:484,h:23},
{t:"raising a sum of money, or winning a city for Christ. It is about God ",p:74,x:105,y:909,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and me—just the two of us. I am saying something very fundamental ",p:74,x:105,y:937,w:514,h:23},
{t:"60",p:75,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:75,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"in my fast to the Lord: that He is more important to me than food and ",p:75,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"my personal well-being. ",p:75,x:105,y:144,w:176,h:23},
{t:"At one time I would have attributed this kind of fast to the fush of ",p:75,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the frst love of a new Christian. But on several occasions over the years ",p:75,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I have needed to get back in line with the Lord through the discipline ",p:75,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of a fast. Tis has never failed to sort out the matter. At times I have ",p:75,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"found myself needing to take back ground or maybe reassess where I ",p:75,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have reached. In one instance, having experienced a very difcult situa-",p:75,x:105,y:309,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tion in a local congregation, I found myself needing to take some time ",p:75,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of from church to review my position with the church and its leaders. ",p:75,x:105,y:364,w:512,h:23},
{t:"Types of Fasts to the Lord",p:75,x:233,y:418,w:254,h:26},
{t:"Te length of such a fast is as long as a piece of string. You may ",p:75,x:135,y:464,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fnd yourself with a week of work and the need to regroup spiritually. ",p:75,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"You may choose something intermittent over an extended period of ",p:75,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"time. Or your fast to the Lord may be short and focused. And the ",p:75,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"length of the fast may be set for you—either until you have seen the ",p:75,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"breakthrough you seek or until you have to get back to other duties. ",p:75,x:105,y:601,w:496,h:23},
{t:"Te length and nature of the fast depends on your goals and cir-",p:75,x:135,y:629,w:480,h:23},
{t:"cumstances. You may have a general desire to grow, or you may know ",p:75,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"there is something the Lord wants to say but not know what it is. ",p:75,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Alternately, you may be having a personal faith crisis of sorts following ",p:75,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a tragedy or a reversal of circumstances. Or maybe you just feel jaded ",p:75,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in your walk with the Lord. Fasting is an efective means to fnd faith ",p:75,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"again and give yourself the time to recover.",p:75,x:105,y:794,w:309,h:23},
{t:"You need to ask yourself if you are going to abstain from food or if ",p:75,x:135,y:821,w:484,h:23},
{t:"you are going the non-food route. And will your circumstances allow ",p:75,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you to be up and down emotionally, like a yo-yo, or will you be fulfll-",p:75,x:105,y:876,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing a busy lifestyle while you are fasting? Te answers to these questions ",p:75,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will help guide you through the choices you have to make. ",p:75,x:105,y:931,w:427,h:23},
{t:"61",p:76,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"FASTING TO THE LORD",p:76,x:506,y:59,w:109,h:20},
{t:"Again, the answer can be simpler than might at frst appear. If you ",p:76,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"are an experienced faster then you can move ahead with all the options ",p:76,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"on the table. But if you have not had much experience, then you need ",p:76,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to operate on the principle of going slow as you proceed. ",p:76,x:105,y:199,w:415,h:23},
{t:"Choosing a Declaration of Denial That Suits You",p:76,x:120,y:253,w:481,h:26},
{t:"If the ultimate goal of your fast is to deepen your faith in Christ, ",p:76,x:135,y:299,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to get to know Him better, or to lift the tarnish from your faith, then a ",p:76,x:105,y:326,w:514,h:23},
{t:"number of options exists to suit you. I have practiced several methods ",p:76,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"over the years. Missing lunch, doing an exercise program, and praying ",p:76,x:105,y:381,w:514,h:23},
{t:"was a helpful discipline and a declaration to the Lord. Likewise, doing ",p:76,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"study during my evenings was another big sacrifcial declaration. ",p:76,x:105,y:436,w:470,h:23},
{t:"In the long run you may fnd that the greatest sacrifces you can ",p:76,x:135,y:464,w:484,h:23},
{t:"make will be giving your time or giving yourself to the Lord in ways ",p:76,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that inconvenience you. Te so-called spiritual disciplines are the frst ",p:76,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"port of call in getting to know the Lord better: Scripture, prayer, fel-",p:76,x:105,y:546,w:509,h:23},
{t:"lowship, study, and others. Anything that helps you focus chiefy on the ",p:76,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Lord will be among your frst array of choices. ",p:76,x:105,y:601,w:338,h:23},
{t:"In time you may want to balance this with some food denial as ",p:76,x:135,y:629,w:484,h:23},
{t:"well: for example, taking time every day to meditate on Scripture, ",p:76,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"combined with drinking juices instead of eating solid food; or instead ",p:76,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of eating lunch, studying one of the books of the Bible, combined with ",p:76,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a twenty-minute jog.",p:76,x:105,y:739,w:151,h:23},
{t:"Although fasting to the Lord is not a goal-oriented fast involving a ",p:76,x:135,y:766,w:484,h:23},
{t:"huge task, it may still help you to think through what you are intending ",p:76,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to do and what you want to achieve. But be sure to make Christ the ",p:76,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"focus. After all, this is a fast to the Lord. ",p:76,x:105,y:849,w:295,h:23},
{t:"On one occasion when I was going through a rough time with ",p:76,x:135,y:876,w:484,h:23},
{t:"some Christian leaders I committed myself to the task of getting up ",p:76,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"early and learning all I could about the times, both inside and outside ",p:76,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"62",p:77,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:77,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"of Scripture, that Jesus is mentioned or described. I discovered that ",p:77,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"there is more evidence for Christ having lived on the earth than there ",p:77,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is for Julius Caesar. But I also met the Lord as I studied and thought ",p:77,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"about Him. ",p:77,x:105,y:199,w:89,h:23},
{t:"What Could Happen When We Fast to the Lord?",p:77,x:123,y:253,w:475,h:26},
{t:"Meeting the Lord stands head and shoulders above all other experi-",p:77,x:135,y:299,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ences and outcomes, especially when it means knowing His actual pres-",p:77,x:105,y:326,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ence. Not that I have ever presumed on this, and it has only happened ",p:77,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a few times in ffty years, but I have known it. Trough these incidents ",p:77,x:105,y:381,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I have became aware of how close spiritual reality is to our world. Tey ",p:77,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are within each other in a way that I cannot easily describe. In these ",p:77,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"moments I realized the Lord was more eager speak to me than I was ",p:77,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"willing to listen to Him. It was on one such occasion that I began to ",p:77,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"hear His voice in a new way, a way that has stayed with me ever since. ",p:77,x:105,y:519,w:509,h:23},
{t:"Either during a fast, much of which can be very barren, or shortly ",p:77,x:135,y:546,w:484,h:23},
{t:"after a fast, I have also found myself thinking thoughts that are new to ",p:77,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"me. For instance, I began to see from what the Lord was teaching me ",p:77,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that human wisdom, as we so often describe it, is not always how God ",p:77,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sees things. ",p:77,x:105,y:656,w:85,h:23},
{t:"One time this lesson came through to me quite forcefully: when I ",p:77,x:135,y:684,w:484,h:23},
{t:"thought I had a matter fgured out, the Lord vigorously contradicted ",p:77,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"my assumptions. Tis moment was a tipping point for me—because I ",p:77,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"thought I understood, but the Lord’s perspective was the opposite of ",p:77,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"mine. As a result, when I think I know something I now have a habit ",p:77,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of asking myself what the opposite might be, and whether this could be ",p:77,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the Lord’s perspective. We can be so arrogant about what we think we ",p:77,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"know and about how we think God views a situation.",p:77,x:105,y:876,w:387,h:23},
{t:"Other fasts weren ’t about great and marvelous things for me to ",p:77,x:135,y:904,w:484,h:23},
{t:"learn, but rather about how God saw me. I had to accept, and confess, ",p:77,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"63",p:78,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"FASTING TO THE LORD",p:78,x:506,y:59,w:109,h:20},
{t:"issues of sin and deceit in both my personal life and my relationships. I ",p:78,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"went into one such fast being upset with the Lord and came out most ",p:78,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"remorseful. I began the fast, to my shame, with an arrogant attitude; ",p:78,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and the fast brought me to the foot of the Cross. I found a deeper ",p:78,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"repentance than I had experienced before. ",p:78,x:105,y:227,w:307,h:23},
{t:"Tis steep learning curve has been going on all of my Christian ",p:78,x:135,y:254,w:484,h:23},
{t:"life—that is, seeing things unravel that I didn ’t even know needed to ",p:78,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"be unraveled. What all of this has taught me is that we will never fully ",p:78,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"understand God, but we will never even comprehend His love for us. ",p:78,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"And we will never have enough wisdom to be able to converse with ",p:78,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Him in the way that we really desire. ",p:78,x:105,y:392,w:271,h:23},
{t:"I had a defning moment in my life during one fast. I heard the ",p:78,x:135,y:419,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Lord speak my name, saying that He loved me. What a deep shock this ",p:78,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"was, knowing that He knew me—that is, that I was loved by Him, for ",p:78,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"He had called me by name. What more is there in life than to know and ",p:78,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"experience this, that I am loved by God?",p:78,x:105,y:529,w:292,h:23},
{t:"So most of my fasts to the Lord, regardless of how they were ",p:78,x:135,y:557,w:484,h:23},
{t:"planned or organized, usually turned out the same way: me needing to ",p:78,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"silence myself before the Living God, and in being silenced to listen to ",p:78,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what He feels and thinks about matters. Put another way, it is seeing ",p:78,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"things from an entirely new perspective. Much of my prayer times these ",p:78,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"days is dedicated to just listening, as I have learned I have very little to ",p:78,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"say that is useful. His Word is life; so often, sadly, my words are not.",p:78,x:105,y:722,w:494,h:23},
{t:"In Summary",p:78,x:300,y:776,w:120,h:26},
{t:"What I am suggesting is that you do not need to move the earth in ",p:78,x:135,y:821,w:484,h:23},
{t:"your fasting. Your journey of fasting could, like mine, begin with “self-",p:78,x:105,y:849,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ish” fasts in which you just want to be with the Lord in His presence. ",p:78,x:105,y:876,w:504,h:23},
{t:"I know that God has set up a veil to prevent us from trespassing ",p:78,x:135,y:904,w:484,h:23},
{t:"into spiritual reality without being invited, but through fasting to the ",p:78,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"64",p:79,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:79,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Lord I have known this veil to be lifted (see 2 Corinthians 3:7–18). ",p:79,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"None of us has any greater reason to fast than to meet the Lord, one ",p:79,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"way or another. ",p:79,x:105,y:172,w:116,h:23},
{t:"Part 2",p:80,x:322,y:242,w:77,h:46},
{t:"THE PRACTICE OF ",p:80,x:176,y:474,w:382,h:83},
{t:"FASTING",p:80,x:271,y:570,w:179,h:83},
{t:"In this part of the book, I will focus ",p:80,x:181,y:711,w:365,h:28},
{t:"on learning how to fast. The initial ",p:80,x:183,y:751,w:360,h:28},
{t:"guidelines are applicable to all types  ",p:80,x:174,y:791,w:386,h:28},
{t:"of fasts. In Part 3, I will address ",p:80,x:202,y:831,w:324,h:28},
{t:"principles that apply specifcally to ",p:80,x:183,y:871,w:361,h:28},
{t:"water-only fasting.",p:80,x:264,y:911,w:191,h:28},
{t:"67",p:81,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"7.",p:81,x:566,y:241,w:26,h:55},
{t:"BEGINNING YOUR FASTING JOURNEY",p:81,x:105,y:422,w:447,h:52},
{t:"I am going to assume two things: 1) that you are new to the spiritual ",p:81,x:135,y:552,w:484,h:23},
{t:"discipline of fasting, but 2) that you are considering beginning a journey ",p:81,x:105,y:579,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of your own. If you are more experienced, I believe you will still fnd the ",p:81,x:105,y:607,w:514,h:23},
{t:"information in this part of the book helpful in enhancing your spiritual ",p:81,x:105,y:634,w:514,h:23},
{t:"pilgrimage.",p:81,x:105,y:662,w:79,h:23},
{t:"I would describe fasting as an act of self-denial that can bring a wide ",p:81,x:135,y:689,w:484,h:23},
{t:"range of benefts to you and to others. It is a powerful weapon in the ",p:81,x:105,y:717,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Kingdom of God for achieving His purposes and for transforming your ",p:81,x:105,y:744,w:514,h:23},
{t:"life and the lives of those who are the focus of your fast. I see fasting ",p:81,x:105,y:772,w:514,h:23},
{t:"as taking authority and responsibility in the spiritual realm for people, ",p:81,x:105,y:799,w:514,h:23},
{t:"needs, and situations. ",p:81,x:105,y:827,w:156,h:23},
{t:"Sometimes your fasting will target global issues, but this is rarely ",p:81,x:135,y:854,w:484,h:23},
{t:"where any of us start. Cutting our teeth in this discipline often means ",p:81,x:105,y:882,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting for what feels mundane. Don ’t be tempted to take on major ",p:81,x:105,y:909,w:514,h:23},
{t:"battles if you are young in this discipline. Start by learning how fasting ",p:81,x:105,y:937,w:514,h:23},
{t:"68",p:82,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:82,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"afects you and how to manage the impact of its side efects. Don ’t un-",p:82,x:105,y:117,w:509,h:23},
{t:"derestimate the power of small changes to knock you of balance or to ",p:82,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"jolt your relationships.",p:82,x:105,y:172,w:159,h:23},
{t:"It is important to make peace with the fact that Scripture doesn ’t ",p:82,x:135,y:199,w:484,h:23},
{t:"promote a mechanical approach to the discipline of fasting (for example, ",p:82,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting for fnancial provision and getting the money twenty-four hours ",p:82,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"later). At some points in the church ’s history or a nation ’s history a regular ",p:82,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"routine of fasting has been observed, such as national days of prayer and ",p:82,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting. Tough I am not at all suggesting that this is bad, this shouldn ’t ",p:82,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"be the only way for us to see fasting or for us to approach the discipline. ",p:82,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Instead, setting aside a perfunctory approach to its practice, I believe ",p:82,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting is one of those things that we learn by doing. And by doing we ",p:82,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"begin to write a unique history with the Lord and others. ",p:82,x:105,y:447,w:408,h:23},
{t:"Fasting should not be entered into as a discipline just because it is ",p:82,x:135,y:474,w:484,h:23},
{t:"found in the Bible or because a book like this recommends it. Having ",p:82,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"been informed about what Scripture has to say, fasting is then far more ",p:82,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of a personal journey. We’re not talking about a set of rules that, when ",p:82,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"followed, delivers certain benefts. Fasting has to do with our relationship ",p:82,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with the Lord, not with a formula.",p:82,x:105,y:612,w:244,h:23},
{t:"Fasting will be diferent for everyone, and each person will have a dif-",p:82,x:135,y:639,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ferent experience. I have known people who have fasted for two or three ",p:82,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"days and needed a week to recover. Others have fasted for ten days and ",p:82,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"never had a complaint. We need to avoid implying that our experience ",p:82,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"alone is valid, since each of us is unique.  ",p:82,x:105,y:749,w:293,h:23},
{t:"A Word of Warning",p:82,x:266,y:803,w:188,h:26},
{t:"I would like to bring some cautions here to those who are considering ",p:82,x:135,y:849,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fasting. I will outline some of the things we should all take into account ",p:82,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"when considering such a venture. Many of these cautions apply most ",p:82,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"signifcantly to extended water-only fasts. But for some people they will ",p:82,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"69",p:83,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"BEGINNING YOUR FASTING JOURNEY",p:83,x:436,y:59,w:179,h:20},
{t:"be relevant even in the more modest forms of fasting. Later in the book ",p:83,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"my wife, Mary, will add some cautions based on her experience of being ",p:83,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"alongside me in my extended fasts.",p:83,x:105,y:172,w:245,h:23},
{t:"Fasting, along with many other traditional values like community, ",p:83,x:135,y:199,w:484,h:23},
{t:"equality, and friendship, is becoming more and more fashionable. It has ",p:83,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"become popular again in the church.1 As both a spiritual discipline and a ",p:83,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"health tool in the ever-widening plethora of alternatives to conventional ",p:83,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"medicine, fasting is increasingly on the agenda. Although I don ’t pretend ",p:83,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to be an expert in healthy living, I have had to learn a lot about my body: ",p:83,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what is healthy and not so healthy in my eating and lifestyle and how the ",p:83,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"discipline of fasting can best be practiced. But I am not primarily taking ",p:83,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the health route, since others already have.2 Instead, my main focus in this ",p:83,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"book is on fasting “to the Lord”—the idea that we can signifcantly afect ",p:83,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"knowing Christ and His perspective through the discipline of fasting. ",p:83,x:105,y:474,w:493,h:23},
{t:"Please note another key distinction. Fasting as a congregation or a ",p:83,x:135,y:502,w:484,h:23},
{t:"team is a very diferent exercise than fasting as an individual. As a group ",p:83,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you are an army, perhaps modest in size, but nonetheless standing to-",p:83,x:105,y:557,w:509,h:23},
{t:"gether. Tose involved will feel some of the impact and all of the beneft. ",p:83,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Just having done it together will be a victory in and of itself. But in a ",p:83,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"private fast you are an isolated warrior who is seeking to survive. You will ",p:83,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"feel all of the impact and perhaps see little of the immediate outcome. ",p:83,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"You are participating, in a real sense, in the death of Christ, especially in ",p:83,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"an extended water-only fast.",p:83,x:105,y:722,w:198,h:23},
{t:"Fasting is not for the proud or arrogant. If you try to fake it—having ",p:83,x:135,y:749,w:484,h:23},
{t:"a pharisaic pretense of fasting when, in fact, you may not be fasting—you ",p:83,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"could fnd yourself grieving the Lord with your deceit. Fasting is a deeply ",p:83,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"1 ",p:83,x:105,y:854,w:12,h:21},
{t:"To illustrate this, go to Google or another Internet search engine and do ",p:83,x:130,y:854,w:467,h:21},
{t:"a search for “Fasting” and “Christianity” to see the endless stream of articles, ",p:83,x:105,y:874,w:492,h:21},
{t:"books, and references on the subject.",p:83,x:105,y:894,w:235,h:21},
{t:"2 ",p:83,x:105,y:918,w:12,h:21},
{t:" See, for example, Don Colbert, Toxic Relief: Restore Health and Energy ",p:83,x:126,y:918,w:454,h:21},
{t:"Trough Fasting and Detoxifcation (Lake Mary, FL: Siloam Press, 2003).",p:83,x:105,y:938,w:462,h:21},
{t:"70",p:84,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:84,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"serious matter and should not be entered lightly. I see the discipline as ",p:84,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"holy ground we stand on with the Lord. Once or twice in the past I have ",p:84,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"treated fasting irreverently and sufered for it, having to break the fast ",p:84,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with an accompanying humiliation and disconnection of spirit. Te very ",p:84,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"nature of fasting both needs to and should produce a quiet humility, ",p:84,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a self-humbling through the denial of food or other comforts. Fasting ",p:84,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"should humble the spirit of those who enter it correctly, but it can hurt ",p:84,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"those who do it in pride (see Proverbs 8:12–21; 25:6–8; 29:23). ",p:84,x:105,y:309,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Another caution about fasting is that it will afect those around you. ",p:84,x:135,y:337,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Although fasting may be practiced in private, it will still impact your ",p:84,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"immediate circle, especially your family. For instance, my wife has said ",p:84,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that I should go away when I am doing extended fasts, as my fasting ",p:84,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"makes her feel ill as well! Friends and work colleagues will also feel the ",p:84,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"emotional and spiritual slipstream of what you are doing. ",p:84,x:105,y:474,w:408,h:23},
{t:"My warning to you is that there is no glory here on earth when you ",p:84,x:135,y:502,w:484,h:23},
{t:"are fasting. Te battle is deeply private, and by instinct you will likely not ",p:84,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"want to share it with anyone except those standing with you in the fast. ",p:84,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"When you fast you stand alone: weak, vulnerable, and exposed. Don ’t ",p:84,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"be tempted to pretend it is any diferent. I have made it a rule not to ",p:84,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"talk to anyone outside my immediate support circle regarding what I am ",p:84,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"thinking or feeling while fasting. Tis is partly because I have said things ",p:84,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I later regretted, but also because as you are going through spiritual and ",p:84,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"emotional peaks and valleys, it is not helpful for people to get dumped ",p:84,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"on when you are down or be expected to rejoice with you when you are ",p:84,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in the heavens. ",p:84,x:105,y:777,w:109,h:23},
{t:"On the other hand, it is essential that your fasting includes a rela-",p:84,x:135,y:804,w:480,h:23},
{t:"tional component. Although it is a very solitary discipline, you must walk ",p:84,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the road with others if you are to fast successfully. Talking with others at ",p:84,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"every stage is a healthy balance to any extremism on your part and helps ",p:84,x:105,y:887,w:514,h:23},
{t:"remove any inverted arrogance. I have been very careful whom I talk to, ",p:84,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"normally erring on the side of not saying anything. But I have always ",p:84,x:105,y:942,w:514,h:23},
{t:"71",p:85,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"BEGINNING YOUR FASTING JOURNEY",p:85,x:436,y:59,w:179,h:20},
{t:"had one or two people walking the road with me, and I have shared with ",p:85,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"them even my most intimate thoughts while on a fasting journey. ",p:85,x:105,y:144,w:466,h:23},
{t:"Adopting a Strategy",p:85,x:263,y:198,w:194,h:26},
{t:"As any homebuilder will tell you, the success of a construction ",p:85,x:135,y:244,w:484,h:23},
{t:"project is in the preparation. Whether it is pouring a foundation, or even ",p:85,x:105,y:271,w:514,h:23},
{t:"writing a sermon or planning a vacation, preparation is critical. Once you ",p:85,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"start the enterprise it quickly becomes evident whether or not you have ",p:85,x:105,y:326,w:514,h:23},
{t:"prepared well. A construction project well done, a sermon efectively ",p:85,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"delivered, or returning home having enjoyed a well-planned vacation all ",p:85,x:105,y:381,w:514,h:23},
{t:"speak for themselves. Preparation is 90 percent of the battle. ",p:85,x:105,y:409,w:428,h:23},
{t:"Likewise, it is important to prepare thoroughly for a fast. You are ",p:85,x:135,y:436,w:484,h:23},
{t:"engaging your health and your body, which should be done with the ",p:85,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"utmost care. ",p:85,x:105,y:491,w:91,h:23},
{t:"You may fnd it helpful to read through this whole book before you ",p:85,x:135,y:519,w:484,h:23},
{t:"begin your fast. Once you get into the fast you may fnd that it is too ",p:85,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"late to change things. You should be on target before the arrow leaves ",p:85,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the crossbow. Time frames, including breaking the fast slowly, are very ",p:85,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"important. ",p:85,x:105,y:629,w:81,h:23},
{t:"It is essential that you start small and cautiously. Tis means having ",p:85,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"short fasts and manageable goals and not denying yourself something ",p:85,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that you feel you simply could not live without. If you start too gently, ",p:85,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you can always do another fast that is more challenging. But starting in ",p:85,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a manner that is too demanding, so that you feel that you failed in your ",p:85,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast, is a demoralizing way to learn a new spiritual discipline.",p:85,x:105,y:794,w:427,h:23},
{t:"If you ’re doing a food-related fast, I suggest that you frst deny your-",p:85,x:135,y:821,w:480,h:23},
{t:"self addictive foods and snacks for a specifc period of time. When you ",p:85,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have adjusted to this, do a short fast—perhaps four hours, missing one ",p:85,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"meal. You might want to repeat this several times in order to learn how ",p:85,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"72",p:86,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:86,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"you react. You may then want to increase this to an eight-hour fast, then ",p:86,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to twelve hours, and then to a one-day, water-only fast. ",p:86,x:105,y:144,w:393,h:23},
{t:"Most people underestimate the impact that abstaining from food ",p:86,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"will have on their temperament and body. Most of us need several years ",p:86,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of practicing these short fasts before being able to go further. I could not ",p:86,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have done my extended fasts without being willing to go through this ",p:86,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"painful learning curve.",p:86,x:105,y:282,w:159,h:23},
{t:"Te length of the fast is not that important. What is important is ",p:86,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the signifcance of the denial to you personally. A three-day fast for one ",p:86,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"person will be as big of a battle as a twelve-day fast for another. I have ",p:86,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"never regretted doing a fast. But my history in fasting has been a private ",p:86,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"history. In practice, the time frames are not essential. But the sufering ",p:86,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and obedience that accompanies fasting will always be vital, both to the ",p:86,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Lord and to you.",p:86,x:105,y:474,w:119,h:23},
{t:"The Power of Addictions",p:86,x:239,y:528,w:242,h:26},
{t:"All of us are somewhat dependent upon certain routines in our lives ",p:86,x:135,y:574,w:484,h:23},
{t:"that from someone else’s perspective could be viewed as addictions. I am ",p:86,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"not referring to pathological addictions, such as addictions to alcohol, ",p:86,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"drugs, tobacco, or gambling. We tolerate, almost unknowingly, a number ",p:86,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of more subtle addictions. Ingesting cafeine, watching TV, and shopping ",p:86,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are some of the most common. ",p:86,x:105,y:711,w:224,h:23},
{t:"Tere are three levels of addiction. First, there is the biological level. ",p:86,x:135,y:739,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Cofee and tea, or chocolate, can be eliminated merely by removing them ",p:86,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"from our diet. Part of your strategy in learning how to fast will be to undo ",p:86,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"these so-called soft addictions so that they don ’t distract you from the ",p:86,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"main purposes of the fast. ",p:86,x:105,y:849,w:186,h:23},
{t:"Below the biological level lies the emotional addiction or attach-",p:86,x:135,y:876,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ment. Most people see the foods and beverages they depend upon in ",p:86,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"comfort terms—that is, as a way of being nice to themselves or proving ",p:86,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"73",p:87,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"BEGINNING YOUR FASTING JOURNEY",p:87,x:436,y:59,w:179,h:20},
{t:"to themselves that they are in control. Witness the passionate way some ",p:87,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"people consume their frst cup of cofee in the morning or stop for their ",p:87,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"favorite snack, telling themselves that their blood sugar is low. Likewise, ",p:87,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"turning of the TV or radio might create a silence that is noticeably ",p:87,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"uncomfortable, or even frightening.",p:87,x:105,y:227,w:252,h:23},
{t:"Te third level, the social/relational aspect, may be the least obvious. ",p:87,x:135,y:254,w:484,h:23},
{t:"But just note how one person going to the cofee machine will cause ",p:87,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"others from the ofce to congregate. Or when you stop to make a cup of ",p:87,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"tea, you feel you need to make a cup for everyone. Addiction becomes ",p:87,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"acceptable when shared. We transgress together! Don ’t underestimate this ",p:87,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"social aspect, as it will likely represent a real loss to you. Try to fnd a ",p:87,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"healthy substitute such as juice or fruit, which allows you to still enjoy ",p:87,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the relationships.",p:87,x:105,y:447,w:120,h:23},
{t:"In Summary",p:87,x:300,y:501,w:120,h:26},
{t:"Preparing for fasting is very important. In some ways the quality ",p:87,x:135,y:546,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of our preparation is an indication to the Lord and to ourselves of how ",p:87,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"seriously we are treating the fast. ",p:87,x:105,y:601,w:233,h:23},
{t:"You may be contemplating a specifc fast for a specifc need. It is all ",p:87,x:135,y:629,w:484,h:23},
{t:"too easy to approach fasting with a semi-righteous arrogance, determined ",p:87,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to do whatever is necessary to see God intervene in a situation. I want to ",p:87,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"caution you about this approach and help you to put fasting in context. ",p:87,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Jumping in with a more demanding fast is possible, but I would recom-",p:87,x:105,y:739,w:509,h:23},
{t:"mend it only if you feel you must and you ’re convinced that you have ",p:87,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"God’s permission. Make sure you have fully considered the risks and are ",p:87,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"willing to stop the fast if at any point its impact is harmful to you or to ",p:87,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"those around you.",p:87,x:105,y:849,w:127,h:23},
{t:"I recommend that you view fasting in the context of the long-term ",p:87,x:135,y:876,w:484,h:23},
{t:"growth of your spiritual life. I could not have fasted for twenty to thirty ",p:87,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"days, once or sometimes twice a year, if I had not approached fasting as ",p:87,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"74",p:88,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:88,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"a spiritual discipline that was going to grow over the years as part of my ",p:88,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ongoing relationship with Christ. If you take this perspective you will be ",p:88,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"more willing to start gradually. ",p:88,x:105,y:172,w:221,h:23},
{t:"You may fnd that fasting is just for a season in your journey to ",p:88,x:135,y:199,w:484,h:23},
{t:"greater maturity and efectiveness in the Kingdom of God. Or perhaps ",p:88,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you will fnd it continues long-term. Either way, a commitment to care ",p:88,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for your body and bring an end to unhealthy subtle addictions will be a ",p:88,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"helpful discipline.",p:88,x:105,y:309,w:126,h:23},
{t:"75",p:89,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"8.",p:89,x:566,y:241,w:26,h:55},
{t:"GETTING READY",p:89,x:105,y:422,w:192,h:52},
{t:"I like to think that most of us have moments when we consider the ",p:89,x:135,y:552,w:484,h:23},
{t:"possibility of fasting. Perhaps you have hoped if you ignore the moment ",p:89,x:105,y:579,w:514,h:23},
{t:"long enough it will simply pass by! My practice is to listen to those mo-",p:89,x:105,y:607,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ments and use them to make a decision about whether to fast. Sometimes ",p:89,x:105,y:634,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I choose to fast, other times I don ’t. Such a decision is between you and ",p:89,x:105,y:662,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the Lord, though I would expect you to consult with those close to you. ",p:89,x:105,y:689,w:511,h:23},
{t:"In this chapter I would like to share with you some general guidelines ",p:89,x:135,y:717,w:484,h:23},
{t:"related to preparing for fasting. Tese steps have helped me grow in the ",p:89,x:105,y:744,w:514,h:23},
{t:"discipline. In time you will fnd that they become instinctive, and you ",p:89,x:105,y:772,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will adapt them to suit your own fasting journey. ",p:89,x:105,y:799,w:349,h:23},
{t:"Do You Have God’s Permission?",p:89,x:205,y:853,w:310,h:26},
{t:"It is critical that we ask the Lord for His support or permission to ",p:89,x:135,y:899,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fast. He will oftentimes be silent, leaving the choice to us. But other ",p:89,x:105,y:926,w:514,h:23},
{t:"76",p:90,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:90,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"times He will tell us not to fast because this is not our battle. When God ",p:90,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"says no, we should back of immediately. Don ’t be tempted to be a hero ",p:90,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and argue with Him, or He may have to say no in a frmer way. ",p:90,x:105,y:172,w:451,h:23},
{t:"Te Lord has given me a choice in every fast I have done. I could ",p:90,x:135,y:199,w:484,h:23},
{t:"have turned around and walked away, which would have been the end ",p:90,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of the matter. For instance, I could have referred a person who came to ",p:90,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"me for help to someone else. Other times I have said yes to the person, ",p:90,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"but then the Lord has said no. On other occasions the matter has gotten ",p:90,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"resolved as I was preparing, so I could call the fast of. But if I believed ",p:90,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"God was in the situation at the beginning, then I was choosing to stand ",p:90,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with Christ in the matter to change it through the intervention of my ",p:90,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"own abstinence. ",p:90,x:105,y:419,w:118,h:23},
{t:"I had one situation where permission from the Lord came several ",p:90,x:135,y:447,w:484,h:23},
{t:"years before I actually fasted. I made a commitment to pray for Susan ",p:90,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Williams, to carry her spiritual healing. I felt a mandate from the Lord ",p:90,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to do all I could to see this happen. Te initiative was the Lord’s, but ",p:90,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the timing of the fast was mine. Te Lord was faithful in helping me set ",p:90,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the agenda for praying for her so that I could then be faithful myself in ",p:90,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"accepting this mandate from the Lord, but in my own time. Letting God ",p:90,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Heal tells the full story.1 ",p:90,x:105,y:639,w:172,h:23},
{t:"Be careful not to be fattered by the challenge of the need. Be sure the ",p:90,x:135,y:667,w:484,h:23},
{t:"battle is for you. Te Lord has used Luke 14:31–33 on many occasions ",p:90,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to warn me not to fght every battle in which the Enemy seeks to engage ",p:90,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"me. In this parable, a king knew he could not win a battle against an op-",p:90,x:105,y:749,w:509,h:23},
{t:"posing king, so he made peace until he was strong enough to take on the ",p:90,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"enemy. Te Devil and his hordes want to wear us down with incessant ",p:90,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and un-winnable small skirmishes. In most instances, we should assume ",p:90,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the confict is not for us unless we have special guidance or permission ",p:90,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"3 ",p:90,x:105,y:925,w:12,h:21},
{t:" S. B. Williams and P. R. Holmes, Letting God Heal: From Emotional Illness ",p:90,x:126,y:925,w:483,h:21},
{t:"to Wholeness (Bletchley, UK: Authentic Media, 2004). ",p:90,x:105,y:945,w:348,h:21},
{t:"77",p:91,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"GETTING READY",p:91,x:538,y:59,w:76,h:20},
{t:"from the Lord to take it on. Te Lord’s advice is that we should wait until ",p:91,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"we are stronger, until we know we can win this battle ",p:91,x:105,y:144,w:379,h:23},
{t:"If you are just learning to fast it is not as relevant to ask for God’s ",p:91,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"permission, because the focus of your fast is not so much a signifcant ",p:91,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"battle but rather a growing of your own spiritual discipline and muscles. ",p:91,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Nonetheless, be alert for when God might tell you not to fast. It is im-",p:91,x:105,y:254,w:509,h:23},
{t:"portant you know that you and God are in agreement about the fast you ",p:91,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are about to undertake. You will need that assurance when you begin to ",p:91,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast and things get difcult. ",p:91,x:105,y:337,w:198,h:23},
{t:"What Are Your Goals?",p:91,x:253,y:391,w:213,h:26},
{t:"Whatever type of fast you choose—abstaining from food or TV, ",p:91,x:135,y:436,w:484,h:23},
{t:"stopping credit spending, getting up earlier to spend time with the Lord, ",p:91,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"or any other fast—part of the signifcance of the fast is determined not by ",p:91,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what you deny yourself but by why you do it. So when you are consider-",p:91,x:105,y:519,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing a fast you will fnd it very helpful to clearly identify your reasons for ",p:91,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting. In fact, part of the discipline of fasting is being explicit about ",p:91,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what you are seeking from the Lord. What is such a priority for you that ",p:91,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you are willing to deny yourself and touch the sufering of a fast in order ",p:91,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to see it achieved? Without clear goals you will not be able to tell when ",p:91,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"your intentions have been met.",p:91,x:105,y:684,w:219,h:23},
{t:"Te purpose of fasting is as broad as people are diferent. We all must ",p:91,x:135,y:711,w:484,h:23},
{t:"choose for ourselves whether, why, and how we will fast. I have been ",p:91,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"amazed, over the years, at the variety of reasons for which people fast. I ",p:91,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"won ’t pretend to cover all the options, but I would say that all of them ",p:91,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"generally fall into the category of either a needs-based fast or a fast to the ",p:91,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Lord. Often we will start the idea of a fast with one reason and then fnd ",p:91,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"additional reasons later. By the time we actually get into fasting we will ",p:91,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"normally have a wide range of good reasons. In addition to not having ",p:91,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"78",p:92,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:92,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"just one clear goal, neither will we normally stay with one goal for the ",p:92,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"duration of the fast. ",p:92,x:105,y:144,w:144,h:23},
{t:"Your goals need to be straightforward and unambiguous. If you are ",p:92,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fasting for fnancial provision, and your motives are pure, then your goal ",p:92,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is achieved when you see evidence of the receipt of the funds. If you are ",p:92,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting for knowledge, then carefully write out what you need the Lord to ",p:92,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"speak to you about. You should be able to state your goal in one or two ",p:92,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sentences. It is important that you are able to determine easily whether ",p:92,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"or not the goal you have set has been met. Tis will help you learn how ",p:92,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to fast more efectively in the future.",p:92,x:105,y:364,w:256,h:23},
{t:"When you are fasting to the Lord, the goal is unlike any other. Your ",p:92,x:135,y:392,w:482,h:23},
{t:"purpose may simply be to deepen your relationship with God, to move ",p:92,x:105,y:419,w:505,h:23},
{t:"into greater obedience, or to learn the discipline of fasting. You may ",p:92,x:105,y:447,w:483,h:23},
{t:"sense a clear need to stand with Christ but be unable to articulate why. ",p:92,x:105,y:474,w:503,h:23},
{t:"Tough this type of fast often has a less precise goal, you still need to ",p:92,x:105,y:502,w:489,h:23},
{t:"give careful thought to it.",p:92,x:105,y:529,w:179,h:23},
{t:"In the past I have suggested to some people that they fast for no ",p:92,x:135,y:557,w:454,h:23},
{t:"other reason than to focus on the Lord or to show that they are really ",p:92,x:105,y:584,w:492,h:23},
{t:"serious about entering such sufering for Him. Tese are more than ",p:92,x:105,y:612,w:478,h:23},
{t:"adequate goals for a fast, although I would not recommend them as ",p:92,x:105,y:639,w:481,h:23},
{t:"goals for an extended fast until you are experienced enough to know ",p:92,x:105,y:667,w:485,h:23},
{t:"what you are committing to by fasting.",p:92,x:105,y:694,w:275,h:23},
{t:"When you are learning to fast, don ’t be surprised if identifying your ",p:92,x:135,y:722,w:484,h:23},
{t:"goals is a signifcant challenge. Te very act of considering the possibil-",p:92,x:105,y:749,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ity of fasting means the battle is underway. You might decide to fast ",p:92,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"prematurely, without carefully considering the goals. Alternately, you ",p:92,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"might have a clear sense of your goals but mistrust your perspective about ",p:92,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting, so then delay getting started. Tis battle eases with practice. ",p:92,x:105,y:859,w:481,h:23},
{t:"As you outline the possible goals for a fast, sometimes you will fnd ",p:92,x:135,y:887,w:484,h:23},
{t:"it becomes clear that you really don ’t need to fast. Perhaps there is other ",p:92,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"action you should take before considering fasting. ",p:92,x:105,y:942,w:355,h:23},
{t:"79",p:93,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"GETTING READY",p:93,x:538,y:59,w:76,h:20},
{t:"Get It in Writing",p:93,x:278,y:117,w:165,h:26},
{t:"Since I began fasting as a teenager I have never begun a fast without ",p:93,x:135,y:162,w:484,h:23},
{t:"writing out word for word the goals for the fast. Te only exception has ",p:93,x:105,y:189,w:514,h:23},
{t:"been when I have fasted out of obedience, with no other goal in mind. ",p:93,x:105,y:217,w:502,h:23},
{t:"I have never seen fasting as a way of storming God’s throne and ",p:93,x:135,y:244,w:484,h:23},
{t:"manipulating Him through my sufering. For one thing, such tactics ",p:93,x:105,y:272,w:514,h:23},
{t:"don ’t work with God. I do enter a fast, however, believing that I have ",p:93,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"God’s agreement for the purpose of my fast, and that it is reasonable and ",p:93,x:105,y:327,w:514,h:23},
{t:"realistic. I then know that by doing the fast I will be guaranteed, one ",p:93,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"way or another, of receiving my declared goal. Going into the fast with ",p:93,x:105,y:382,w:514,h:23},
{t:"submissive obedience will help assure success.",p:93,x:105,y:409,w:320,h:23},
{t:"I don ’t always know how long the fast will last nor the length of time ",p:93,x:135,y:437,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the answer may take. Tis has all been an exercise of faith. But what I ",p:93,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"am suggesting in a sense is, ideally, you are claiming the answer to your ",p:93,x:105,y:492,w:514,h:23},
{t:"specifc goal before you actually begin the fast. ",p:93,x:105,y:519,w:331,h:23},
{t:"Consider Your Addictions",p:93,x:234,y:573,w:252,h:26},
{t:"During the preparation stage you need to think about your most ",p:93,x:135,y:618,w:484,h:23},
{t:"vulnerable areas. Do you need to stop drinking cofee and/or tea? Just ",p:93,x:105,y:646,w:514,h:23},
{t:"going through cafeine withdrawal may take several days. For some that ",p:93,x:105,y:673,w:514,h:23},
{t:"can be a fast in itself.",p:93,x:105,y:701,w:147,h:23},
{t:"If you are planning to do a non-food fast, are there things you need ",p:93,x:135,y:728,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to do before you begin? For instance, if you are going to abstain from ",p:93,x:105,y:756,w:514,h:23},
{t:"watching TV and you are hooked on certain programs, do you need to ",p:93,x:105,y:783,w:514,h:23},
{t:"stop watching them immediately? And what about other family members ",p:93,x:105,y:811,w:514,h:23},
{t:"watching them, perhaps in another part of the house? If you are going to ",p:93,x:105,y:838,w:514,h:23},
{t:"abstain from food, will you still carry the responsibility of providing the ",p:93,x:105,y:866,w:514,h:23},
{t:"rest of the family a balanced diet? Are there eating habits that you need ",p:93,x:105,y:893,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to break before you even begin to fast? ",p:93,x:105,y:921,w:275,h:23},
{t:"80",p:94,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:94,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"What about Your Family?",p:94,x:236,y:117,w:248,h:26},
{t:"Te attitude of your immediate family will likely infuence both the ",p:94,x:135,y:162,w:484,h:23},
{t:"type of fast you do and its length. Don ’t underestimate this important is-",p:94,x:105,y:189,w:509,h:23},
{t:"sue. It is particularly essential that well before you undertake an extended ",p:94,x:105,y:217,w:514,h:23},
{t:"water-only fast you inform those close to you that you are thinking of ",p:94,x:105,y:244,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting. Tey may not understand what denial really means, both to you ",p:94,x:105,y:272,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and to them. Such a decision may not mean much to a young child until ",p:94,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you don ’t turn up for meals. So in your decision making you need to take ",p:94,x:105,y:327,w:514,h:23},
{t:"into account how the people you live with will react. ",p:94,x:105,y:354,w:375,h:23},
{t:"Te altered routines of a non-food fast could also bring disruption ",p:94,x:135,y:382,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to your home. Your getting up early, taking up space to study, or keeping ",p:94,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the TV turned of could easily afect others. Imposing your fast on them ",p:94,x:105,y:437,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will not be appreciated!",p:94,x:105,y:464,w:165,h:23},
{t:"Your family may support your plans wholeheartedly. But on the ",p:94,x:135,y:492,w:484,h:23},
{t:"other hand you might meet some resistance. Perhaps the timing of your ",p:94,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast doesn ’t suit them or the type of fast poses a problem for them. Your ",p:94,x:105,y:547,w:514,h:23},
{t:"family may be worried they will be a target of the Enemy because of your ",p:94,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"spiritual initiative. If you sense the Lord calling you to fast, you should ",p:94,x:105,y:602,w:514,h:23},
{t:"seek your family’s support and fnd a way to conduct your fast so that ",p:94,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it has minimal impact on them. But if you have difculty gaining their ",p:94,x:105,y:657,w:514,h:23},
{t:"support, then you need to seriously consider putting your plans on hold.",p:94,x:105,y:684,w:510,h:23},
{t:"Let’s assume that you have won the support of your family. You must ",p:94,x:135,y:712,w:484,h:23},
{t:"now include them in your preparation. If you have young children, then ",p:94,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it might be better for you to go away rather than to disrupt household ",p:94,x:105,y:767,w:514,h:23},
{t:"routines—especially if you would be a grumpy old bear. While it is im-",p:94,x:105,y:794,w:509,h:23},
{t:"portant to communicate to those close to you about your fast, you must ",p:94,x:105,y:822,w:514,h:23},
{t:"do this in such a way that you don ’t come across as a hero, on one hand, ",p:94,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"or that they will not be able to count on you, on the other hand. ",p:94,x:105,y:877,w:460,h:23},
{t:"I hold to the principle that I must help maintain routines as much as ",p:94,x:135,y:904,w:484,h:23},
{t:"I can. For example, when I am on a water-only fast I still sit at the table ",p:94,x:105,y:932,w:514,h:23},
{t:"81",p:95,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"GETTING READY",p:95,x:538,y:59,w:76,h:20},
{t:"during meals, and I often even cook the meal. Although this may seem to ",p:95,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"defeat the purpose of freeing up mealtimes for things like prayer, it may ",p:95,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"be helpful to join the family at mealtimes for the sake of your children. ",p:95,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"During an extended fast from TV you might make an exception of ",p:95,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"watching a favorite program or a movie with your children on occasion. ",p:95,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Don ’t disrupt the routines of others more than you must. ",p:95,x:105,y:254,w:408,h:23},
{t:"Who Will Support You?",p:95,x:245,y:308,w:231,h:26},
{t:"As you prepare to fast, ask yourself who will be your confdante sup-",p:95,x:135,y:354,w:480,h:23},
{t:"porting you on your journey. Te bigger the fast, the more important ",p:95,x:105,y:381,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it will be to have someone in that capacity. Be careful not to choose a ",p:95,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"person who is rarely available and is therefore difcult to meet with or ",p:95,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"talk to on the telephone.",p:95,x:105,y:464,w:173,h:23},
{t:"Tis need is signifcant particularly if you are single and don ’t have ",p:95,x:135,y:491,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the support of a spouse. If you have housemates, you should tell them ",p:95,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what you are doing. Beyond that, make sure there is someone sharing ",p:95,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with you in the battle you are undertaking. ",p:95,x:105,y:574,w:308,h:23},
{t:"If you are married, your spouse should be fully informed of your ",p:95,x:135,y:601,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fast, though it is not always appropriate to have him or her be the only ",p:95,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"person who is standing with you. If your fast is related to your work or ",p:95,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"business and your spouse is not integrally involved, it would be helpful ",p:95,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to have at least one other person walking with you. Or if you are fasting ",p:95,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for your spouse, it is important to have someone else standing with you ",p:95,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for further support.",p:95,x:105,y:766,w:138,h:23},
{t:"Weather, Travel, and Schedules",p:95,x:209,y:820,w:303,h:26},
{t:"We move on now to some practicalities. Weather, travel plans, and ",p:95,x:135,y:865,w:484,h:23},
{t:"your schedule will be key factors in deciding whether to fast and for how ",p:95,x:105,y:893,w:514,h:23},
{t:"long you are able to do so. ",p:95,x:105,y:920,w:190,h:23},
{t:"82",p:96,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:96,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"If you are planning to abstain from food during the winter, especially ",p:96,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"if you live in a cold part of the world, is your home comfortably warm? ",p:96,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Can you take a hot bath? (A shower just doesn ’t do it!)",p:96,x:105,y:172,w:383,h:23},
{t:"Will you be doing a lot of traveling? If so, that’s not the best time ",p:96,x:135,y:199,w:484,h:23},
{t:"for most people to fast from food. If you will be driving, will the car be ",p:96,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"comfortable if you are not eating? ",p:96,x:105,y:254,w:242,h:23},
{t:"You must take schedule commitments into account. I often waited ",p:96,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"until I had space in my date book before God gave me permission to ",p:96,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"begin an extended fast. On occasion I was able to clear my calendar. ",p:96,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Consider your upcoming commitments. Do you have a particularly ",p:96,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"demanding engagement or project scheduled? Tis may not change your ",p:96,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"decision to fast, but it may afect the timing or the nature of the fast.",p:96,x:105,y:419,w:485,h:23},
{t:"One way of planning ahead is by not accepting dinner dates during ",p:96,x:135,y:447,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the time you will not be eating. Tis will also spare you from admitting, ",p:96,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"when you arrive, that you are fasting!",p:96,x:105,y:502,w:261,h:23},
{t:"In Summary",p:96,x:300,y:556,w:120,h:26},
{t:"In the process of getting ready to fast, one key question remains: ",p:96,x:135,y:601,w:484,h:23},
{t:"How do we decide what type of fast to do? We must identify what we are ",p:96,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"abstaining from and how long we plan to do so. ",p:96,x:105,y:656,w:342,h:23},
{t:"We talk in our ministry about God “turning up the volume,” as well ",p:96,x:135,y:684,w:484,h:23},
{t:"as about us “turning up the volume” in response to circumstances. Your ",p:96,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"decision will be a combination of your own experience and the nature of ",p:96,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that for which you are fasting. You don ’t need a big mallet to crack an ",p:96,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"egg. Neither should you use a small hammer to try to knock over an oak ",p:96,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"tree. Once you are an experienced faster the gravity of the situation itself ",p:96,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"should tell you clearly. ",p:96,x:105,y:849,w:162,h:23},
{t:"Put another way, what are the criteria for your decision? To get the ",p:96,x:135,y:876,w:484,h:23},
{t:"right answers you must ask the right questions. So prepare carefully. And ",p:96,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"if you can, talk things through with others. What would an appropriate ",p:96,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"83",p:97,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"GETTING READY",p:97,x:538,y:59,w:76,h:20},
{t:"response be to the challenge you are facing? Would you be overreacting if ",p:97,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you did a particular fast? How does your date book look? What are your ",p:97,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"family commitments? What spiritual tools do you need in order to do ",p:97,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this job? ",p:97,x:105,y:199,w:63,h:23},
{t:"For most of us the frst question is whether to abstain from food or ",p:97,x:135,y:227,w:484,h:23},
{t:"something else. If you are new to fasting, you may determine that you ",p:97,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"need to start by abstaining from something other than food while you ",p:97,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"tackle some of your soft addictions. If you decide to do a water-only fast, ",p:97,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and it is your frst one, then it is advisable to keep it short. Tis allows ",p:97,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you to grow into the pathway of fasting. ",p:97,x:105,y:364,w:288,h:23},
{t:"On the other hand, if you are fasting from something other than ",p:97,x:135,y:392,w:484,h:23},
{t:"food, be careful to choose wisely. Avoid the temptation to use fasting ",p:97,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to manipulate other members of your family to change their behavior. ",p:97,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Guard against arrogance or pride about what you are doing. ",p:97,x:105,y:474,w:427,h:23},
{t:"Finally, as we have already noted there is no doubt that abstaining ",p:97,x:135,y:502,w:484,h:23},
{t:"from food is more demanding than other forms of denial. And an ex-",p:97,x:105,y:529,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tended fast raises the stakes even higher for you and for everyone around ",p:97,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you. Experience will help pave the way to making right decisions.",p:97,x:105,y:584,w:462,h:23},
{t:"Let us assume that you have made your decision and are now on your ",p:97,x:135,y:612,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fast. What should you be doing during the fast?",p:97,x:105,y:639,w:336,h:23},
{t:"85",p:98,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"9.",p:98,x:566,y:241,w:26,h:55},
{t:"DURING YOUR FAST",p:98,x:105,y:422,w:238,h:52},
{t:"While preparing for a fast it is quite common to feel you have already ",p:98,x:135,y:552,w:484,h:23},
{t:"started. You are already beginning to engage the issues. Nonetheless, there ",p:98,x:105,y:579,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will be a noticeable change the moment your fast actually begins. How ",p:98,x:105,y:607,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you conduct yourself during a fast obviously contributes to its efective-",p:98,x:105,y:634,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ness and overall success.",p:98,x:105,y:662,w:168,h:23},
{t:"Keeping a Journal",p:98,x:272,y:716,w:177,h:26},
{t:"I have kept a journal for most of my fasts, from the shortest to the ",p:98,x:135,y:761,w:484,h:23},
{t:"longest (thirty-nine days). In these accounts I have been able to track ",p:98,x:105,y:789,w:514,h:23},
{t:"much of the emotional helter-skelter of the daily battles: unexpected ",p:98,x:105,y:816,w:514,h:23},
{t:"pressures, failures, defeat, pain, and ultimate victory. ",p:98,x:105,y:844,w:374,h:23},
{t:"I can still smell the spring rains through some of the pages. I re-",p:98,x:135,y:871,w:480,h:23},
{t:"member the sea mist drifting in early in the morning, the joy of cooking ",p:98,x:105,y:899,w:514,h:23},
{t:"spaghetti Bolognese for Mary and Christopher (my wife and son), and ",p:98,x:105,y:926,w:514,h:23},
{t:"86",p:99,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:99,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"leaving the ofce pretending I was going out for lunch or supper like ",p:99,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"everyone else. ",p:99,x:105,y:144,w:101,h:23},
{t:"You keep a journal as part of your prayer journey, as part of the ",p:99,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"intercession, as part of your hope and declaration that you are going to ",p:99,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"reach the end and use the knowledge, money, or sacrifce as God wished. ",p:99,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"It helps you to prepare for how you will use the new freedom or the ",p:99,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"deeper intimacy with Christ for which you long. ",p:99,x:105,y:282,w:346,h:23},
{t:"I believe it is important that you write extensive notes on what you ",p:99,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"are thinking and feeling. During a water-only fast most people develop ",p:99,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a level of awareness of themselves, especially of their own body, they ",p:99,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have not had before. Despite the pain in your body you are able, in a ",p:99,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"somewhat twisted way, to sense more around you. Color can seem more ",p:99,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"intense during fasts. Sounds can appear sharper. Worship, especially, has ",p:99,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"deeper meaning. Relationships become more important to you. Some of ",p:99,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the most obvious and profound things I have learned from the Lord have ",p:99,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"come during these seasons. Record all of this in your journal.",p:99,x:105,y:529,w:430,h:23},
{t:"But also write about the dark moments: the evenings consumed by ",p:99,x:135,y:557,w:484,h:23},
{t:"dreaming of breaking your fast, followed by going to bed committed to ",p:99,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"breaking the fast in the morning, then getting up and wondering what ",p:99,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"all the fuss was about. ",p:99,x:105,y:639,w:158,h:23},
{t:"If you are doing a non-food fast and studying or spending more ",p:99,x:135,y:667,w:484,h:23},
{t:"time listening to the Lord, then taking some of this time to write journal ",p:99,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"notes would be a natural. Te most important element of your journaling ",p:99,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is monitoring your progress and looking for breakthroughs. Te more ",p:99,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you build up your practice of fasting the more these records become a ",p:99,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"testimony to the efectiveness of your obedience and to the supernatural ",p:99,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"intervention of God.",p:99,x:105,y:832,w:147,h:23},
{t:"87",p:100,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"DURING YOUR FAST",p:100,x:520,y:59,w:95,h:20},
{t:"Christ Anoints What He Gives",p:100,x:211,y:117,w:297,h:26},
{t:"Having identifed your goals, as we discussed in the previous chap-",p:100,x:135,y:162,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ter, you are now living them. You are carrying them by faith in your ",p:100,x:105,y:189,w:514,h:23},
{t:"spirit. Te fast becomes a way of believing they will be achieved. We ",p:100,x:105,y:217,w:514,h:23},
{t:"need to begin dreaming about what it will be like when we have what ",p:100,x:105,y:244,w:514,h:23},
{t:"we are seeking. ",p:100,x:105,y:272,w:112,h:23},
{t:"Focus on your goals routinely during the fast. Part of the consequence ",p:100,x:135,y:299,w:484,h:23},
{t:"will be that in God’s provision we can also see His anointing. Tose He ",p:100,x:105,y:327,w:514,h:23},
{t:"calls He also equips. Put simply, if the Lord asks you to dig a hole He ",p:100,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will provide the shovel. He will provide His anointed blessing for you to ",p:100,x:105,y:382,w:514,h:23},
{t:"move easily into the new open space to which He is leading you. ",p:100,x:105,y:409,w:459,h:23},
{t:"Record in your journal your changing thinking regarding the goals ",p:100,x:135,y:437,w:484,h:23},
{t:"and what you are beginning to believe about the outcome. Live and ",p:100,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"breathe as though the outcome is already on its way.",p:100,x:105,y:492,w:367,h:23},
{t:"For a long time I had a sense that I would one day have permission ",p:100,x:135,y:519,w:484,h:23},
{t:"from the Lord to write some of what He has been teaching me since the ",p:100,x:105,y:547,w:514,h:23},
{t:"early 1960s. But I needed a publisher that was interested. Following a ",p:100,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast one came, together with the provision to write. I now have a dozen ",p:100,x:105,y:602,w:514,h:23},
{t:"books in print. ",p:100,x:105,y:629,w:109,h:23},
{t:"Likewise, when I needed knowledge to help a certain person who was ",p:100,x:135,y:657,w:484,h:23},
{t:"close to me, I received it as I was fasting. And I was also given wisdom to ",p:100,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"know how and when to share this with the person. ",p:100,x:105,y:712,w:362,h:23},
{t:"Expectations about Hearing from God",p:100,x:172,y:766,w:376,h:26},
{t:"I have met very few people who have done fasts and experienced ",p:100,x:135,y:811,w:484,h:23},
{t:"God speaking to them a lot during those times. For me, the period of ",p:100,x:105,y:838,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting is, instead, usually a time of spiritual barrenness. Te heavens feel ",p:100,x:105,y:866,w:514,h:23},
{t:"like brass. When beginning an extended fast I usually fnd myself saying ",p:100,x:105,y:893,w:514,h:23},
{t:"88",p:101,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:101,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"goodbye to the Lord, because He will probably not talk to me for some ",p:101,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"time to come. ",p:101,x:105,y:144,w:102,h:23},
{t:"God’s voice brings life to us, which can go against the spirit of self-",p:101,x:135,y:172,w:479,h:23},
{t:"denial of a fast. So when we enter into even a short time of self-denial ",p:101,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it should not surprise us that we lose this. I realize this is not always the ",p:101,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"case. Some people have a spiritual high. Derek Prince, for example, said ",p:101,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that was what he expected.1 But this has not been my experience, so ",p:101,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you should be prepared for silence rather than seeing fasting as a more ",p:101,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"intimate time the Lord.",p:101,x:105,y:337,w:166,h:23},
{t:"I have come to learn that there are a number of reasons why the Lord ",p:101,x:135,y:364,w:484,h:23},
{t:"may be silent. He could be testing your mettle. He could be waiting. He ",p:101,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"could be unable to say anything until you are a little weaker and more ",p:101,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"vulnerable in spirit. But one thing is certain: there is a good chance you ",p:101,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will experience darkness and barrenness, for fasting is bringing a kind of ",p:101,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"dying on yourself, thereby helping you to enter more deeply the sufer-",p:101,x:105,y:502,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ings of Christ (Romans 8:17). You are aligning yourself voluntarily and ",p:101,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"vicariously with the sufering of Jesus. Tere is nothing the Enemy hates ",p:101,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"more than being reminded of the fnished work of Christ.",p:101,x:105,y:584,w:408,h:23},
{t:"Tere are exceptions to this. During your fast it is likely that you are ",p:101,x:135,y:612,w:484,h:23},
{t:"reading the Bible or books about other Christians’ journeys, and in that ",p:101,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"case you can expect the Lord to talk to you. Or if you are doing a fast ",p:101,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to the Lord, then you are deciding to make His voice central, as well as ",p:101,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"being willing yourself to listen and act on what He says. So choose the ",p:101,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"type of fast carefully, with the outcome in mind. ",p:101,x:105,y:749,w:345,h:23},
{t:"So a fast for me is like the still before the storm. It is the calm and ",p:101,x:135,y:777,w:484,h:23},
{t:"quiet before the kids get home. But for other people I talk to fasting is ",p:101,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a rich time, a time when they hear a lot from the Lord and things come ",p:101,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"alive for them. ",p:101,x:105,y:859,w:107,h:23},
{t:"1 ",p:101,x:105,y:925,w:12,h:21},
{t:" Derek Prince, How to Fast Successfully (Charlotte: Derek Prince Ministries, ",p:101,x:126,y:925,w:484,h:21},
{t:"1976), 30f.  ",p:101,x:105,y:945,w:85,h:21},
{t:"89",p:102,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"DURING YOUR FAST",p:102,x:520,y:59,w:95,h:20},
{t:"Because most long food fasts have been times of barrenness for me, ",p:102,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"when I fast I try to keep ministry to a minimum, as the slightest exertion ",p:102,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"has a tendency to drain my spirit. Keep notes of all that you think and ",p:102,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"feel. Let the Lord be your friend and guide through this challenging time. ",p:102,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"The Role of Scripture",p:102,x:254,y:253,w:212,h:26},
{t:"Scripture can and should play a signifcant role in your fast. Establish ",p:102,x:135,y:299,w:484,h:23},
{t:"a reading plan before you begin, and organize your time so that you ",p:102,x:105,y:326,w:514,h:23},
{t:"can read that portion of God’s Word. Make time to refocus on the Lord ",p:102,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"through Scripture. ",p:102,x:105,y:381,w:135,h:23},
{t:"I have noted during several of my fasts, however, that my concentra-",p:102,x:135,y:409,w:480,h:23},
{t:"tion, especially during the frst four to seven days, gets lost. Terefore I ",p:102,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have found it hard to focus on reading. I had dreams of spending long ",p:102,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"hours in bed or curled up in my favorite chair reading, but when the ",p:102,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"opportunity arrived I couldn ’t focus or concentrate. ",p:102,x:105,y:519,w:367,h:23},
{t:"I have found meditating on Scripture is helpful for this dilemma. ",p:102,x:135,y:546,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Often I have focused on difcult passages or verses that bothered me. ",p:102,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I spent time reading those passages, letting the Lord talk to me about ",p:102,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"them. I wanted to know His perspective on what was written. What did ",p:102,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"He intend this to mean to us today? How is it relevant? What should ",p:102,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"we be doing with this problematic verse or passage? While fasting I have ",p:102,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"gained some of my deepest insights into the meaning of God’s Word and ",p:102,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what it teaches us. ",p:102,x:105,y:739,w:133,h:23},
{t:"Tis will be particularly relevant when you do a non-food fast and ",p:102,x:135,y:766,w:484,h:23},
{t:"make the focus on the Lord a central part of the fast. And, of course, if ",p:102,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you are not eating you have extra time to focus on Him. ",p:102,x:105,y:821,w:401,h:23},
{t:"I suggest that you begin the day with a passage or a verse and carry ",p:102,x:135,y:849,w:484,h:23},
{t:"it with you through the day. On one occasion I found myself refecting ",p:102,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"on the passages where Jesus condemned the arrogance and hypocrisy of ",p:102,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the Pharisees (e.g., Matthew 23:27–28). On another occasion I focused ",p:102,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"90",p:103,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:103,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"on what I would do with the knowledge God gave me as I broke the ",p:103,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast—i.e., what servanthood and humility meant in specifc situations. ",p:103,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Carry the Word of God into and through your fast. ",p:103,x:105,y:172,w:368,h:23},
{t:"Feeling the Darkness",p:103,x:258,y:226,w:205,h:26},
{t:"Fasting, especially of the extended variety, is a fast-track route to the ",p:103,x:135,y:271,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Enemy’s attention. A primary biblical example is the temptation of Jesus ",p:103,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"(Matthew 4:1–11; Luke 4:1–13). Fasting as an act of surrender to the ",p:103,x:105,y:326,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Lordship of Christ will usually attract the Enemy and his hordes. Some ",p:103,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sense this even before beginning a fast, or will know it at diferent times ",p:103,x:105,y:381,w:514,h:23},
{t:"during the fast. It becomes evident in a number of ways. Before and ",p:103,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"during fasts I have always felt a lot of death (Philippians 3:10), including ",p:103,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"mocking from others and the Enemy. ",p:103,x:105,y:464,w:269,h:23},
{t:"Tere is a greater physical dimension to the feelings of death as part ",p:103,x:135,y:491,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of a water-only fast. Certain people suddenly turn up and attack you ",p:103,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"when you are most vulnerable. Some people will not understand your ",p:103,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast, and their attitude can feel like it undermines you even if they have ",p:103,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"no knowledge of what you are doing. You may also hear and sense things ",p:103,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that you know are spiritual, yet they are not from the Lord. Tis means ",p:103,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that the Devil is not far away.",p:103,x:105,y:656,w:208,h:23},
{t:"Communicating with Others",p:103,x:219,y:710,w:281,h:26},
{t:"Much of what is happening to you will inevitably be very private: ",p:103,x:135,y:755,w:484,h:23},
{t:"between you, the Lord, and those supporting you in the fast. But you ",p:103,x:105,y:783,w:514,h:23},
{t:"must also consider how your fast is going to impact others. While I am ",p:103,x:105,y:810,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting, as a general rule I do not talk to people about what is happening ",p:103,x:105,y:838,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to me, what I am learning, or the direction the fast is taking me. Te ",p:103,x:105,y:865,w:514,h:23},
{t:"reason for this will be obvious as you begin to fast. At times you will ",p:103,x:105,y:893,w:514,h:23},
{t:"feel miserable and morose. What you say in the midst of such sacrifce ",p:103,x:105,y:920,w:514,h:23},
{t:"91",p:104,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"DURING YOUR FAST",p:104,x:520,y:59,w:95,h:20},
{t:"might well not be uplifting. So be judicious in what you say even to those ",p:104,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"close to you. You don ’t want to regret it later, and neither do you want ",p:104,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to negatively impact them. Love those around you with your words; and ",p:104,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"don ’t dump on them—do the dumping in your journal. ",p:104,x:105,y:199,w:399,h:23},
{t:"But since the self-denial and isolation of a fast can easily lead you ",p:104,x:135,y:227,w:484,h:23},
{t:"into an unhealthy form of privacy, it is a helpful practice to keep in touch ",p:104,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with those who have agreed to support you in your fast. Be honest with ",p:104,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"them about how you are feeling and about whether you see your goals ",p:104,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"being achieved. If they have done some fasting themselves they may be ",p:104,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"able to ofer you advice about the most challenging areas of your fast. ",p:104,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Allow them to make constructive comments—for instance, questioning ",p:104,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the wisdom of prolonging a fast rather than breaking it. ",p:104,x:105,y:419,w:397,h:23},
{t:"Do Things You Enjoy",p:104,x:256,y:473,w:208,h:26},
{t:"While you are fasting, especially if you are abstaining from food for ",p:104,x:135,y:519,w:484,h:23},
{t:"very long, you will need to slow down in recognition of the fact that you ",p:104,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"cannot function at your normal pace. It is important, however, that you ",p:104,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"don ’t become an ascetic. Don ’t let the fact that you aren ’t eating cut you ",p:104,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of from your family or your circle of friends. ",p:104,x:105,y:629,w:323,h:23},
{t:"I have had convertibles much of my life and I love to drive, so when I ",p:104,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"am fasting I enjoy going for a drive. I also love to go to the beach, so I do ",p:104,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that as well. I love to go to the local health club and sit in the Jacuzzi—",p:104,x:105,y:711,w:509,h:23},
{t:"defnitely a heavenly thing to do during a fast! I love to do ministry with ",p:104,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"people too, so I never cut back completely in my counseling if I know my ",p:104,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"spirit can sustain it. Likewise, I enjoy teaching and training, so I continue ",p:104,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"doing some of that through my business and church. Don ’t allow a fast to ",p:104,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"segregate you from others and the things you like to do.",p:104,x:105,y:849,w:393,h:23},
{t:"Tere is always a danger that you will be consumed by the denial ",p:104,x:135,y:876,w:484,h:23},
{t:"and darkness that accompanies fasting. You can slip into feeling that ",p:104,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"there is merit simply in punishing yourself. You might even try to punish ",p:104,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"92",p:105,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:105,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"yourself, in fact. It is important to keep a balance so you are aware that ",p:105,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting is an act of love for God, for others, and for yourself. Tough it ",p:105,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is deeply sacrifcial, fasting must be fundamentally driven by love rather ",p:105,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"than by self-afiction.",p:105,x:105,y:199,w:154,h:23},
{t:"When a Fast Turns Sour",p:105,x:243,y:253,w:233,h:26},
{t:"Sometimes a fast will go wrong. I remember fasting for a day when ",p:105,x:135,y:299,w:484,h:23},
{t:"I was a teenager. As I was sitting at the kitchen table that afternoon I ",p:105,x:105,y:326,w:514,h:23},
{t:"grabbed a cookie out of the cookie jar and ate it before I realized what I ",p:105,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"had done. I still had a ways to go at that age!",p:105,x:105,y:381,w:314,h:23},
{t:"One time I started a fast but then remembered I had a very important ",p:105,x:135,y:409,w:484,h:23},
{t:"lunch date, which I had forgotten to put in my date book. During one ",p:105,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast my wife got quite ill, and on another occasion my son needed some ",p:105,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"signifcant support. ",p:105,x:105,y:491,w:141,h:23},
{t:"It is not uncommon to get sick while fasting. After fasting for two ",p:105,x:135,y:519,w:484,h:23},
{t:"days one time I came down with the fu. I’m sure I felt worse than normal ",p:105,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"because I was weakened by not eating. Tough I continued fasting, the ",p:105,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"best practice probably would have dictated that I break the fast. ",p:105,x:105,y:601,w:452,h:23},
{t:"On the other hand, those close to you might get sick or feel unable ",p:105,x:135,y:629,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to continue supporting you. Tey may even become angry at what they ",p:105,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"perceive to be selfshness on your part in your fasting. When others begin ",p:105,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to sufer too much, then you must break the fast. But be aware that this ",p:105,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"might be manipulation or jealousy on their part. It may be helpful to ",p:105,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"discuss this with them as you prepare for your next fast.",p:105,x:105,y:766,w:392,h:23},
{t:"On other occasions you might be the problem. You might be acting ",p:105,x:135,y:794,w:484,h:23},
{t:"like a prima donna. If you fnd that you are behaving like a spoiled child, ",p:105,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"then you should stop fasting until you can do so with more maturity. ",p:105,x:105,y:849,w:492,h:23},
{t:"One certainly needs grace and dignity to practice the discipline of ",p:105,x:135,y:876,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fasting successfully. You may need to admit you made a mistake, and ",p:105,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"perhaps apologize to others as well. I once began a prolonged fast but ",p:105,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"93",p:106,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"DURING YOUR FAST",p:106,x:520,y:59,w:95,h:20},
{t:"then got very ill and had to stop. I later saw that I had misjudged the ",p:106,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"whole spiritual landscape; getting sick was evidence of God’s graciousness ",p:106,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to me. ",p:106,x:105,y:172,w:49,h:23},
{t:"In such circumstances you need to break your fast, forgiving yourself ",p:106,x:135,y:199,w:484,h:23},
{t:"along with others for any unhelpful contribution they may have made. ",p:106,x:105,y:227,w:503,h:23},
{t:"Breaking a Fast Properly",p:106,x:239,y:281,w:242,h:26},
{t:"How you break a fast is a surprisingly important and complex topic. ",p:106,x:135,y:326,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Overindulging on food after not eating for a day, binging on TV after not ",p:106,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"watching for a week, or spending all the money you saved after abstain-",p:106,x:105,y:381,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing from recreational shopping for a month—all of these are an assault ",p:106,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"on the spirit of the fast that you have just completed. It might sound ",p:106,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ridiculous, but you will often be more tempted in retreat than you were ",p:106,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in the fast.",p:106,x:105,y:491,w:74,h:23},
{t:"Undoubtedly, the type of fast you must be most careful about ",p:106,x:135,y:519,w:484,h:23},
{t:"breaking is one that involves abstinence from food, especially extended ",p:106,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"water-only fasts. Later in the book I will have more to say about how to ",p:106,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"end this type of fast. Regardless of its length, breaking a fast is part of the ",p:106,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"spiritual discipline of fasting. ",p:106,x:105,y:629,w:209,h:23},
{t:"In any fast, you should hold on to what you learned or gained instead ",p:106,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of going back to old patterns. After a fast from television, for example, ",p:106,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"perhaps you will determine not to turn the TV on until nine in the ",p:106,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"evening and then turn it of before the late-night shows begin. Don ’t just ",p:106,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"slip back into your old routines, or else you will lose part of the fruit of ",p:106,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"your fast.",p:106,x:105,y:794,w:65,h:23},
{t:"An example from my life is that I now only drink, at the most, one ",p:106,x:135,y:821,w:484,h:23},
{t:"cup of cofee a day. My body can handle that most days, though I may ",p:106,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"go weeks without drinking cofee. Another long-term change is that I eat ",p:106,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"very little bread, pasta, or potatoes. Being in my sixties, I do not need ",p:106,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"94",p:107,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:107,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"these high-energy foods. A lifetime of fasting has given my body the ",p:107,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ability to work well on a modest intake of calories. ",p:107,x:105,y:144,w:360,h:23},
{t:"Resolve to break a food fast in a way that honors the Lord and your ",p:107,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"own body. If you have not eaten for a few days, you should take the same ",p:107,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"amount of time to break the fast completely. Resist the temptation to ",p:107,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"gorge yourself. ",p:107,x:105,y:254,w:107,h:23},
{t:"Also, don ’t be hasty to declare that your goals have been achieved. ",p:107,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"I take more of a “wait and see” approach. When seeking knowledge on ",p:107,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"someone’s behalf I will sometimes meet the person while I am still fasting ",p:107,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and share what I believe the Lord has for him or her. I test my perception. ",p:107,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"If the knowledge you are obtaining has an originality about it, or was not ",p:107,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what you expected, then it is likely from the Lord. But if you are thinking ",p:107,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"thoughts that you could have thought without the fast, then you are ",p:107,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"probably not there yet. You need to wait for something more unexpected, ",p:107,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"something supernatural from the Lord.",p:107,x:105,y:502,w:276,h:23},
{t:"Most often, however, I fast without that individual knowing I was ",p:107,x:135,y:529,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fasting for knowledge to help him or her. It is a sweet moment when you ",p:107,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"see your words being aloe on the wound or balm on a troubled spirit, ",p:107,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"giving the person hope and a way forward. ",p:107,x:105,y:612,w:305,h:23},
{t:"If you have been mature and discreet about your fast, then coming ",p:107,x:135,y:639,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of it should be easy, as people will just continue to treat you as they did ",p:107,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"before. Only you and your one or two supporters will really know what ",p:107,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"has gone on in your life. ",p:107,x:105,y:722,w:175,h:23},
{t:"Chronicling Your Fast",p:107,x:252,y:776,w:215,h:26},
{t:"Write out your thoughts in detail as you reach the end of your fast. ",p:107,x:135,y:821,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Why are you bringing the fast to a close? Why do you feel the way you ",p:107,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"do? How will you move on with the provision God has given or the ",p:107,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"decisions you have made? I once ended a fast on the basis of fnancial ",p:107,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"provision promised by a person, but then a month or two later that ",p:107,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"95",p:108,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"DURING YOUR FAST",p:108,x:520,y:59,w:95,h:20},
{t:"individual denied making the commitment. I was glad I could go back to ",p:108,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"my notes to prove to myself that I wasn ’t crazy! ",p:108,x:105,y:144,w:335,h:23},
{t:"Record the impact the fast has had on both you and your family. ",p:108,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"What habits were the most challenging to break? If you were fasting from ",p:108,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"food, note the state of your body and your health. Record your weight. ",p:108,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Has the fast afected, for instance, your joints, eyesight, or driving reac-",p:108,x:105,y:254,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tions? How do you feel when you get up in the morning? What are the ",p:108,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"battles at night? ",p:108,x:105,y:309,w:115,h:23},
{t:"It is helpful not to plunge back into the chaos of daily life. Take time ",p:108,x:135,y:337,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to refect and write. Reading this again will be useful preparation for your ",p:108,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"next fast.",p:108,x:105,y:392,w:63,h:23},
{t:"In Summary",p:108,x:300,y:446,w:120,h:26},
{t:"Te spiritual disciple of fasting presents a golden opportunity to make ",p:108,x:135,y:491,w:484,h:23},
{t:"positive changes in our lives. It provides a perfect opening to develop new ",p:108,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"habits. How you live immediately after a fast is just as important as how ",p:108,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you lived during the fast. So seize the opportunity. ",p:108,x:105,y:574,w:360,h:23},
{t:"Te practice of fasting can be quite signifcant. Breaking an addic-",p:108,x:135,y:601,w:480,h:23},
{t:"tion to pornography and placing an auditor or flter on your laptop, as a ",p:108,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"result of a fast, is a good move. Making a decision to eliminate unhealthy ",p:108,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"snacks becomes a lifestyle change. Let your fast count for much more ",p:108,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"than just a brief period of abstinence. Let it change your life. ",p:108,x:105,y:711,w:432,h:23},
{t:"97",p:109,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"10.",p:109,x:556,y:241,w:44,h:55},
{t:"THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF FASTING",p:109,x:105,y:422,w:430,h:52},
{t:"In this book we are focusing on fasts that are a purposeful act of ",p:109,x:135,y:552,w:484,h:23},
{t:"denial in order to achieve specifc goals. Fasting from food is practiced ",p:109,x:105,y:579,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in many parts of the world, however, purely on health grounds. For ",p:109,x:105,y:607,w:514,h:23},
{t:"example, many of the health spas in Germany and other parts of Europe ",p:109,x:105,y:634,w:514,h:23},
{t:"practice fasting for health, and in China fasting is regularly practiced ",p:109,x:105,y:662,w:514,h:23},
{t:"as a form of cleansing toxins from the body. In this chapter I want to ",p:109,x:105,y:689,w:514,h:23},
{t:"highlight the physical benefts of short food-related fasts and an ongoing ",p:109,x:105,y:717,w:514,h:23},
{t:"regimen of healthy eating.1",p:109,x:105,y:747,w:190,h:23},
{t:"Give It a Rest",p:109,x:294,y:801,w:131,h:26},
{t:"Tink about this: from the time your stomach is formed, in the ",p:109,x:135,y:846,w:484,h:23},
{t:"third to fourth month after conception, until the moment you die, your ",p:109,x:105,y:874,w:514,h:23},
{t:"2 ",p:109,x:105,y:925,w:12,h:21},
{t:" I am indebted to physician Brian McDonogh for his expertise and input in ",p:109,x:126,y:925,w:489,h:21},
{t:"this chapter. ",p:109,x:105,y:945,w:82,h:21},
{t:"98",p:110,x:105,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:110,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"stomach hardly ever gets even one day of! It is virtually always work-",p:110,x:105,y:117,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing. Would the people running a factory treat their machinery that way, ",p:110,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"never giving it a break for service? But that is what we expect from our ",p:110,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"stomach and digestive system. I realize that none of our other organs that ",p:110,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"function involuntary (e.g., heart, lungs, liver, kidneys) get a break. Te ",p:110,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"diference with our digestive system, however, is the voluntary dimension ",p:110,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of our eating and drinking. Your stomach could have some time of if you ",p:110,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"would let it!",p:110,x:105,y:309,w:85,h:23},
{t:"Your digestive system is a group of organs that expand and contract, ",p:110,x:135,y:337,w:484,h:23},
{t:"continually breaking down the carbon-based material you give it. Tis ",p:110,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"process marches on without complaint as you fll your stomach—except ",p:110,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"when you overfll it, in which case it might get “upset”!",p:110,x:105,y:419,w:387,h:23},
{t:"Giving your digestive system a break is a good thing. Your pangs of ",p:110,x:135,y:447,w:484,h:23},
{t:"hunger are not evidence of actual hunger or starvation, but merely your ",p:110,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body complaining that it is not getting the next meal on time. Tis can ",p:110,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"be a cause of panic for many of us. But “I’m starving!” is not true until ",p:110,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"we really are, which for most people usually occurs between twenty-fve ",p:110,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and thirty-fve days into a water-only fast. ",p:110,x:105,y:584,w:299,h:23},
{t:"Fasting allows your overworked digestive system to stop, detox itself, ",p:110,x:135,y:612,w:484,h:23},
{t:"and rest for a while. Te infusion of constant food is interrupted, and ",p:110,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"your body gets a chance to cleanse itself and then rest. Your stomach ",p:110,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"works 24/7 all of your life, with absolutely no respite unless you decide ",p:110,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"on it. ",p:110,x:105,y:722,w:42,h:23},
{t:"While resting during a fast the body will be very active in other ways, ",p:110,x:135,y:749,w:484,h:23},
{t:"however. Te main organs for discharging toxins from our bodies are ",p:110,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the stomach, colon, kidneys and urinary tract, lungs, and skin. Fasting, ",p:110,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"especially when followed by a juice regimen, will promote the detoxifying ",p:110,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"processes of these organs. Adopting such a practice brings some much-",p:110,x:105,y:859,w:509,h:23},
{t:"needed deep healing to our bodies. For instance, your overburdened liver ",p:110,x:105,y:887,w:514,h:23},
{t:"can do its best work of detoxifying both itself and your blood when it no ",p:110,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"99",p:111,x:602,y:1010,w:13,h:20},
{t:"THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF FASTING",p:111,x:443,y:59,w:172,h:20},
{t:"longer has to cope with food as well. At the same time, your stomach, ",p:111,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"pancreas, intestines, and gallbladder will get a much-deserved rest. ",p:111,x:105,y:144,w:471,h:23},
{t:"But the benefts go further. In addition to your blood, your lymphatic ",p:111,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"system is also efectively cleansed of toxic buildup through fasting. Our ",p:111,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"cells, tissues, and organs begin to dump the accumulated waste from the ",p:111,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"cellular metabolic processes of digestion. Let me explain. ",p:111,x:105,y:254,w:404,h:23},
{t:"All human cells produce waste in the process of digesting nutrients, ",p:111,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"and the high consumption of food that most of us eat means the body ",p:111,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"can be overwhelmed by the workload of detoxifying. Fasting, therefore, ",p:111,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"allows this waste collection process to catch up. As fatty tissue is burned ",p:111,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"during the fast, chemicals and toxins that would normally be broken ",p:111,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"down by the liver are released and excreted through the kidneys and ",p:111,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the bile. ",p:111,x:105,y:447,w:63,h:23},
{t:"It is not uncommon during the initial period of an extended fast for ",p:111,x:135,y:474,w:484,h:23},
{t:"boils and skin rashes to appear and for body odor to be emitted through ",p:111,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the body’s largest excretory organ, the skin. Our bodies are designed to ",p:111,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"do this, as this detox is programmed into the natural healing cycles of the ",p:111,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body. Te problem is that most of us don ’t stop eating long enough to ",p:111,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"allow this process to take place. In this sense, the spiritual discipline of ",p:111,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting is healing to our bodies as well as our spirits, allowing our physical ",p:111,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"cells to cleanse themselves.  ",p:111,x:105,y:667,w:196,h:23},
{t:"Each cell is an energy factory, and one part of the cell is the waste ",p:111,x:135,y:694,w:484,h:23},
{t:"processor, called the mitochondrion. Due to a number of factors within ",p:111,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and outside the human body, like metabolic waste, chemicals, and other ",p:111,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"toxins, the mitochondria within the cells are often overworked. Tis ",p:111,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"blocks the body’s ability to function well. Fasting is a natural way for the ",p:111,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"mitochondrion of every cell to recover, thereby releasing new energy at a ",p:111,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"cellular level. Trough the mitochondria the body is programmed during ",p:111,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a fast to initiate a deep cleansing of every cell. ",p:111,x:105,y:887,w:326,h:23},
{t:"So please give serious consideration to the health benefts of fasting. ",p:111,x:135,y:914,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Tis will be the only opportunity your stomach and digestive tract has to ",p:111,x:105,y:942,w:514,h:23},
{t:"100",p:112,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:112,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"rest. Allow it to do so, and invite the Lord to bring cleansing health to all ",p:112,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"your organs as they go through this cycle. ",p:112,x:105,y:144,w:297,h:23},
{t:"Juice Fasts",p:112,x:309,y:198,w:102,h:26},
{t:"As I have mentioned, fasting has become popular simply because of ",p:112,x:135,y:244,w:484,h:23},
{t:"its health benefts rather than as an act of intercession. Te idea, however, ",p:112,x:105,y:271,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is not the classic water-only fast. ",p:112,x:105,y:299,w:232,h:23},
{t:"Most of us have bodies that are too acidic (toxic). Te typical person ’s ",p:112,x:135,y:326,w:484,h:23},
{t:"urinary pH reading is around 5.0, when it should be around 6.8 to 7.0. ",p:112,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Tis is actually much worse than it appears, since 5.0 is one hundred ",p:112,x:105,y:381,w:514,h:23},
{t:"times more acidic than 7.0. Te more acidic one’s urine is, the more ",p:112,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"minerals are lost. One’s cells also become less permeable, resulting in ",p:112,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"constipation and toxicity. ",p:112,x:105,y:464,w:183,h:23},
{t:"One of the reasons for this situation is that the body collects, over ",p:112,x:135,y:491,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the years, a variety of contaminants that are not easily excreted through ",p:112,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the body. Lead pollution in the atmosphere is a typical example. Lead is ",p:112,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a heavy metal that the body absorbs but cannot easily dispel. Our atmo-",p:112,x:105,y:574,w:509,h:23},
{t:"sphere and many of the pollutants in it are all acidic in nature, whereas ",p:112,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"most natural, unprocessed foods are more alkaline in nature. Tis means ",p:112,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that much food is medicine to the body, whereas heavy metals in any ",p:112,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"form or quantity are usually more toxic to us. ",p:112,x:105,y:684,w:325,h:23},
{t:"On the basis of such thinking a movement is being birthed that ",p:112,x:135,y:711,w:484,h:23},
{t:"promotes periodic fasting followed by a cleansing diet of natural, or-",p:112,x:105,y:739,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ganic foods that can help return the pH balance to a healthier norm ",p:112,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and cleanse the body of excess toxic nutrients, fats, and chemicals. Te ",p:112,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"regimen would look something like this: You do a water-only fast for, say, ",p:112,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"three days, which begins the detox process. You then follow this with a ",p:112,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"juicing fast, which is one of the safest and best ways to fush and heal the ",p:112,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body of such toxins. ",p:112,x:105,y:904,w:147,h:23},
{t:"101",p:113,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF FASTING",p:113,x:443,y:59,w:172,h:20},
{t:"Claims are also being made that water-only fasting, especially when ",p:113,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"followed by a juice detox, can also help protect the body against a range ",p:113,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of autoimmune diseases, like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as ",p:113,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"severe atherosclerosis (such as severe coronary artery disease). Such fast-",p:113,x:105,y:199,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing is also known to reduce infammation in the body.2 ",p:113,x:105,y:227,w:392,h:23},
{t:"“Juicing” typically refers to mixing in a blender a combination of ",p:113,x:135,y:254,w:484,h:23},
{t:"organic raw fruits and vegetables. 3 As well as detoxifying the body, juic-",p:113,x:105,y:282,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing also provides relief for the gastrointestinal tract. Te Western world ",p:113,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is becoming known for being overfed and undernourished. Juice fasting ",p:113,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"hearkens back to Greek times, when Hippocrates and others treated the ",p:113,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"patient rather than, as in modern medicine, just the disease. ",p:113,x:105,y:392,w:421,h:23},
{t:"Te principle of juice fasting is simple. Our bodies use a lot of energy ",p:113,x:135,y:419,w:484,h:23},
{t:"each day digesting, absorbing, and assimilating food. By juicing fruits ",p:113,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and vegetables you allow your body to digest nutrition without a large ",p:113,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"amount of energy going into the digestive process. Juicing allows the ",p:113,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body to get on with detoxifying itself. ",p:113,x:105,y:529,w:270,h:23},
{t:"Some, following the lead of Peter D’Adamo, would also have us take ",p:113,x:135,y:557,w:484,h:23},
{t:"into account our blood type in determining what foods are good for us ",p:113,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to juice and what foods are actually poisonous for our particular blood ",p:113,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"type.4 It may be too obvious for words, but we are normally addicted to ",p:113,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"those foods and habits that harm us the most. ",p:113,x:105,y:667,w:328,h:23},
{t:"But let’s assume you are now deciding on a fast and want to know the ",p:113,x:135,y:694,w:484,h:23},
{t:"best way forward to help you on your spiritual journey while also ofering ",p:113,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"health to your body. ",p:113,x:105,y:749,w:147,h:23},
{t:"1 ",p:113,x:105,y:797,w:12,h:21},
{t:" Don Colbert, Toxic Relief: Restore Health and Energy Trough Fasting and ",p:113,x:126,y:797,w:473,h:21},
{t:"Detoxifcation (Lake Mary, FL: Siloam Press, 2003), 51.",p:113,x:105,y:817,w:355,h:21},
{t:"2 ",p:113,x:105,y:841,w:12,h:21},
{t:" Personally, I am not a big fan of juicing. Why juice succulent fruits and ",p:113,x:126,y:841,w:466,h:21},
{t:"vegetables that you can masticate in your mouth, getting your digestive juices ",p:113,x:105,y:861,w:500,h:21},
{t:"going, rather than juicing and losing these benefts?",p:113,x:105,y:881,w:329,h:21},
{t:"3 ",p:113,x:105,y:905,w:12,h:21},
{t:" Peter J. D’Adamo, Eat Right 4 Your Type: Te Individualized Diet Solution ",p:113,x:126,y:905,w:478,h:21},
{t:"to Staying Healthy, Living Longer and Achieving Your Ideal Weight: 4 Blood Types, ",p:113,x:105,y:925,w:511,h:20},
{t:"4 Diets (New York: Putnam, 1996). ",p:113,x:105,y:945,w:232,h:21},
{t:"102",p:114,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:114,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"The “Daniel Fast”",p:114,x:271,y:117,w:178,h:26},
{t:"I call what has become for me a way of life the “Daniel fast.” Tis ",p:114,x:135,y:162,w:484,h:23},
{t:"eating regimen is low in salt, sugar, and “bad fat.”5 ",p:114,x:105,y:189,w:359,h:23},
{t:"When Daniel, who would become a great Old Testament prophet, ",p:114,x:135,y:217,w:484,h:23},
{t:"was a young man, he was taken into captivity in Babylon and brought ",p:114,x:105,y:244,w:514,h:23},
{t:"into service in the royal palace. He and his three young friends were ",p:114,x:105,y:272,w:514,h:23},
{t:"assigned “a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table” (Daniel ",p:114,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"1:5). But Daniel was determined not to “defle himself ” with this food ",p:114,x:105,y:327,w:514,h:23},
{t:"(verse 8), probably a reference to the fact that the frst portion of it had ",p:114,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"been ofered to idols. Instead, Daniel and his companions ate a diet of ",p:114,x:105,y:382,w:514,h:23},
{t:"vegetables and water. ",p:114,x:105,y:409,w:152,h:23},
{t:"After ten days of this fare, Daniel and his fellow Israelites “looked ",p:114,x:135,y:437,w:484,h:23},
{t:"healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the ",p:114,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"royal food” (verse 15). Tis type of food—simple, unprocessed, and usu-",p:114,x:105,y:492,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ally organic—has become much more fashionable in recent times, given ",p:114,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"problems such as obesity and the appalling damage done to food by mass ",p:114,x:105,y:547,w:514,h:23},
{t:"production, deep-freezing, or adding ingredients to extend shelf life.",p:114,x:105,y:574,w:481,h:23},
{t:"I now fnd that my body is best suited to plain foods. My typical diet ",p:114,x:135,y:602,w:484,h:23},
{t:"these days, for both weight control and healing nourishment, consists of ",p:114,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"lightly steamed vegetables seasoned with garlic and spices, steamed fsh ",p:114,x:105,y:657,w:514,h:23},
{t:"several times a week, and plain, grilled chicken or turkey (without the ",p:114,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"skin). I don ’t eat much red meat, pork, or dairy products, except for skim ",p:114,x:105,y:712,w:514,h:23},
{t:"milk in tea. I am also guided in this by my blood type in regard to the ",p:114,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"foods that are most suitable for me.6",p:114,x:105,y:767,w:255,h:23},
{t:"Tis approach to diet is then generously supplemented by a wide ",p:114,x:135,y:794,w:484,h:23},
{t:"variety of mostly seasonal, fresh (and inexpensive) fruits, without any ",p:114,x:105,y:822,w:514,h:23},
{t:"4 ",p:114,x:105,y:881,w:12,h:21},
{t:" Some types of fat are good while others are not so good. See William Cas-",p:114,x:126,y:881,w:478,h:21},
{t:"telli and Glen Grifn, Te New Good Fat, Bad Fat: Lower Your Cholesterol and ",p:114,x:105,y:901,w:500,h:21},
{t:"Reduce Your Odds of a Heart Attack (Cambridge, MA: Fisher Books, 1997).",p:114,x:105,y:921,w:479,h:21},
{t:"5 ",p:114,x:105,y:945,w:12,h:21},
{t:" D’Adamo, Eat Right 4 Your Type. ",p:114,x:126,y:945,w:219,h:21},
{t:"103",p:115,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF FASTING",p:115,x:443,y:59,w:172,h:20},
{t:"added sugar. I have come to really enjoy these simple tastes without the ",p:115,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sauces, ketchup, or salt. I also rarely eat processed and/or prepackaged ",p:115,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"foods or anything fried. Together with my power walk every day, I have ",p:115,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"been able to live healthier than when I ate anything given to me. (Having ",p:115,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"said this, I do occasionally treat myself to an un-thickened Irish stew or ",p:115,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"cheese and biscuits.) ",p:115,x:105,y:254,w:147,h:23},
{t:"I am not saying this regimen is for everyone, but for my type of body ",p:115,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"it is very healthful. You might need to fnd a diet plan that suits your ",p:115,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body, and then change your eating habits to accommodate it. We all need ",p:115,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to gain a greater understanding of what is healthy for the human body in ",p:115,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"general and our own bodies in particular, so that we can adapt our eating ",p:115,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"habits and lifestyle accordingly. ",p:115,x:105,y:419,w:224,h:23},
{t:"Alternately, perhaps you would want to adopt the Daniel fast for a ",p:115,x:135,y:447,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fxed period, maybe a week. It’s an option that could readily be incorpo-",p:115,x:105,y:474,w:509,h:23},
{t:"rated into a very demanding lifestyle or used by someone for whom it is ",p:115,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"not safe to abstain completely from food.",p:115,x:105,y:529,w:290,h:23},
{t:"Healthy Living",p:115,x:287,y:583,w:147,h:26},
{t:"It may seem strange to include a chapter on healthy eating in a book ",p:115,x:135,y:629,w:484,h:23},
{t:"on fasting, but I feel it is important. If fasting is to become a regular ",p:115,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"discipline for you, as it has for me, understanding its impact on your ",p:115,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body and how to take care of your body between fasts are fundamental ",p:115,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"aspects of that discipline. ",p:115,x:105,y:739,w:181,h:23},
{t:"Interest in the human body and how it works has expanded rapidly ",p:115,x:135,y:766,w:484,h:23},
{t:"in recent times. As a consequence we have a growing knowledge about ",p:115,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"how the body does and does not cope with things like fast food, stress, ",p:115,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"addictions, lack of exercise, and obesity. Such information can be helpful ",p:115,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"as background in establishing ground rules for extended fasting.",p:115,x:105,y:876,w:451,h:23},
{t:"Our growing awareness of the needs and function of the human ",p:115,x:135,y:904,w:484,h:23},
{t:"body is leading us to numerous alarming conclusions. One is that we ",p:115,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"104",p:116,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:116,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"in the Western world are among the most overfed and undernourished ",p:116,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"people on earth. Our bodies need ample amounts of nutrition, yet most ",p:116,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of us eat more and more devitalized foods. Our soils are getting poorer ",p:116,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and our foods more processed, so what we eat is becoming less and less ",p:116,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"nourishing. One of the reasons for this is that we no longer follow the ",p:116,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fallow year recommended in Scripture, where we let the ground rest every ",p:116,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"seventh year (Exodus 23:10–11; Leviticus 25:3–4). But our diet also ",p:116,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"consists mainly of prepared, processed, and/or fried foods, all of which ",p:116,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"tend to be low in nourishment and high in unhealthy fats. ",p:116,x:105,y:337,w:415,h:23},
{t:"We all have two kinds of cholesterol in our body. Te “good” one ",p:116,x:135,y:364,w:484,h:23},
{t:"is called high-density lipoprotein (HDL), while the “bad” one is called ",p:116,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"low-density lipoprotein (LDL). HDL is essential for life, necessary for ",p:116,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the formation of cell membranes and steroid hormones like cortisol, ",p:116,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. But unhealthy fats—saturated ",p:116,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"hydrogenated fats and trans-fatty acids—are now killing us with a variety ",p:116,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of diseases.7 ",p:116,x:105,y:529,w:87,h:23},
{t:"In addition to eating more and more bad fat, because so much of our ",p:116,x:135,y:557,w:484,h:23},
{t:"food is processed and therefore “dead,” it is much less nourishing to our ",p:116,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"bodies. So we tend to gorge ourselves with increasing amounts of food to ",p:116,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ofset our body’s decreased intake of nourishment. Walking away hungry ",p:116,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"after a meal is a classic sign of this process. In a sense a person is moving ",p:116,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"into malnutrition. In response to this, some are suggesting we need to ",p:116,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"return to a diet of the type that Jesus ate.8 ",p:116,x:105,y:722,w:297,h:23},
{t:"Another factor also needs to be considered. Many people today ",p:116,x:135,y:749,w:484,h:23},
{t:"realize they are harming themselves by their diet. So they begin taking ",p:116,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"vitamins and supplements. Most of these, however, are also “dead.” I’m ",p:116,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"not knocking vitamins and supplements, but merely making the point ",p:116,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"6 ",p:116,x:105,y:881,w:12,h:21},
{t:" In addition to Castelli and Grifn, Te New Good Fat, Bad Fat, see Robert ",p:116,x:126,y:881,w:484,h:21},
{t:"Povey, How to Keep Your Cholesterol in Check (London: Sheldon Press, 2003).",p:116,x:105,y:901,w:493,h:21},
{t:"7 ",p:116,x:105,y:925,w:12,h:21},
{t:" Don Colbert, What Would Jesus Eat? Te Ultimate Program for Eating Well, ",p:116,x:126,y:925,w:483,h:21},
{t:"Feeling Great, and Living Longer (Nashville: Tomas Nelson, 2002).",p:116,x:105,y:945,w:433,h:21},
{t:"105",p:117,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF FASTING",p:117,x:443,y:59,w:172,h:20},
{t:"that it might be easier for our bodies if we ate foods that gave us these ",p:117,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"benefts naturally rather than expecting our bodies to absorb synthetic ",p:117,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"substitutes because we cannot be bothered to be more disciplined in ",p:117,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"our eating. ",p:117,x:105,y:199,w:82,h:23},
{t:"Instead, we need to change the way we eat: consuming far less fast ",p:117,x:135,y:227,w:484,h:23},
{t:"food, processed food, fried food, unhealthy fat, salt, sugar, and artifcial ",p:117,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sweeteners. Tat is, the range of foods we ingest should, on the whole, ",p:117,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"contribute to the healing and restoration of our bodies. Much of our ",p:117,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"typical diet does not. For instance, it makes sense that we should eat fve ",p:117,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"portions of fruit and vegetables a day. A portion could be a piece of fruit, ",p:117,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a handful of grapes, or the equivalent of a small glass of juice. But how ",p:117,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"many of us do that?",p:117,x:105,y:419,w:139,h:23},
{t:"So before we even begin thinking about fasting, some of us will need ",p:117,x:135,y:447,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to change our lifestyle and our diet. Devitalized, low-nourishment foods ",p:117,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will not help heal and restore your body after an extended fast. In fact, ",p:117,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"eating such foods could help prolong the agony of breaking the fast. ",p:117,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Te body will not bounce back the way it should if we are not feeding it ",p:117,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"nourishing foods.",p:117,x:105,y:584,w:124,h:23},
{t:"In Summary",p:117,x:300,y:638,w:120,h:26},
{t:"Perhaps you will consider eating more healthily as a result of reading ",p:117,x:135,y:684,w:484,h:23},
{t:"this book. But I would go one step further and suggest that times of ",p:117,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting are healthy for our body. I am not referring to extended fasts so ",p:117,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"much. But there is clear medical evidence to indicate that, especially for ",p:117,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"those of us in the West, occasional short water-only fasts bring cleansing ",p:117,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to the body. For example, losing just a few pounds, providing you keep ",p:117,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it of, can signifcantly reduce your chances of contracting a multitude of ",p:117,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"serious diseases. ",p:117,x:105,y:876,w:115,h:23},
{t:"Te fasting we are talking about in this book is not primarily for ",p:117,x:135,y:904,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the purpose of physical health. Nonetheless, you may want to consider a ",p:117,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"106",p:118,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:118,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"fast specifcally for this purpose before engaging in the more demanding ",p:118,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"spiritual dynamics of fasting. It will help you identify how challenging ",p:118,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the physical demands of a fast might be for you. Do be aware, however, ",p:118,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of any personal health factors that might make this unwise for you.",p:118,x:105,y:199,w:473,h:23},
{t:"Part 3",p:119,x:322,y:242,w:77,h:46},
{t:"FASTING FROM FOOD",p:119,x:140,y:474,w:441,h:83},
{t:"We will now focus specifcally on those fasts ",p:119,x:167,y:608,w:392,h:24},
{t:"that relate to food. Because they affect our ",p:119,x:172,y:638,w:382,h:24},
{t:"bodies so directly, they have a far wider range of ",p:119,x:146,y:668,w:434,h:24},
{t:"consequences and must be handled with care.",p:119,x:155,y:698,w:410,h:24},
{t:"I am including the most demanding form of ",p:119,x:165,y:728,w:395,h:24},
{t:"fasting: extended water-only fasts. Not all of us ",p:119,x:152,y:758,w:422,h:24},
{t:"are called to them, but I am convinced that their ",p:119,x:145,y:788,w:436,h:24},
{t:"rewards in the Kingdom of heaven are signifcant. ",p:119,x:141,y:818,w:445,h:24},
{t:"It is my prayer that God will raise up an army ",p:119,x:161,y:848,w:404,h:24},
{t:"of those able to undertake this type of fasting, ",p:119,x:157,y:878,w:412,h:24},
{t:"together with their supporters, to prepare the ",p:119,x:158,y:908,w:409,h:24},
{t:"church for the last days.",p:119,x:255,y:938,w:211,h:24},
{t:"109",p:120,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"HEALTH WARNING",p:120,x:250,y:296,w:219,h:52},
{t:"As we tackle the topic of water-only fasts, I want to remind you again ",p:120,x:135,y:425,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of the health warning:",p:120,x:105,y:453,w:156,h:23},
{t:"Please note that this is not a medical textbook on fasting but a ",p:120,x:135,y:488,w:454,h:23},
{t:"handbook intended to introduce the subject to Christians who ",p:120,x:135,y:515,w:454,h:23},
{t:"may be interested in exploring this discipline. Before you consider ",p:120,x:135,y:543,w:454,h:23},
{t:"fasting it may be advisable to talk to a health care professional. ",p:120,x:135,y:570,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Tis is especially important if you are taking medication or have ",p:120,x:135,y:598,w:454,h:23},
{t:"a history of illness. Neither the author, the publisher, nor any of ",p:120,x:135,y:625,w:454,h:23},
{t:"their afliates can be held responsible for any outcomes if you do ",p:120,x:135,y:653,w:454,h:23},
{t:"decide to fast to the Lord. ",p:120,x:135,y:680,w:187,h:23},
{t:"111",p:121,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"11.",p:121,x:556,y:241,w:44,h:55},
{t:"CONSIDERING A WATER-ONLY FAST",p:121,x:105,y:422,w:435,h:52},
{t:"We move now to the topic of water-only fasting, the practice most ",p:121,x:135,y:552,w:484,h:23},
{t:"commonly associated with the word fasting. Due to its direct and im-",p:121,x:105,y:579,w:509,h:23},
{t:"mediate physical efects, such fasting must be undertaken cautiously. Te ",p:121,x:105,y:607,w:514,h:23},
{t:"more understanding you have, the more successful your fast is likely to ",p:121,x:105,y:634,w:514,h:23},
{t:"be. Te things you need to do to prepare for denying yourself food will ",p:121,x:105,y:662,w:514,h:23},
{t:"eventually become instinctive and routine. But to start with it is best to ",p:121,x:105,y:689,w:514,h:23},
{t:"do them very carefully and deliberately. ",p:121,x:105,y:717,w:282,h:23},
{t:"Medical Cautions",p:121,x:274,y:771,w:172,h:26},
{t:"If you could harm your body by doing a water-only fast, you must ",p:121,x:135,y:816,w:484,h:23},
{t:"seriously question whether the Lord is giving you permission to do such a ",p:121,x:105,y:844,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast. Under such circumstances, the other types of fasts—a non-food fast, ",p:121,x:105,y:871,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a juice fast, or a Daniel fast—would be more pleasing to Him.",p:121,x:105,y:899,w:439,h:23},
{t:"112",p:122,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:122,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"If you sufer from any kind of stomach disorder or digestive tract ",p:122,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"problem, or if you have sufered damage to the lining of your stomach ",p:122,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in the past, you should defnitely reconsider the prospect of water-only ",p:122,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting. Merely emptying your stomach may quickly expose any problem ",p:122,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with your stomach or digestive tract. Before you attempt to fast, talk to ",p:122,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"your doctor to determine if you need to fnd a form of self-denial other ",p:122,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"than abstaining from food. ",p:122,x:105,y:282,w:194,h:23},
{t:"When you begin to fast and there is no food in your stomach, there ",p:122,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"will be a period of time in which your stomach continues the digestive ",p:122,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"cycle by creating digestive acids. For most of us this creates a signifcant ",p:122,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"buildup of acid in the stomach, causing our pH balance to become more ",p:122,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"acidic. Tis part of a fast will be agony if you already have damage to your ",p:122,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"stomach or digestive tract. In any case, be cautious in your frst fasts as ",p:122,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you move into this part of the cycle. ",p:122,x:105,y:474,w:259,h:23},
{t:"Fasting is also generally more difcult for those whose daily lives ",p:122,x:135,y:502,w:484,h:23},
{t:"involve physically demanding activities, for those who have a high rate ",p:122,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of metabolism, and for those who are going through hormonal change. ",p:122,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Women need to take into account the ramifcations of their monthly ",p:122,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"cycle. If a woman is pregnant or breast-feeding, she will likely want to ",p:122,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"choose a fast that does not involve abstinence from all food, and defnitely ",p:122,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"not a fast that involves abstinence from water. ",p:122,x:105,y:667,w:327,h:23},
{t:"If you are on medication, especially to treat a medical condition ",p:122,x:135,y:694,w:484,h:23},
{t:"like diabetes, you need to talk to your doctor before doing a water-only ",p:122,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast for longer than one day. In the case of many oral medications it is ",p:122,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"assumed that you are eating normally, as the medication is designed to ",p:122,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"break down in the stomach along with food and liquids. Tis is just as ",p:122,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"true with timed-release or sustained-release drugs. Although they release ",p:122,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"their medication more slowly, the assumption that you will have food in ",p:122,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"your stomach still applies. ",p:122,x:105,y:887,w:188,h:23},
{t:"It is not wise to take any medication on an empty stomach. Even ",p:122,x:135,y:914,w:484,h:23},
{t:"diluting some medications in water doesn ’t stop them from damaging ",p:122,x:105,y:942,w:514,h:23},
{t:"113",p:123,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"CONSIDERING A WATER ONLY FAST",p:123,x:443,y:59,w:172,h:20},
{t:"the lining of the stomach. Again, if you have any questions or concerns ",p:123,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"about fasting in light of your medication, please seek professional advice. ",p:123,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Soluble aspirin can cause bleeding of the stomach lining, so if you ",p:123,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"need to take a pain reliever while fasting you may want to use enteric-",p:123,x:105,y:199,w:509,h:23},
{t:"coated aspirin or acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol). Other types of anti-in-",p:123,x:105,y:227,w:509,h:23},
{t:"fammatories, such as ibuprofen (e.g., Advil and Motrin), may also prove ",p:123,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"useful for headaches, even intense ones. I have gotten bad headaches for ",p:123,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"no apparent reason during a water-only fast. Te right side of my head ",p:123,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and my forehead are the two areas where I seem to feel empathetic pain. ",p:123,x:105,y:337,w:513,h:23},
{t:"Te issue of containing and managing pain should be taken very ",p:123,x:135,y:364,w:484,h:23},
{t:"seriously. Don ’t try to be a hero and tough it out. I have always given ",p:123,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"myself permission to take pain medication during a fast if the pain gets ",p:123,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"unbearable. But I would recommend dissolving the medication in a glass ",p:123,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of water so that it doesn ’t concentrate in your stomach. And remember ",p:123,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that since you are taking it on an empty stomach it works much more ",p:123,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"quickly. I have felt a rush within minutes. ",p:123,x:105,y:529,w:298,h:23},
{t:"Disorders and Addictions",p:123,x:235,y:583,w:250,h:26},
{t:"Anorexia and bulimia are of particular concern, since fasting can be ",p:123,x:135,y:629,w:484,h:23},
{t:"a way of promoting the worst aspects of these disorders. Asking someone ",p:123,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with anorexic tendencies to fast could be a gift! Anyone currently strug-",p:123,x:105,y:684,w:509,h:23},
{t:"gling with an eating disorder should not fast, and anyone who has a ",p:123,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"history of such disorders should only fast with caution—making a com-",p:123,x:105,y:739,w:509,h:23},
{t:"mitment to keep others who know of his or her history fully informed. ",p:123,x:105,y:766,w:504,h:23},
{t:"I would also extend this caution to anyone who is battling with ",p:123,x:135,y:794,w:484,h:23},
{t:"emotional illness. Fasting is such a drain on our body and our spirit ",p:123,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that we must be very careful if we are already burdened by other ",p:123,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"signifcant difculties.",p:123,x:105,y:876,w:162,h:23},
{t:"Because our church runs a therapeutic faith community, a number ",p:123,x:135,y:904,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of persons have come to us with this kind of disorder. We have been able ",p:123,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"114",p:124,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:124,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"to help many individuals break these cycles and begin to be free. After a ",p:124,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"period of stability we would support them in trying to fast during one of ",p:124,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the church ’s rotating fasts. But we warn people that this learning journey ",p:124,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"takes time, so they should satisfy themselves and others that they are in ",p:124,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the right place to be able to fast. ",p:124,x:105,y:227,w:231,h:23},
{t:"If you are addicted to alcohol, drugs (either street drugs or medica-",p:124,x:135,y:254,w:480,h:23},
{t:"tion), or tobacco, fasting from food will likely be unrealistic. I would ",p:124,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"caution you against serious fasting until you have resolved these issues, ",p:124,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"or at least agreed on a way forward under professional supervision. For ",p:124,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"smokers, in particular, to just stop eating could invoke a whole range of ",p:124,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"uncomfortable side efects. ",p:124,x:105,y:392,w:193,h:23},
{t:"Nearly all of us are ",p:124,x:135,y:419,w:146,h:23},
{t:"“addicted” to something, even if it is socially ",p:124,x:284,y:419,w:335,h:23},
{t:"acceptable. Te most common compulsion involves cafeine, generally ",p:124,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in the form of cofee, tea, soft drinks, or energy drinks. Other addictions ",p:124,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"include chocolate and other sweets, as well as potato chips and other ",p:124,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"salty snacks. Even though I know they are poison to me, I have had a ",p:124,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"compulsive love for dry roasted peanuts. When I eat them (often a whole ",p:124,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"packet!), my stomach gets upset.",p:124,x:105,y:584,w:229,h:23},
{t:"Many of us don ’t really admit that we are hooked. We tell ourselves ",p:124,x:135,y:612,w:484,h:23},
{t:"that we could do without a cup of cofee if we wanted. We don ’t realize ",p:124,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"how dependent we have grown until we stop consuming a certain food ",p:124,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"or drink for a period of time. Before trying a water-only fast, it is often ",p:124,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"more helpful to do occasional fasts from these specifc foods or beverages ",p:124,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in order to break the power of these addictions.",p:124,x:105,y:749,w:334,h:23},
{t:"Be prepared for the unexpected, however. You may well start feel-",p:124,x:135,y:777,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ing depressed as you experience inverted anger because of having your ",p:124,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"comfort food taken away. Te emotional struggle of depriving oneself ",p:124,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of an addiction to food will be a surprising battleground for many. You ",p:124,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"may fnd yourself having a temper tantrum. Or you may begin to get ",p:124,x:105,y:887,w:514,h:23},
{t:"headaches and/or dizziness due to the lack of cafeine. It is common for ",p:124,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"115",p:125,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"CONSIDERING A WATER ONLY FAST",p:125,x:443,y:59,w:172,h:20},
{t:"this preparation period to be worse than the early days of an actual fast. ",p:125,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Te preparation can turn out to be a fast all of its own! ",p:125,x:105,y:144,w:390,h:23},
{t:"One fnal word about these problematic compulsions. Tough many ",p:125,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"people are unaware of this, most popular soft drinks contain a number ",p:125,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of addictive chemicals. So be sure to stop drinking them before starting a ",p:125,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast, as it will otherwise be a real shock to you when you do. ",p:125,x:105,y:254,w:427,h:23},
{t:"But let us now assume that you are fully prepared and are into the ",p:125,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"countdown to begin your fast. ",p:125,x:105,y:309,w:218,h:23},
{t:"Exploring the Discipline",p:125,x:239,y:363,w:242,h:26},
{t:"If you have never done a water-only fast you should probably start ",p:125,x:135,y:409,w:484,h:23},
{t:"with a short fast, say four hours, that involves missing one meal (and ",p:125,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"perhaps several cups of cofee or tea!). Even for such a brief fast I would ",p:125,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"encourage you to take into account the guidelines we have already dis-",p:125,x:105,y:491,w:509,h:23},
{t:"cussed (see Chapter 8). Use your time wisely. Perhaps you can devote an ",p:125,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"hour or more to intercessory prayer. ",p:125,x:105,y:546,w:257,h:23},
{t:"After several of these fasts you will probably be ready to commit ",p:125,x:135,y:574,w:484,h:23},
{t:"yourself to eight hours, then to twelve hours, and then to your frst ",p:125,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"twenty-four-hour water-only fast. Here the physical consequences of ",p:125,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"depriving yourself of food will likely be more noticeable. Te way your ",p:125,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body reacts to these short fasts will be an indication of how you are going ",p:125,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to fare with longer fasts. Be mindful that the process you go through in ",p:125,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"these frst brief fasts could establish your routine for years to come. ",p:125,x:105,y:739,w:475,h:23},
{t:"A twenty-four-hour fast is the maximum some people can do, while ",p:125,x:135,y:766,w:484,h:23},
{t:"others will recognize that that they are capable of fasting much longer. If ",p:125,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you feel, after doing several twenty-four-hour fasts, that you may be able ",p:125,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to try something longer, you must be responsible before the Lord, your ",p:125,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"family, and those supporting you for deciding on what lengths of fast ",p:125,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to practice. A three-day water-only fast (or perhaps even less than that) ",p:125,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is the most that some people can safely handle because of their health, ",p:125,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"116",p:126,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:126,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"lifestyle, or commitments. If this applies to you, you shouldn ’t consider ",p:126,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"anything more demanding unless the Lord changes your circumstances ",p:126,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to make it possible. Many of my examples are drawn from extended ",p:126,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasts of ffteen to thirty days. However, I know of many others who will ",p:126,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"experience equivalent reactions during fasts of seven days or even three ",p:126,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"days. For this reason I have resisted the temptation to defne the length ",p:126,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of an extended fast. Tis is something that will be uniquely identifed ",p:126,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"during your fasting journey. You will fnd out how long it takes to reach ",p:126,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the end of your own physical resources. ",p:126,x:105,y:337,w:282,h:23},
{t:"I am operating from the simple assumption that, regardless of the ",p:126,x:135,y:364,w:484,h:23},
{t:"length of your fast, your experiences of extended fasting will be similar ",p:126,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to my own. You may fnd yourself feeling something less extreme than I ",p:126,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have. But I would rather be guilty of conveying a more depressing picture ",p:126,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"than of ofering you hope that doesn ’t materialize!",p:126,x:105,y:474,w:351,h:23},
{t:"Choosing When to Fast",p:126,x:246,y:528,w:229,h:26},
{t:"Abstaining from food during the winter can be quite difcult since ",p:126,x:135,y:574,w:484,h:23},
{t:"your body has less fuel to generate heat. You will get into bed feeling cold, ",p:126,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and it seems to take all night to get warm. And then when you get up in ",p:126,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the morning your body chills immediately. Some people fnd that this ",p:126,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"afects them even in a twenty-four-hour fast.",p:126,x:105,y:684,w:314,h:23},
{t:"During an extended fast your body’s immune system doesn ’t func-",p:126,x:135,y:711,w:480,h:23},
{t:"tion at 100 percent, so you need to try to keep your body temperature ",p:126,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"constant in order to avoid catching a cold or the fu. I am thankful I have ",p:126,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"never had to break a fast for this reason, but I have been aware of the ",p:126,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"vulnerability of my body during wintertime fasts. ",p:126,x:105,y:821,w:352,h:23},
{t:"Te other catch is that because you have no energy you can ’t get ",p:126,x:135,y:849,w:484,h:23},
{t:"warm by exercising. My knees, together with the top of my bald head and ",p:126,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the back of my neck, seem to sufer most. With our home’s central heat-",p:126,x:105,y:904,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing system working efciently I can still feel chilled and uncomfortable, ",p:126,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"117",p:127,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"CONSIDERING A WATER ONLY FAST",p:127,x:443,y:59,w:172,h:20},
{t:"especially my hands, knees, and feet. Even during warm weather, I have ",p:127,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"worn a coat in the house. ",p:127,x:105,y:144,w:183,h:23},
{t:"So, if possible, I would recommend doing extended fasts in the warm ",p:127,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"time of the year. If you feel led to fast during cold weather, however, stay ",p:127,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"inside as much as you can. ",p:127,x:105,y:227,w:191,h:23},
{t:"I have always found it best to start a twenty-four-hour fast in the ",p:127,x:135,y:254,w:484,h:23},
{t:"evening. Tis allows you to break the fast the next evening and therefore ",p:127,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to sleep both nights with a relatively full stomach. You will eat, let’s say, ",p:127,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"no later than six o’clock the frst evening and then break the fast by eating ",p:127,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sometime after six the following evening. ",p:127,x:105,y:364,w:294,h:23},
{t:"For fasts longer than twenty-four hours, I’d suggest that you eat your ",p:127,x:135,y:392,w:484,h:23},
{t:"last meal in the evening and then break the fast with a light meal in the ",p:127,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"evening two or more days later. For me, six o’clock in the evening has ",p:127,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"always been the magic time for starting and stopping a fast. When I have ",p:127,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"participated in a fasting rotation with others, we have usually found that ",p:127,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this was the best transition time from one person ’s fast to the next. Others ",p:127,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"prefer diferent options. What is important is that you have a routine, ",p:127,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"thereby reducing the stress that accompanies fasting. ",p:127,x:105,y:584,w:374,h:23},
{t:"Contending with Eating Habits",p:127,x:206,y:638,w:309,h:26},
{t:"Overeating before a fast will make getting into the fast that much ",p:127,x:135,y:684,w:484,h:23},
{t:"harder. Te instinct to try to hoard food in your stomach will be strong. ",p:127,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Please do enjoy your last meal: savor the favors, sense the saliva glands ",p:127,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"releasing, enjoy the aromas and tastes. But do not overeat. Binge eating ",p:127,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"beforehand merely increases the agony, because breaking into the fast is ",p:127,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the frst battle. Leading up to a fast, eat modest amounts of the kind of ",p:127,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"foods that digest easily, such as steamed vegetables, soups, broths, fruits, ",p:127,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and salad. ",p:127,x:105,y:876,w:74,h:23},
{t:"Most people have very little idea how much time they actually spend ",p:127,x:135,y:904,w:484,h:23},
{t:"eating and drinking. Because it is such a big part of our lives, we mostly ",p:127,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"118",p:128,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:128,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"do it automatically without thinking much about it. When we fast we ",p:128,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"begin to realize that getting a bottle of water or a glass of tap water takes ",p:128,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a lot less time than making numerous cups of cofee or going to get a ",p:128,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Coke several times a day. And because meals are social occasions for most ",p:128,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of us, we don ’t associate eating with consuming a couple of hours of time ",p:128,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"each day. ",p:128,x:105,y:254,w:68,h:23},
{t:"We must be prepared for rebellion. Every hour, especially at meal-",p:128,x:135,y:282,w:480,h:23},
{t:"time, our body will scream out that we have not eaten. Tough it varies ",p:128,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"from one person to another, most of us will be surprised at the extent of ",p:128,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the protest. It will likely be especially bad when you go to bed. I would ",p:128,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sometimes try to fool my body by drinking a glass of warm water. It ",p:128,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"helped a little, but be prepared for a battle. Hold steady. ",p:128,x:105,y:419,w:399,h:23},
{t:"Fasting with an Open-Ended Commitment",p:128,x:151,y:473,w:418,h:26},
{t:"When you start fasting it is always helpful to do it for a fxed period, ",p:128,x:135,y:519,w:484,h:23},
{t:"especially if you are abstaining from food. As you build up to longer fasts ",p:128,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"through practice, you will learn how to prepare for a fast, how your body ",p:128,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and spirit react to a time of fasting, and how to break a fast. As you get ",p:128,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"more experienced, fasting can become more open-ended. ",p:128,x:105,y:629,w:406,h:23},
{t:"I have done several fasts with no fxed end in mind. While preparing ",p:128,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"for one particular fast, I wrote in my journal, “I have been wondering ",p:128,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"how long this fast should last, and my instinct is to not break it till I have ",p:128,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"seen the Lord’s full provision for the future.” My attitude on this occasion ",p:128,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"was that I was willing to fast close to death, if that was needed. I did not ",p:128,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"intend to break the fast until I either had the knowledge I needed or was ",p:128,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"told directly by the Lord that I should stop because I had done enough. ",p:128,x:105,y:821,w:509,h:23},
{t:"You must not make such commitments, however, unless you have ",p:128,x:135,y:849,w:484,h:23},
{t:"been fasting for some time and know for certain that this is what the Lord ",p:128,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is requiring. It is also important that those who have spiritual oversight in ",p:128,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"your life agree that this is the route to take. ",p:128,x:105,y:931,w:308,h:23},
{t:"119",p:129,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"CONSIDERING A WATER ONLY FAST",p:129,x:443,y:59,w:172,h:20},
{t:"If your schedule permits and your family and supporters approve, ",p:129,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"you should be able to enter an open-ended fast. Your next battle will be ",p:129,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with yourself: whether you will surrender and submit to the Lord and ",p:129,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"His control, trusting that He will take care of you. At its heart, fasting is ",p:129,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a declaration of trust that, although you choose to go into it, you know ",p:129,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"He will bring you out of it. ",p:129,x:105,y:254,w:196,h:23},
{t:"If you are beginning an open-ended fast, that means you are planning ",p:129,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to fast until the Lord tells you your objectives are achieved. Terefore your ",p:129,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"goals must be absolutely clear, realistic (with the Lord’s help, of course), ",p:129,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and capable of being easily measured. Apart from your fasting, you have ",p:129,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"no power to bring about the fulfllment of your goals. It is critical that ",p:129,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"others have agreed with your goals. If they just laugh at you, even though ",p:129,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"they honor and love you, then you can be sure you need to revise them! ",p:129,x:105,y:447,w:508,h:23},
{t:"Te goals must be easily measurable, which means you will clearly ",p:129,x:135,y:474,w:484,h:23},
{t:"know when they are met. Again, talk to those close to you to see what ",p:129,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"they think; since they are not fasting they can be much more objective ",p:129,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"about testing this. ",p:129,x:105,y:557,w:131,h:23},
{t:"Nevertheless, let me caution you about writing clear goals and ",p:129,x:135,y:584,w:484,h:23},
{t:"sticking to them through an illustration in my own life. Deep into an ",p:129,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"extended fast, the Lord told me that He would give me what I asked for ",p:129,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and therefore I could break the fast. I knew the Lord was speaking, but ",p:129,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I rebelled and told Him that I would not break the fast until I had the ",p:129,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"knowledge in my hand. He went silent on me for a couple of days, but ",p:129,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"then gave me a key to the knowledge that I knew was from Him. He still ",p:129,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"didn ’t give me the full knowledge, but I broke the fast because I had the ",p:129,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"reassurance that I needed. ",p:129,x:105,y:804,w:186,h:23},
{t:"Breaking a Fast Prematurely",p:129,x:222,y:858,w:276,h:26},
{t:"I believe that committing to a fast and then breaking it prematurely ",p:129,x:135,y:904,w:484,h:23},
{t:"is dishonoring to the Lord. You have entered into a battle to stand with ",p:129,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"120",p:130,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:130,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Christ, but then withdrawn. I have likened this faithlessness to the judg-",p:130,x:105,y:117,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ment we can bring on ourselves when we take the Eucharist wrongly (1 ",p:130,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Corinthians 11:27–32). If this happens during your fast you will need ",p:130,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to spend some time asking for the Lord’s forgiveness, and receiving His ",p:130,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"forgiveness and forgiving yourself, before trying again. My view is that ",p:130,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it is much better to grow slowly in the discipline than to have too many ",p:130,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"experiences of such failure.",p:130,x:105,y:282,w:189,h:23},
{t:"However, you must be prepared to break the fast at any time if your ",p:130,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"health is clearly sufering. Don ’t wait for the goal to be met if your body ",p:130,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is enduring more than it should be. For instance, if you begin to suspect ",p:130,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you have stomach ulcers or some other pain that is beyond the pain of ",p:130,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"hunger, there is no wisdom in pushing on and perhaps doing physical ",p:130,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"damage to your body. Talk to those standing with you, and if they agree, ",p:130,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"stop and get medical advice.",p:130,x:105,y:474,w:199,h:23},
{t:"On one occasion I was moving toward the end of a long fast; but ",p:130,x:135,y:502,w:484,h:23},
{t:"unlike all previous occasions I found myself getting concerned, because ",p:130,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"after about twenty-fve days I started feeling ill. Tis was unusual, since ",p:130,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"by this time in a fast I am usually relaxed and well into my stride. I had ",p:130,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"slowed down enough to accommodate my body, and organs such as my ",p:130,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"stomach and bowel had given up the fght and settled down. ",p:130,x:105,y:639,w:431,h:23},
{t:"I was concerned that my body was going into a kind of starvation ",p:130,x:135,y:667,w:484,h:23},
{t:"shock, though I felt I still had a lot of stored fats in my body. Yet I felt ",p:130,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that for some strange reason I was not converting them into nourish-",p:130,x:105,y:722,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ment. I knew about the process of a person ’s body using up all these ",p:130,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"stored fats and then beginning to consume healthy tissue, such as muscle. ",p:130,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"So I began to monitor how I was feeling even more closely, though not ",p:130,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"terminating the fasting routine. ",p:130,x:105,y:832,w:226,h:23},
{t:"When you are deep into an extended fast you cannot just start eating. ",p:130,x:135,y:859,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Ten at thirty days I broke the fast, having achieved what I wanted. I held ",p:130,x:105,y:887,w:514,h:23},
{t:"steady in the last few days and the situation did not get worse, though I ",p:130,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"remained uncomfortable. ",p:130,x:105,y:942,w:183,h:23},
{t:"121",p:131,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"CONSIDERING A WATER ONLY FAST",p:131,x:443,y:59,w:172,h:20},
{t:"In Summary",p:131,x:300,y:117,w:120,h:26},
{t:"I have introduced some of the key factors to consider when embark-",p:131,x:135,y:162,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ing on water-only fasting. Tis is a journey I would encourage every ",p:131,x:105,y:189,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Christian to embark upon, while being mindful of the challenges. ",p:131,x:105,y:217,w:468,h:23},
{t:"I am aware that my experience is not typical. My ministry and call-",p:131,x:135,y:244,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ing in Christ have meant that extended fasting has been a necessity. My ",p:131,x:105,y:272,w:514,h:23},
{t:"short, stocky body and slower metabolism pushed me to fasting for thirty ",p:131,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"or more days, which I recognize would be inadvisable if not impossible ",p:131,x:105,y:327,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for many people. Nonetheless, as you read on I hope that you too will ",p:131,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"want to take up this discipline in whatever way the Lord enables you.",p:131,x:105,y:382,w:488,h:23},
{t:"123",p:132,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"12.",p:132,x:556,y:241,w:44,h:55},
{t:"THE UNIQUE BENEFITS ",p:132,x:105,y:437,w:282,h:52},
{t:"OF A WATER-ONLY FAST",p:132,x:105,y:484,w:299,h:52},
{t:"Water-only fasts are a type of fast unlike any other. One pays a physi-",p:132,x:135,y:614,w:480,h:23},
{t:"cal cost that does not occur in any other form of fast. But this dimen-",p:132,x:105,y:641,w:509,h:23},
{t:"sion also brings a complete new set of potential benefts, which we will ",p:132,x:105,y:669,w:514,h:23},
{t:"consider in this chapter. Tey are not what most people would consider ",p:132,x:105,y:696,w:514,h:23},
{t:"benefts, but from God’s perspective and in the Kingdom of God they are ",p:132,x:105,y:724,w:514,h:23},
{t:"pearls of great price. ",p:132,x:105,y:751,w:146,h:23},
{t:"Te length of the fast is not the issue—the sacrifce is. A person on ",p:132,x:135,y:779,w:484,h:23},
{t:"a three-day fast may go through the same intense struggle that another ",p:132,x:105,y:806,w:514,h:23},
{t:"did on a three-week fast. But as the lengths of your fasts increase, the ",p:132,x:105,y:834,w:514,h:23},
{t:"benefts are likely to become more pronounced. God has numerous ",p:132,x:105,y:861,w:514,h:23},
{t:"other ways of bringing you these benefts if you are unable to fast in ",p:132,x:105,y:889,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this way. An extended fast, however, defnitely helps soften the ground ",p:132,x:105,y:916,w:514,h:23},
{t:"124",p:133,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:133,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"of your spirit and reshape your emotional life, and it helps you engage ",p:133,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the spiritual world.",p:133,x:105,y:144,w:138,h:23},
{t:"It is essential that we all acknowledge our uniqueness, not just as male ",p:133,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"and female but also as individuals. None of us are naturally Christ-like. ",p:133,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"We all have to discover this—under His instruction, learn from others, ",p:133,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and make personal changes in our values, attitudes, and behavior. 1 ",p:133,x:105,y:254,w:474,h:23},
{t:"We shouldn ’t enter the Christian life believing that we are now perfect ",p:133,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"and have no need to do any more. Some seem to presume that salvation ",p:133,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is what matters, and once we have it that is the end of the matter. I must ",p:133,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"say that this is not the case for any of us. We all need further change to ",p:133,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"become more like Christ.2",p:133,x:105,y:392,w:184,h:23},
{t:"One of the best ways for us to change in a positive way is to discipline ",p:133,x:135,y:419,w:484,h:23},
{t:"our bodies, as Paul suggested in 1 Corinthians 9:27. Tis will help us ",p:133,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"become mellower, fexible, gracious, and honorable in our behavior. Tis ",p:133,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and more will be the outcome of our fasting in a mature way, if we let it. ",p:133,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"A Place of Brokenness",p:133,x:252,y:556,w:217,h:26},
{t:"Water-only fasting, especially for an extended period, takes you to ",p:133,x:135,y:601,w:484,h:23},
{t:"places within you that are not for the proud. Your vulnerability and ",p:133,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"weakness caused by fasting should lead to a greater humility, and your ",p:133,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"surrender to being humbled should lead in turn to brokenness—which is ",p:133,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a wonderful beneft for any person. ",p:133,x:105,y:711,w:253,h:23},
{t:"Tis is a quiet brokenness that allows you to see life from a diferent ",p:133,x:135,y:739,w:484,h:23},
{t:"perspective. For some people it is the frst time they truly become aware ",p:133,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of others. It may result in nearly a trance-like state, in which you see ",p:133,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"1 ",p:133,x:105,y:861,w:12,h:21},
{t:" I have written about this in my doctoral thesis, Becoming More Human: ",p:133,x:126,y:861,w:465,h:21},
{t:"Exploring the Interface of Spirituality, Discipleship and Terapeutic Faith Com-",p:133,x:105,y:881,w:489,h:20},
{t:"munity (Bletchley, Milton Keynes, UK: Paternoster, 2005). ",p:133,x:105,y:901,w:381,h:21},
{t:"2 ",p:133,x:105,y:925,w:12,h:21},
{t:" See P. R. Holmes and S. B. Williams, Becoming More Like Christ: Introduc-",p:133,x:126,y:925,w:481,h:21},
{t:"ing a Biblical Contemporary Journey (Milton Keynes, UK: Paternoster, 2007). ",p:133,x:105,y:945,w:496,h:21},
{t:"125",p:134,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE UNIQUE BENEFITS OF A WATER ONLY FAST",p:134,x:383,y:59,w:231,h:20},
{t:"and hear people in a way you had not heard them before. For instance, ",p:134,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you notice people rushing around: always under pressure, always in a ",p:134,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"hurry, always pushing on in life. You note how stressed everyone looks ",p:134,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"under the pressure of trying to get everything done. You notice how they ",p:134,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"eat—without thinking about it most of the time. You sit back and watch ",p:134,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it all happen. A mere observer, you are no longer part of it. You have, in ",p:134,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a sense, opted out for a season. You let this new situation food you. By ",p:134,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting you enter a new dimension of yourself, and you get a diferent ",p:134,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"view on everything and everyone.",p:134,x:105,y:337,w:236,h:23},
{t:"On an extended fast you will likely slow down to a snail’s pace. You ",p:134,x:135,y:364,w:484,h:23},
{t:"have to sit most of the time. Even climbing the stairs or walking from the ",p:134,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"house to the car requires stopping to take a breath. Your heart beats faster ",p:134,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"than normal with the slightest exertion. You notice the stress your body ",p:134,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is under when you attempt the simplest tasks. You may have to pause ",p:134,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"because you feel dizzy when you stand up. Waking in the mornings, you ",p:134,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have to sit on the edge of the bed while you get your balance. ",p:134,x:105,y:529,w:437,h:23},
{t:"If you are adopting the right spirit toward fasting, you begin to laugh ",p:134,x:135,y:557,w:484,h:23},
{t:"at yourself, noting how arrogantly you have taken for granted the strength ",p:134,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in your body and your right to eat and drink whenever you want. Now ",p:134,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it has all gone. You have to keep reminding yourself that you are not able ",p:134,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to do these things for a season. ",p:134,x:105,y:667,w:221,h:23},
{t:"You remember eating, and feeling the warm strength of the food in ",p:134,x:135,y:694,w:484,h:23},
{t:"your body giving strength to your muscles. Tis fuel is no longer yours ",p:134,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to enjoy. You may develop a disdain for water. It is sickeningly bland and ",p:134,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"empty. Yet you have to drink several glasses a day, so you continue to ",p:134,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"force it down. ",p:134,x:105,y:804,w:103,h:23},
{t:"You recognize the arrogance of the fast-paced way in which you ",p:134,x:135,y:832,w:484,h:23},
{t:"have lived, pushing everyone around you. You begin to refect on your ",p:134,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"lifestyle. You thumb through the pages of your date book and wonder ",p:134,x:105,y:887,w:514,h:23},
{t:"how you did it all. ",p:134,x:105,y:914,w:134,h:23},
{t:"126",p:135,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:135,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Tere have been times when I have sat and cried at the pained void ",p:135,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"in my stomach, now shrunk to something smaller than my clenched fst. ",p:135,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Without food to generate warmth, I have ached with the cold in my body ",p:135,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"even on warm, sunny days. You also begin to realize how social eating is. ",p:135,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I have cried at the loneliness of sitting at the meal table with my family, ",p:135,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"having just a glass of water in front of me. I have cried at the isolation I ",p:135,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have felt—even though nothing has actually changed around me except ",p:135,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for the fact that I am not eating. ",p:135,x:105,y:309,w:232,h:23},
{t:"You are no longer human, like the others around you. You touch ",p:135,x:135,y:337,w:484,h:23},
{t:"upon a brokenness in your life that impacts every part of you, leaving you ",p:135,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"wanting to lie on the foor, curl up, and sleep—forever. ",p:135,x:105,y:392,w:393,h:23},
{t:"Your Spirit Takes Authority over Your Body",p:135,x:147,y:446,w:426,h:26},
{t:"It is not just your body that feels the denial of food so acutely. You ",p:135,x:135,y:491,w:484,h:23},
{t:"begin to experience a shift in the way you think, in the way that you feel. ",p:135,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"For instance, sounds are accentuated and smells are sharper. You are more ",p:135,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"aware. You notice the beauty of things in a way that you have not in the ",p:135,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"past. You have time to stop and notice, as you don ’t have the energy to ",p:135,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"do other things. Even feeding the goldfsh seems more important and ",p:135,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"signifcant than ever before. ",p:135,x:105,y:656,w:199,h:23},
{t:"Your body may be in a constant chill. You can sit in the warm sum-",p:135,x:135,y:684,w:480,h:23},
{t:"mer sun, like our patio looking out over the sea near Dover afords us, ",p:135,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"but still feel chilled to the bone. Like me, you may be too embarrassed ",p:135,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to slip on a winter jacket or ask for a blanket when others are wearing ",p:135,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"T-shirts. ",p:135,x:105,y:794,w:63,h:23},
{t:"Te cold you sense is your body adjusting to the denial of food. You ",p:135,x:135,y:821,w:484,h:23},
{t:"are choosing to begin a process of slowly dying. But sensing that your ",p:135,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"spirit is strong, you are continually able to overrule your body’s demands. ",p:135,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"You fnd your spirit and connect with it in a way that you have not ",p:135,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"before. You have the time and opportunity to do so now. ",p:135,x:105,y:931,w:405,h:23},
{t:"127",p:136,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE UNIQUE BENEFITS OF A WATER ONLY FAST",p:136,x:383,y:59,w:231,h:20},
{t:"You begin to know the diference between your physical body and ",p:136,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"your intangible spirit. Tey are two sides of one coin, but for the frst ",p:136,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"time you are seeing the other side more clearly. Your spirit is “you” in a ",p:136,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"way that your body is not. You know what is meant now by the temporal ",p:136,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and the spiritual. Your spirit has the ascendancy over your body, probably ",p:136,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for the frst time. It is imposing its will on your body. You are giving it no ",p:136,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"concessions, no morsel of food. It can get used to the idea of having no ",p:136,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"nourishment, nor any of your attention and time. Te continual afrm-",p:136,x:105,y:309,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing of this—your spirit over your body—gives you a new sense of your ",p:136,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"spirit: its will to do, its ability to direct, and its capacity to assert itself. ",p:136,x:105,y:364,w:499,h:23},
{t:"As I noted in one of my journal entries, this brings a richness of ",p:136,x:135,y:392,w:484,h:23},
{t:"experience to you that you will fnd no other way. You fnd yourself as ",p:136,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you afrm that your spirit is eternal and what truly matters, whereas your ",p:136,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body is temporal, fckle, and vulnerable. Yet one day your body is going ",p:136,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to change into something it cannot now be. You now know this is true. ",p:136,x:105,y:502,w:507,h:23},
{t:"Te concept of body-spirit unity comes alive, as you sense you are ",p:136,x:135,y:529,w:484,h:23},
{t:"standing over your body, able to see your physical nature for what it is: ",p:136,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"self-serving and selfsh much of the time. Your body is only part of who ",p:136,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you are, not the sum of who you are. You are more than your body, more ",p:136,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"than your appetites. Yes, you now see that you are much more than your ",p:136,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"physical drives and appetites. You fnd you. ",p:136,x:105,y:667,w:306,h:23},
{t:"Without food and sustenance in your body, you are still you. You ",p:136,x:135,y:694,w:484,h:23},
{t:"begin to refect upon the simple fact that one day your new, glorifed ",p:136,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body will have no need for food but will be sustained by Christ Himself. ",p:136,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"You will be free from its pain and limitations as you live without its ",p:136,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"constraints. You realize that you are touching just a little of this now. But ",p:136,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"other things are also happening.",p:136,x:105,y:832,w:225,h:23},
{t:"128",p:137,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:137,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Breaking Gluttony",p:137,x:269,y:117,w:183,h:26},
{t:"Te written testimony of believers following the New Testament ",p:137,x:135,y:162,w:484,h:23},
{t:"period shows that the church at that time had a positive view of fasting as ",p:137,x:105,y:189,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a way of breaking gluttony.3 Such vision is likely even more needed today. ",p:137,x:105,y:217,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Breaking the habit of eating food is the biggest aspect of the sufering of ",p:137,x:105,y:244,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a fast for most of us: confronting the sheer agony of reaching a mealtime ",p:137,x:105,y:272,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with your body selfshly complaining, with a growling stomach, that it ",p:137,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"needs food. Instead of giving in, you are telling it to shut up. ",p:137,x:105,y:327,w:433,h:23},
{t:"Breaking the routine—in reality, the treadmill—of eating is prob-",p:137,x:135,y:354,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ably one of the greatest needs in the Western world today. Our alarming ",p:137,x:105,y:382,w:514,h:23},
{t:"rate of obesity illustrates this. We eat out of habit, not need; and we eat ",p:137,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"more than we need, as our weight demonstrates. Our stomachs are so ",p:137,x:105,y:437,w:514,h:23},
{t:"accustomed to getting excess food that they complain when they don ’t ",p:137,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"get what they want when they want it. But such gnawings don ’t mean ",p:137,x:105,y:492,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that we are “starving”; instead, we are merely breaking a routine. I would ",p:137,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that everyone could fast for a season just to learn how entrenched and ",p:137,x:105,y:547,w:514,h:23},
{t:"addicted to food we really are!",p:137,x:105,y:574,w:211,h:23},
{t:"Breaking the eating addiction—this will be the essence of the battle ",p:137,x:135,y:602,w:484,h:23},
{t:"for most of us. On an extended water-only fast it can take up to eight ",p:137,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"or even twelve days before your stomach stops growling and gets the ",p:137,x:105,y:657,w:514,h:23},
{t:"message that you are not feeding it. Your stomach fnally will submit and ",p:137,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"go into a sleep-rest state, shrinking to the size of your fst. Your stomach ",p:137,x:105,y:712,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and intestines empty, cleanse themselves, and then rest. ",p:137,x:105,y:739,w:393,h:23},
{t:"But a range of other things connected with eating happens. Saliva ",p:137,x:135,y:767,w:484,h:23},
{t:"stops secreting in your mouth and the un-stimulated manufacture of ",p:137,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"digestive acids in your stomach slows down. Te pH balance in your ",p:137,x:105,y:822,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body changes as it begins to discharge the stored toxins. As a precau-",p:137,x:105,y:849,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tion, if the sensation in your stomach or digestive tract moves from a ",p:137,x:105,y:877,w:514,h:23},
{t:"1 ",p:137,x:105,y:925,w:12,h:21},
{t:"Teresa M. Shaw, Te Burden of the Flesh: Fasting and Sexuality in Early ",p:137,x:130,y:925,w:451,h:21},
{t:"Christianity (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1998), 129–60.",p:137,x:105,y:945,w:367,h:21},
{t:"129",p:138,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE UNIQUE BENEFITS OF A WATER ONLY FAST",p:138,x:383,y:59,w:231,h:20},
{t:"growling hunger pain to a sharp or deep pain, stop your fast and talk to ",p:138,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a medical professional. ",p:138,x:105,y:144,w:168,h:23},
{t:"Other aspects of not eating also surface. You begin to realize how ",p:138,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"social the routine of eating is for you. Most of us rarely eat alone. ",p:138,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Purchasing and enjoying food is typically associated with friendship. We ",p:138,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"view eating as an experience meant to be shared. When we go on a fast ",p:138,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"we break much of this contact. ",p:138,x:105,y:282,w:222,h:23},
{t:"If we are with immediate family, it is important to tell them that we ",p:138,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"are fasting. It is helpful to sit with our family or friends and drink our ",p:138,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"water while we watch them feast on savory and sweet foods. I often cook ",p:138,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"while I am fasting as a way to support Mary and to stay in touch with ",p:138,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what is going on. But it is usually better that people outside of your im-",p:138,x:105,y:419,w:509,h:23},
{t:"mediate family don ’t know what you are doing. Terefore you keep away ",p:138,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"from them at mealtimes. Having said that, though, the contemporary ",p:138,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"practice of drinking bottled water has added a bit of credibility to the ",p:138,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"excuse of sitting there, with your spring water in hand, while they eat. ",p:138,x:105,y:529,w:497,h:23},
{t:"What I am suggesting is that feeling lonely is part of the burden of ",p:138,x:135,y:557,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the fast. Not being able to share meals with people is a big loss. While ",p:138,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting you are choosing to be isolated, diferent, no longer one of the ",p:138,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"gang. By fasting, you are voting yourself out of normal life, out of normal ",p:138,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"behavior, out of normal friendships. You are choosing a season apart. ",p:138,x:105,y:667,w:489,h:23},
{t:"Again, I should remind you that the length and even the type of fast ",p:138,x:135,y:694,w:484,h:23},
{t:"is not the key issue. It is what we go through with the Lord in our act ",p:138,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of obedience that is critical. One person may be aware that he or she is ",p:138,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"better able to fast from food than is another. It is important to learn what ",p:138,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you are capable and not capable of achieving. Be careful not to assume ",p:138,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that everyone is like you. Tey are not, in many ways. ",p:138,x:105,y:832,w:383,h:23},
{t:"But something deeper will also be happening in you as you fast, ",p:138,x:135,y:859,w:484,h:23},
{t:"whether for twenty-four hours or twenty-one days, something much ",p:138,x:105,y:887,w:514,h:23},
{t:"more serious than just losing an aspect of our social life upon which we ",p:138,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"may have come to presume. ",p:138,x:105,y:942,w:201,h:23},
{t:"130",p:139,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:139,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Identifying with the Truly Hungry",p:139,x:191,y:117,w:338,h:26},
{t:"By going into an extended fast you are, in a sense, taking on a curse of ",p:139,x:135,y:162,w:484,h:23},
{t:"poverty, in a very real way identifying with the sick, poor, and destitute. ",p:139,x:105,y:189,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Most of us have no concept of how prosperous a world we live in until ",p:139,x:105,y:217,w:514,h:23},
{t:"we ourselves are without food. On average, First-World children and ",p:139,x:105,y:244,w:514,h:23},
{t:"adults eat, in calories and nourishment, in one day what a Tird-World ",p:139,x:105,y:272,w:514,h:23},
{t:"teenager eats over several days. We consume calorie-enriched foods, high ",p:139,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in unhealthy cholesterol, salt, and sugar. ",p:139,x:105,y:327,w:287,h:23},
{t:"Te average North American or European has a remarkable capacity ",p:139,x:135,y:354,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to burn calories, every day eating two to three times the calories of many ",p:139,x:105,y:382,w:514,h:23},
{t:"people in the developing world. We have trained our bodies to eat more ",p:139,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"than we need. Tat is why many of us are overweight. But then, when we ",p:139,x:105,y:437,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast, we are telling our body it is getting nothing. Tis will be a terrible ",p:139,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"shock to it. ",p:139,x:105,y:492,w:83,h:23},
{t:"Although you are reminding your body who is in charge, you are ",p:139,x:135,y:519,w:484,h:23},
{t:"also entering an emotional and spiritual arena that will probably be new ",p:139,x:105,y:547,w:514,h:23},
{t:"territory for you. You begin to fnd out what it is like to go to bed with ",p:139,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"an empty stomach. You lie on your bed feeling the ache of your shrinking ",p:139,x:105,y:602,w:514,h:23},
{t:"stomach. While you are trying to sleep, sometimes a hopeless task, you ",p:139,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"dream of a hot chocolate drink or a snack to help you sleep better. But it ",p:139,x:105,y:657,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is not coming. You are entering the realm that millions around the world ",p:139,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"live in every day of their lives: poverty, sickness, and hunger. ",p:139,x:105,y:712,w:428,h:23},
{t:"Having touched this hunger a great deal, I fnd it hard to view ",p:139,x:135,y:739,w:484,h:23},
{t:"reports of poverty and deprivation on TV or in the press. I frequently ",p:139,x:105,y:767,w:514,h:23},
{t:"travel in East Africa, where daily poverty and hunger is the experience for ",p:139,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"many. So I am aware more than most what it is like to live with hunger, ",p:139,x:105,y:822,w:514,h:23},
{t:"though traditional fasting will not take you down the road of the bloated, ",p:139,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"distended stomach of starvation. Nonetheless, you are walking the road ",p:139,x:105,y:877,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with many others—a road you never would have traveled otherwise. ",p:139,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"131",p:140,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE UNIQUE BENEFITS OF A WATER ONLY FAST",p:140,x:383,y:59,w:231,h:20},
{t:"Sleeping is difcult when you are hungry. But another type of poverty ",p:140,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"also becomes your companion. ",p:140,x:105,y:144,w:222,h:23},
{t:"You lose weight, especially of your waist, stomach, and backside. ",p:140,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"You fnd that you are not comfortable sitting anymore. You are fdgety, ",p:140,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"restless all the time, as though you are hunting for food. But then you ",p:140,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"come back to your senses, realizing that you have intentionally separated ",p:140,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"yourself from food. You are willfully choosing to associate with those ",p:140,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"who are hungry and poor, those who are separated from the riches and ",p:140,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the overabundance of modern Western society. You start to understand ",p:140,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"God’s rage against the manipulative wealth of the rich and His concern ",p:140,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for the servitude of the poor. You sit and acknowledge how they feel! ",p:140,x:105,y:392,w:488,h:23},
{t:"You are voluntarily identifying with the hungry and the poor, at least ",p:140,x:135,y:419,w:484,h:23},
{t:"for a season. In a strange way you sense the approval, even the delight, of ",p:140,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the Lord, as you begin to repent for the injustice of the world of which ",p:140,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"we are all a part. ",p:140,x:105,y:502,w:119,h:23},
{t:"In Summary",p:140,x:300,y:556,w:120,h:26},
{t:"Te benefts of water-only fasts, especially extended ones, are life ",p:140,x:135,y:601,w:484,h:23},
{t:"changing. You are tangibly engaging in a new way of looking at your ",p:140,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"whole life. You discover the reality of the spiritual world, the world that ",p:140,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"we all live in but ignore so much of the time. You discover what it takes to ",p:140,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"share deeply in the sufering of Christ and thereby bring more of heaven ",p:140,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to earth.",p:140,x:105,y:739,w:59,h:23},
{t:"133",p:141,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"13.",p:141,x:556,y:241,w:44,h:55},
{t:"THE PHYSICAL IMPACT ",p:141,x:105,y:437,w:284,h:52},
{t:"OF AN EXTENDED WATER-ONLY FAST",p:141,x:105,y:484,w:450,h:52},
{t:"Tis chapter will focus specifcally on extended water-only fasts, so if ",p:141,x:135,y:614,w:484,h:23},
{t:"you are not considering this type of fast, or are unable to do these fasts, ",p:141,x:105,y:641,w:514,h:23},
{t:"please feel free to skip this chapter. However, you may be interested in my ",p:141,x:105,y:669,w:514,h:23},
{t:"comments regarding the way the human body is designed to cleanse itself ",p:141,x:105,y:696,w:514,h:23},
{t:"during the rigors of water-only fasting. 1",p:141,x:105,y:724,w:281,h:23},
{t:"One of the benefts of abstaining from food is that you learn a lot ",p:141,x:135,y:751,w:484,h:23},
{t:"about your body. Like many people, I would have preferred to have ",p:141,x:105,y:779,w:514,h:23},
{t:"been a bit taller and put on weight less easily. But my body fts me ",p:141,x:105,y:806,w:514,h:23},
{t:"well for the fasting journeys I have taken. I have lots of stored fats, am ",p:141,x:105,y:834,w:514,h:23},
{t:"naturally strong, and have stayed ft for most of my life. Tough my ",p:141,x:105,y:861,w:514,h:23},
{t:"2 ",p:141,x:105,y:905,w:12,h:21},
{t:" Again, I am grateful to general practitioner and nutritionist Brian Mc-",p:141,x:126,y:905,w:455,h:21},
{t:"Donogh for his assistance in this chapter, though the opinions expressed are ",p:141,x:105,y:925,w:490,h:21},
{t:"my own. ",p:141,x:105,y:945,w:60,h:21},
{t:"134",p:142,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:142,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"body has served me well, I have had to learn much about it in order to ",p:142,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"care for it properly. ",p:142,x:105,y:144,w:142,h:23},
{t:"If you are just beginning to fast, my recommendation—as I have ",p:142,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"mentioned before—is that you start slowly, all the while talking to close ",p:142,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"friends or family members about what you are doing. Because all of us are ",p:142,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"unique and we all have the need to care for our bodies, it is useful to have ",p:142,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a sounding board in others to help us monitor what we are experiencing. ",p:142,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"So let us understand in a little more detail the physical impact of ",p:142,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"extended water-only fasting. ",p:142,x:105,y:337,w:204,h:23},
{t:"Unleashing Free Radicals",p:142,x:237,y:391,w:246,h:26},
{t:"When you go on an extended water-only fast unusual things inevita-",p:142,x:135,y:436,w:480,h:23},
{t:"bly begin to happen to your body. You put considerable extra strain on the ",p:142,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"liver, for instance, as it has to process all the toxins being released because ",p:142,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you start to digest the fatty tissue that stores some of the toxins in the ",p:142,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body. Te liver is assaulted by an enormous rush of what are described as ",p:142,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"“free radicals.” You can look at this process during the early part of a fast ",p:142,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in one of two ways: either as an attack on the body as these free radicals ",p:142,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"proliferate, or as a natural cleansing process that you allow your body to ",p:142,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"go through because it is designed to rid itself of all these toxins in this ",p:142,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"way. I have always seen it as the latter, a natural process that is healthy for ",p:142,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"my body in the long run. ",p:142,x:105,y:711,w:183,h:23},
{t:"Free radicals are supercharged atoms, with an unpaired electron, ",p:142,x:135,y:739,w:484,h:23},
{t:"giving them the capacity to bond. Tese unpaired electrons link with our ",p:142,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"own tissue, making them toxic. Antioxidants, on the other hand, ofer ",p:142,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"themselves as “sacrifcial lambs” to be attacked and damaged by the free ",p:142,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"radicals, thus sparing our body’s cells. Te damaged antioxidants are then ",p:142,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"passed through the body in the normal way. ",p:142,x:105,y:876,w:314,h:23},
{t:"Individuals on a water-only fast will not be getting antioxidants ",p:142,x:135,y:904,w:484,h:23},
{t:"through eating, and therefore they will sufer a higher degree of free ",p:142,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"135",p:143,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE PHYSICAL IMPACT OF AN EXTENDED WATER ONLY FAST",p:143,x:322,y:59,w:293,h:20},
{t:"radical damage if they do not take a precaution. Such a precaution is ",p:143,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"easily put in place. A water-only fast leeches minerals out of the body, ",p:143,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"so to avoid free radical damage the water should be flled with miner-",p:143,x:105,y:172,w:509,h:23},
{t:"als. When you fast you cut out all forms of nutrition, but you must ",p:143,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"somehow allow your antioxidants to work normally. To do this you can ",p:143,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"take a multivitamin/multi-mineral supplement tablet each day. Tis is ",p:143,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"especially benefcial in the early days of the fast when the free radical ",p:143,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"process is at its most intense. ",p:143,x:105,y:309,w:207,h:23},
{t:"Taking such a supplement does not add any nourishment or calories ",p:143,x:135,y:337,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to your diet, so you are still maintaining the spirit of the fast. Te mul-",p:143,x:105,y:364,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tivitamin/multi-mineral tablet has no calorie value, but it rewards your ",p:143,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body with the needed mineral value. Just one tablet a day will help your ",p:143,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body cope. ",p:143,x:105,y:447,w:81,h:23},
{t:"The Process of Self-Digestion",p:143,x:215,y:501,w:290,h:26},
{t:"Most people have accumulated substantial numbers of fat-storing ",p:143,x:135,y:546,w:484,h:23},
{t:"cells (lipocytes). When eating normally, most of us don ’t burn up all the ",p:143,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"calories we consume, so our bodies convert some of this extra energy into ",p:143,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"lipid form and store it in lipocytes. Several days into your fast your body ",p:143,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"begins to digest fat sources from the most recently created lipocytes. ",p:143,x:105,y:656,w:483,h:23},
{t:"During the frst few days of a water-only fast the body also burns ",p:143,x:135,y:684,w:484,h:23},
{t:"muscle tissue as fuel, converting it into glucose for energy. Te body ",p:143,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"presumes, just like it always has, that it can easily replace this energy ",p:143,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"later. But as it begins to realize it is not getting such nutrition it moves ",p:143,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"into survival mode, preserving calories as part of a longer-term survival ",p:143,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"strategy. In doing so it begins burning stored fats, or ketones, and as ",p:143,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ketosis develops the body becomes more toxic because of the release ",p:143,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of free radicals and other toxins that are stored in these fats. Te body ",p:143,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"temporarily becomes more acidic with the release and disposal of these ",p:143,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"free radicals.",p:143,x:105,y:931,w:87,h:23},
{t:"136",p:144,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:144,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Te colon also has a tendency to shut down when we are only consum-",p:144,x:135,y:117,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ing water, but it is a key player in the detoxifcation process that occurs as ",p:144,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the body digs into its stored fats. Terefore, some have suggested that we ",p:144,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"should practice herbal-tea-only fasting rather than water-only fasting to ",p:144,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"help keep the colon functioning. Green tea is most often recommended.2 ",p:144,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I have some reservations about this, however, because green tea contains ",p:144,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"cafeine. Other herbal teas may be more healthful—for example, red ",p:144,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"bush tea, which is cafeine-free. ",p:144,x:105,y:309,w:225,h:23},
{t:"As the fast continues the fats that have been stored longer begin to be ",p:144,x:135,y:337,w:484,h:23},
{t:"absorbed. Tey are often more toxic and harder to digest, as well as less ",p:144,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"able to deliver the nourishment the body needs, than the recently stored ",p:144,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fats. So the fast gets more difcult, particularly in the second week, when ",p:144,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"most people’s bodies reach fats that have been stored for some time—of-",p:144,x:105,y:447,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ten for years. ",p:144,x:105,y:474,w:95,h:23},
{t:"Te lipids, or fatty cell membranes, in these cells are not as readily ",p:144,x:135,y:502,w:484,h:23},
{t:"digestible, so extra energy is required to release them and break them ",p:144,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"down. Among other things, you may experience light-headedness, fa-",p:144,x:105,y:557,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tigue, constipation, cold hands and feet, bad breath, skin eruptions, body ",p:144,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"odor, darker urine, and mucous drainage. We have to make peace with ",p:144,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"such side efects if we are to support the body cleansing itself in this way.",p:144,x:105,y:639,w:509,h:23},
{t:"Te process of self-digestion normally proceeds in the following ",p:144,x:135,y:667,w:484,h:23},
{t:"order: First we burn up sugars and then glycogen, or stored sugars. Our ",p:144,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body then moves on to fats, skeletal muscle, partial digestion of internal ",p:144,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"organs, and respiratory and cardiac muscles. Tis last stage—when the ",p:144,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body begins consuming its own skeletal muscle and internal organs—is ",p:144,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"when we really are starving. Te order and timing of this process is ",p:144,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"precisely coordinated by the brain, with the intent of maintaining the ",p:144,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"essential organic functions for staying alive as long as possible. ",p:144,x:105,y:859,w:442,h:23},
{t:"1 ",p:144,x:105,y:925,w:12,h:21},
{t:" See Yukihiko Hara, Green Tea: Health Benefts and Applications (London: ",p:144,x:126,y:925,w:471,h:21},
{t:"Marcel Dekker, 2005)",p:144,x:105,y:945,w:142,h:21},
{t:"137",p:145,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE PHYSICAL IMPACT OF AN EXTENDED WATER ONLY FAST",p:145,x:322,y:59,w:293,h:20},
{t:"Every person ’s body is programmed in this way. Te last tissues to ",p:145,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"be digested by the body are the muscles responsible for breathing and ",p:145,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sustaining the heart. Both of these are essential for maintaining brain ",p:145,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"function, which is the key physical process for the continuation of life. ",p:145,x:105,y:199,w:502,h:23},
{t:"Losing Weight",p:145,x:290,y:253,w:140,h:26},
{t:"People vary considerably in the way in which they lose weight when ",p:145,x:135,y:299,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fasting. Even with my daily two-mile run/walk, I burn little more than ",p:145,x:105,y:326,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a thousand calories a day, which is below average. In this sense I have ",p:145,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a body suited to fasting, as I can last a lot longer! But because of your ",p:145,x:105,y:381,w:514,h:23},
{t:"age, lifestyle, and metabolism you could be one of those individuals who ",p:145,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"burns three thousand calories or more per day. If so, you will lose weight ",p:145,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"faster than I do. You need to take these factors into account. Your frst ",p:145,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"extended fast of ten days may be similar to my typical fast of twenty-fve ",p:145,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"days.",p:145,x:105,y:519,w:35,h:23},
{t:"On average, most people on a water-only fast will lose about one ",p:145,x:135,y:546,w:484,h:23},
{t:"pound each day. But at the beginning of a fast some folks see weight fall ",p:145,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of of them while others lose very little. I know one person who even ",p:145,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"claimed to put on weight! ",p:145,x:105,y:629,w:186,h:23},
{t:"On one particular fast I noted no weight loss for four days, but then ",p:145,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"substantial loss. You might lose as much as twenty pounds in the frst ten ",p:145,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"days, causing your body to reel from the shock. One person might lose ",p:145,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ten pounds in three days, while another might only lose three pounds ",p:145,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in ten days. Don ’t expect your body to respond one specifc way or like ",p:145,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"someone else’s body has. Instead, make peace with the idea that you are ",p:145,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"writing some new history with your unique body, tracking new territory, ",p:145,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"learning new things. ",p:145,x:105,y:849,w:148,h:23},
{t:"Weight loss will also be determined to some degree by what you ate ",p:145,x:135,y:876,w:484,h:23},
{t:"during the couple of days before the fast, as well as by your metabolic ",p:145,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"rate—for example, the rate in which your body burns calories. Young ",p:145,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"138",p:146,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:146,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"people burn signifcantly more calories than a person like me in his six-",p:146,x:105,y:117,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ties. Whereas I may burn less than one calorie a minute (the equivalent ",p:146,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of one pound of weight per day), a young person could consume two to ",p:146,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"three times that. ",p:146,x:105,y:199,w:119,h:23},
{t:"Your lifestyle and activity contribute to your unique metabolic rate. ",p:146,x:135,y:227,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Another factor will be the length of time that you fast. Once the body ",p:146,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"completes digesting the food in the stomach it will pay attention to the ",p:146,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"stored fats. Digesting these stored fats is what brings down body weight. ",p:146,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Yet another factor regarding metabolic rate is the amount of stored fats ",p:146,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that your body has when your fast begins. ",p:146,x:105,y:364,w:299,h:23},
{t:"Slim people typically don ’t fare well with extended fasting, as they ",p:146,x:135,y:392,w:484,h:23},
{t:"are usually high metabolic burners and therefore don ’t store fats the way ",p:146,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that people with more sluggish metabolic rates do. If you are slender you ",p:146,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"likely have less stored fats combined with a faster metabolism, which ",p:146,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"means that your fasting days are more limited. You will probably reach ",p:146,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the “starvation” stage more quickly. Having walked this road with nu-",p:146,x:105,y:529,w:509,h:23},
{t:"merous people, my observation is that you need to test this yourself by ",p:146,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"actually fasting. Slim people don ’t necessarily have less ability to fast, but ",p:146,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you may need to accept that you are not one of those who can fast for ",p:146,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"three or four weeks.",p:146,x:105,y:639,w:139,h:23},
{t:"Fasting forces many deep biological changes in our bodies. For ",p:146,x:135,y:667,w:484,h:23},
{t:"instance, there is a change in our bone, muscle, tissue, and fat reserves. If ",p:146,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you are one of those people who loses ten pounds in fve days you may ",p:146,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"also begin to lose your physical balance easily. You may not realize it, but ",p:146,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the way you walk and carry your body weight—and even the muscle tone ",p:146,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and type of muscle in your back, thighs, knees, and calves—has been ",p:146,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"developed over many years. You have become familiar with this balance ",p:146,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and feel. But this can change dramatically as your body loses weight in ",p:146,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"certain places. ",p:146,x:105,y:887,w:103,h:23},
{t:"I frst lose weight from my backside, then my waist. But I also see ",p:146,x:135,y:914,w:484,h:23},
{t:"reductions in my legs and arms. Others lose weight from their thighs ",p:146,x:105,y:942,w:514,h:23},
{t:"139",p:147,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE PHYSICAL IMPACT OF AN EXTENDED WATER ONLY FAST",p:147,x:322,y:59,w:293,h:20},
{t:"or lower back. You won ’t realize this until it happens, but losing weight ",p:147,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"quickly has a real impact on your balance. I have stood up and almost ",p:147,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fallen over during fasts, because my normal sense of balance was gone. ",p:147,x:105,y:172,w:499,h:23},
{t:"Your skeletal and muscular structure can be afected in a number ",p:147,x:135,y:199,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of ways. On one extended fast I had terrible pain in my knees; they felt ",p:147,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"like they were cracking and snapping. I later saw this as an issue that ",p:147,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"was being resolved by my obedience, but it was also impacted by weight ",p:147,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"loss—as my knees are one of the frst areas of my body that feel the cold ",p:147,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and lack of food, even in the warm sun.",p:147,x:105,y:337,w:280,h:23},
{t:"It’s helpful to weigh yourself before you begin your fast, recording ",p:147,x:135,y:364,w:484,h:23},
{t:"your weight at the time and then noting changes in your weight every ",p:147,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"few days. But don ’t get compulsive about this. I have discovered over the ",p:147,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"years that during the frst few days I will often lose more, or less, weight ",p:147,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"on one fast than on another. I have not noticed a pattern. ",p:147,x:105,y:474,w:410,h:23},
{t:"Losing weight is a good thing for most of us. Always remember, ",p:147,x:135,y:502,w:484,h:23},
{t:"however, that this is a side beneft. It should never be a key incentive for ",p:147,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting to the Lord. ",p:147,x:105,y:557,w:140,h:23},
{t:"Starvation",p:147,x:310,y:611,w:100,h:26},
{t:"When you don ’t eat, the process of digesting stored fats continues ",p:147,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"until there are no more readily available lipocytes, or stored fat cells, left ",p:147,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in your body. You will notice these stored fats falling of your body in ",p:147,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a variety of places. When all these fats are used up, energy will then be ",p:147,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sought from more specifc protein sources in your body, usually begin-",p:147,x:105,y:766,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ning with skeletal muscle tissue. ",p:147,x:105,y:794,w:230,h:23},
{t:"Technically, it is at this point that the body actually begins to starve. ",p:147,x:135,y:821,w:484,h:23},
{t:"(Te next time you announce that you are “starving” after missing one ",p:147,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"meal, think again!) If you reach this stage in a fast, you could start doing ",p:147,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"serious damage to your body, and therefore you would need an extremely ",p:147,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"good reason to keep fasting. Replacing stored fat tissue is easy; you just ",p:147,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"140",p:148,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:148,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"begin eating again. But restoring depleted muscle is much harder. If it ",p:148,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"were ever to happen to you, it would be a long-term process requiring ",p:148,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"professional advice. ",p:148,x:105,y:172,w:141,h:23},
{t:"If you were to ask people who rested a lot in bed during their fast how ",p:148,x:135,y:199,w:484,h:23},
{t:"long it took them to build up their strength again, they would normally ",p:148,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"tell you it took the same length of time that they fasted. But when you ",p:148,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"enter this starvation cycle your body is beginning to damage itself, so ",p:148,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"recovery is much longer and harder. ",p:148,x:105,y:309,w:257,h:23},
{t:"Tis is probably why Matthew 4:2 says that after forty days of fast-",p:148,x:135,y:337,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ing Jesus was “starving” (extreme hunger)3. After forty days of fasting ",p:148,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Jesus had reached the end of His body’s natural reserves. If we assume ",p:148,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that Jesus was not miraculously sustained, He fasted forty days before ",p:148,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"His body began to digest vital body tissue. Tis timeframe would be ",p:148,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"consistent with a full-framed, healthy, well-nourished person. ",p:148,x:105,y:474,w:437,h:23},
{t:"So fasting for health purposes is benefcial to a degree, but continu-",p:148,x:135,y:502,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ing on when you really are starving is never recommended.",p:148,x:105,y:529,w:415,h:23},
{t:"Fasting and the Female Body",p:148,x:219,y:583,w:283,h:26},
{t:"Although I have had many conversations with women on the sub-",p:148,x:135,y:629,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ject of fasting, my experiences obviously come from a male perspective. ",p:148,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"So to conclude this chapter Susan Williams will share from a personal ",p:148,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"perspective about some of the unique physical impacts of fasting upon ",p:148,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a woman ’s body. ",p:148,x:105,y:739,w:122,h:23},
{t:"Peter’s experience of fasting is a challenge to us all, but I sus-",p:148,x:158,y:781,w:427,h:20},
{t:"pect, particularly to women. I have found my own experience to ",p:148,x:135,y:808,w:453,h:20},
{t:"be typical of many. Even the decision to fast stirs up an emotional ",p:148,x:135,y:834,w:453,h:20},
{t:"reaction disproportionate with the imminent self-denial. I feel a ",p:148,x:135,y:861,w:453,h:20},
{t:"2 ",p:148,x:105,y:925,w:12,h:21},
{t:" Although the NIV text and other translations use the word hungry, the ",p:148,x:126,y:925,w:464,h:21},
{t:"Greek text (epeinasen) suggests extreme hunger, ‘that he hungered’.",p:148,x:105,y:945,w:426,h:21},
{t:"141",p:149,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE PHYSICAL IMPACT OF AN EXTENDED WATER ONLY FAST",p:149,x:322,y:59,w:293,h:20},
{t:"wave of barrenness overwhelm me, like a cold shudder through ",p:149,x:135,y:117,w:453,h:20},
{t:"my spirit.",p:149,x:135,y:144,w:63,h:20},
{t:"This should not be a surprise. Many women are sensitive to is-",p:149,x:158,y:170,w:427,h:20},
{t:"sues of life and death; so the emotional response to the sufering ",p:149,x:135,y:197,w:453,h:20},
{t:"of a fast can be quite pronounced, even if this is a non-food fast.",p:149,x:135,y:224,w:440,h:20},
{t:"Water-only fasts add additional demands. I have to be careful ",p:149,x:158,y:250,w:431,h:20},
{t:"to know when in my menstrual cycle I am fasting and the impact ",p:149,x:135,y:277,w:453,h:20},
{t:"of the loss of nourishment on my body. It is part of taking respon-",p:149,x:135,y:304,w:450,h:20},
{t:"sibility for my fast that I avoid, when possible, fasting at a time ",p:149,x:135,y:330,w:453,h:20},
{t:"that will be unhealthy for me.",p:149,x:135,y:357,w:202,h:20},
{t:"Like many women, I have a smaller frame than most men. So ",p:149,x:158,y:384,w:430,h:20},
{t:"a twenty-four-hour, water-only fast has a proportionately greater ",p:149,x:135,y:410,w:453,h:20},
{t:"impact. A physically demanding day makes fasting even more of ",p:149,x:135,y:437,w:453,h:20},
{t:"a challenge. My observation is that I experience after twenty-four ",p:149,x:135,y:464,w:453,h:20},
{t:"hours many of the symptoms that Peter describes on the fourth or ",p:149,x:135,y:490,w:453,h:20},
{t:"ffth day of a fast. My metabolism is much faster.",p:149,x:135,y:517,w:331,h:20},
{t:"In my daily routine I love tea (with sugar) and I know many ",p:149,x:158,y:544,w:431,h:20},
{t:"women who are also regular snackers or consume frequent small ",p:149,x:135,y:570,w:453,h:20},
{t:"meals rather than the traditional three square meals. Such habits ",p:149,x:135,y:597,w:453,h:20},
{t:"make it even harder to fast, since our bodies are accustomed to ",p:149,x:135,y:624,w:453,h:20},
{t:"the continual supply of nourishment or sugar and cafeine.",p:149,x:135,y:650,w:405,h:20},
{t:"When women are pregnant or breast-feeding there are ad-",p:149,x:158,y:677,w:427,h:20},
{t:"ditional complications with fasting. Likewise during menopause ",p:149,x:135,y:704,w:453,h:20},
{t:"or with HRT, fasting may afect the body in unhealthy ways. Talk ",p:149,x:135,y:730,w:453,h:20},
{t:"to a sympathetic doctor. It may be necessary to consider other ",p:149,x:135,y:757,w:453,h:20},
{t:"types of fast, but let’s not give up the signifcance of water-only ",p:149,x:135,y:784,w:453,h:20},
{t:"fasts too easily.",p:149,x:135,y:810,w:103,h:20},
{t:"Susan Williams",p:149,x:357,y:848,w:228,h:52},
{t:"143",p:150,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"14.",p:150,x:556,y:241,w:44,h:55},
{t:"SURVIVING A WATER-ONLY FAST",p:150,x:105,y:422,w:405,h:52},
{t:"Te same guidelines should be followed during a water-only fast as ",p:150,x:135,y:552,w:484,h:23},
{t:"with any other fast. In an ideal world, you would have a more relaxed ",p:150,x:105,y:579,w:514,h:23},
{t:"schedule for an extended fast because of its physical demands. When I ",p:150,x:105,y:607,w:514,h:23},
{t:"do an extended fast, however, I generally keep as normal a schedule as ",p:150,x:105,y:634,w:514,h:23},
{t:"possible.",p:150,x:105,y:662,w:60,h:23},
{t:"Having said that, it is important to keep in mind the variations from ",p:150,x:135,y:689,w:484,h:23},
{t:"one person to another when it comes to how we react to water-only fast-",p:150,x:105,y:717,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing. If you are only abstaining from one meal, then you obviously don ’t ",p:150,x:105,y:744,w:514,h:23},
{t:"need to make the rigorous preparations of an extended fast. My focus ",p:150,x:105,y:772,w:514,h:23},
{t:"here is on our attitude toward establishing good routines. ",p:150,x:105,y:799,w:408,h:23},
{t:"Water, Water, Water!",p:150,x:260,y:853,w:201,h:26},
{t:"On the frst day or so of an extended fast I usually add a little pure ",p:150,x:135,y:899,w:484,h:23},
{t:"lemon juice to the water as an aid in cleansing my stomach and restoring ",p:150,x:105,y:926,w:514,h:23},
{t:"144",p:151,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:151,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"its pH balance. Tis, in turn, can also help with sleep in the early days ",p:151,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of a fast. Te fructose (natural sugar) levels in lemon juice are normally ",p:151,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"very low. I have a strong conviction that you must not add anything to ",p:151,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the water that could be interpreted as nourishing to your body. Any such ",p:151,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"nourishment could be a compromise to the fast, weakening your resolve ",p:151,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and leaving you feeling accused by the Enemy. ",p:151,x:105,y:254,w:332,h:23},
{t:"When I started fasting in the 1960s tap water was the only option. ",p:151,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Perrier wasn ’t even yet available. But today there is a whole science of ",p:151,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"water and a plethora of choices. I am sure you will be able to fnd one that ",p:151,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"suits you. In my opinion you must not use any of the fortifed waters, as ",p:151,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"their additives could arguably be considered nourishing. ",p:151,x:105,y:392,w:400,h:23},
{t:"My suggestion is to use tap water or one of the spring waters or ",p:151,x:135,y:419,w:484,h:23},
{t:"mineral waters. Research indicates that the better quality bottled waters ",p:151,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are healthier, but please don ’t spend a fortune on them—especially if you ",p:151,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are fasting for provision! Staying with what your body is used to is a good ",p:151,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"principle. Don ’t forget the multivitamins with minerals, which are best ",p:151,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"taken with ample water.",p:151,x:105,y:557,w:169,h:23},
{t:"One way to vary the water theme is to drink it hot, cold, or some-",p:151,x:135,y:584,w:480,h:23},
{t:"where in between. You will fnd it much easier to drink hot water in the ",p:151,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"winter and even warm water in the summer if you feel the chills. Our ",p:151,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"refrigerator dispenses ice and cold water, which is nice. You can also buy ",p:151,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"an electric kettle that frst flters and then heats tap water. Warm water ",p:151,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"can be a nice change for a while, until you realize the trick you are playing ",p:151,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"on yourself. ",p:151,x:105,y:749,w:87,h:23},
{t:"After a while you are likely to develop a hatred for water, though ",p:151,x:135,y:777,w:484,h:23},
{t:"you must continue to drink substantial amounts of it.1 You may even ",p:151,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"get to where you despise the smell of water. You could go for a whole ",p:151,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"day without drinking any of it. You just want to stop. But your kidneys ",p:151,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"3 ",p:151,x:105,y:925,w:12,h:21},
{t:" On the other hand, I do need to warn you that drinking an extreme ",p:151,x:126,y:925,w:444,h:21},
{t:"amount of water can result in water intoxication, which can be fatal.",p:151,x:105,y:945,w:438,h:21},
{t:"145",p:152,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"SURVIVING A WATER ONLY FAST",p:152,x:455,y:59,w:160,h:20},
{t:"will complain if you do. If I don ’t drink enough water, I also fnd that ",p:152,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I develop lower back pain and my hands and feet get particularly cold. ",p:152,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Being cold makes cold water uninviting, so it is all too easy just to stop ",p:152,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"drinking water altogether. ",p:152,x:105,y:199,w:187,h:23},
{t:"Te less you drink, the less you want to drink. But the breaking ",p:152,x:135,y:227,w:484,h:23},
{t:"down of stored fats (lipolysis) requires a lot of water. Keep drinking, even ",p:152,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"though it may be the last thing you want to do. ",p:152,x:105,y:282,w:339,h:23},
{t:"The Pain Barrier",p:152,x:278,y:336,w:163,h:26},
{t:"Some people sail through the early period of a fast and wonder what ",p:152,x:135,y:381,w:484,h:23},
{t:"all the fuss was about. Others are like me—feeling the increasing ache in ",p:152,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"my body, I rest and go to bed early when I can.",p:152,x:105,y:436,w:332,h:23},
{t:"Hunger is just one aspect of the pain barrier that you will need to ",p:152,x:135,y:464,w:484,h:23},
{t:"go through. For many the pain begins with a headache. If you haven ’t ",p:152,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"prepared properly, for the frst twenty-four hours the pain may take the ",p:152,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"form of cafeine withdrawal. Into the second and third day there will ",p:152,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"be a lot more going on. Paradoxically, as your body weakens you will ",p:152,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have periods when you feel good in your spirit. Te obedience and the ",p:152,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"declarations you are making by fasting will strengthen you in these early ",p:152,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"days. At last you are now doing a real fast!  ",p:152,x:105,y:656,w:304,h:23},
{t:"For most of us, the real battle commences after the third day or so. ",p:152,x:135,y:684,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Who is going to win—your stomach or your spirit? Your body or your ",p:152,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will? As your stomach empties and your body is forced to begin eating ",p:152,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"stored fats, you will feel the gnawing hunger in your stomach. Te battle ",p:152,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will likely get tough. ",p:152,x:105,y:794,w:149,h:23},
{t:"Most people with normal body weight and metabolism get through ",p:152,x:135,y:821,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the pain barrier between the ninth and the twelfth day. It will likely be ",p:152,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that long before you break through into a space of calm hunger. You will ",p:152,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have won that round. Now you can settle down for the bigger battles ",p:152,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"146",p:153,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:153,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"ahead. Pain is a result your body breaking the habit of the intake of food, ",p:153,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the routine of always having food in your stomach. ",p:153,x:105,y:144,w:364,h:23},
{t:"The Problem of Sleep",p:153,x:255,y:198,w:211,h:26},
{t:"Normally I am asleep within a minute or two of laying my head on ",p:153,x:135,y:244,w:484,h:23},
{t:"my pillow, although I do have a routine I go through—settling the day ",p:153,x:105,y:271,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with the Lord, sorting all the debris—before I try to sleep. But when I am ",p:153,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting it will typically take over an hour for me to go to sleep; and then ",p:153,x:105,y:326,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I often wake up at four o’clock. My body tends to go through only one ",p:153,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sleep cycle. I can never sleep a full night during an extended fast. ",p:153,x:105,y:381,w:461,h:23},
{t:"I am not sure why this is, but it seems to be the way for me. I just ",p:153,x:135,y:409,w:484,h:23},
{t:"lie in bed, my stomach aching and my body feeling cold. I can ’t seem to ",p:153,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"get enough warmth in my body to be comfortable. You don ’t realize how ",p:153,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"important having an adequate body temperature is for sleeping until you ",p:153,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"can no longer achieve it.  ",p:153,x:105,y:519,w:181,h:23},
{t:"While everyone else is asleep with a full stomach, you may be lying ",p:153,x:135,y:546,w:484,h:23},
{t:"in bed absorbed, even obsessed, by your hunger. You lie there thinking of ",p:153,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the tastes that you most enjoy. You may fnd yourself declaring that you ",p:153,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are going to break the fast the very next minute. Or you may fantasize ",p:153,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"about taking your wife out for an exquisite dinner after your fast. Te ",p:153,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"only relief will be a hot bath. So enjoy the sleep of the frst couple of ",p:153,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"nights during a fast, because as the days go by you will probably need to ",p:153,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"drink a large mug of hot water before going to bed in order to fool your ",p:153,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body into thinking it is getting something!",p:153,x:105,y:766,w:300,h:23},
{t:"I don ’t want to sound too spiritual, but if I can ’t sleep I will often get ",p:153,x:135,y:794,w:484,h:23},
{t:"up and pray, read Scripture, write in my journal, do some research, or ",p:153,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"work on a book project. You will fnd time to do things that you would ",p:153,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"normally never dream of being able to do. Ask the Lord what book He ",p:153,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"would have you read. I have read some of the Christian classics that I had ",p:153,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"not looked at since my youth. I discovered Tomas Merton during one ",p:153,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"147",p:154,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"SURVIVING A WATER ONLY FAST",p:154,x:455,y:59,w:160,h:20},
{t:"of my fasts, and the writings of the Cappadocian Fathers (fourth-century ",p:154,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"theologians) on another. Make the time count, as your life at that mo-",p:154,x:105,y:144,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ment is your intercession. Don ’t become obsessed by the need to sleep.",p:154,x:105,y:172,w:497,h:23},
{t:"Forced to Slow Down",p:154,x:256,y:226,w:209,h:26},
{t:"Going on an extended water-only fast should force us to adopt a ",p:154,x:135,y:271,w:484,h:23},
{t:"calmer lifestyle. For me this has been one of the greatest benefts of fast-",p:154,x:105,y:299,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing. None of us has any conception of how fast a pace we maintain until ",p:154,x:105,y:326,w:514,h:23},
{t:"we are forced to stop. Once we begin fasting we quickly learn how much ",p:154,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"we need to slow down, because of how weak we really are. ",p:154,x:105,y:381,w:413,h:23},
{t:"As I have previously mentioned, during a prolonged fast I don ’t even ",p:154,x:135,y:409,w:484,h:23},
{t:"have the strength in my arms to carry my briefcase. I will often need to ",p:154,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"get someone else to carry things for me, which is humiliating. Sometimes ",p:154,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I put things in a plastic bag so they are lighter. And I cannot wear boots ",p:154,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"or heavy clothing. Heavy shoes are like lead weight. ",p:154,x:105,y:519,w:367,h:23},
{t:"Our bodies work very hard to provide the energy we need to live. ",p:154,x:135,y:546,w:484,h:23},
{t:"When I do my regular daily exercise I sense by body bouncing back ",p:154,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in minutes. But not when I am fasting. I have to abandon my exercise ",p:154,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"routine since I have no reserves whatsoever. I will have to stop halfway ",p:154,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"up a fight of stairs and sit down to avoid passing out. Doing the simplest ",p:154,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"job, like carrying a basket of laundry or cleaning the windows of the car, ",p:154,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is a strain. Tings like washing the car are out of the question. You have ",p:154,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to slow down, limiting your schedule to what is essential, letting go of ",p:154,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"many of your expectations.",p:154,x:105,y:766,w:191,h:23},
{t:"During a fast I would spend entire days just sitting in my chair ",p:154,x:135,y:794,w:484,h:23},
{t:"at home, reading and writing, if I could. Fasting breaks the treadmill, ",p:154,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"decimates the work drive. Many days I will go into work drinking only ",p:154,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"water and will not leave my chair the whole morning. It can be a real ",p:154,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"battle to pretend you are normal—one of the gang—while accepting the ",p:154,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"constraints of fasting. One has to adopt a quieter lifestyle. ",p:154,x:105,y:931,w:412,h:23},
{t:"148",p:155,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:155,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Te most important thing to do while you are fasting is to rest. If ",p:155,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"you are working, come home after work and lie down for an hour. Let ",p:155,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"your body restore itself as much as it can. Let your spirit also be restored ",p:155,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"through spiritual disciplines such as reading Scripture or Christian ",p:155,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"books and meditation. Be aware that your body is not able to bounce ",p:155,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"back like it normally would. You will be unable to do all the things that ",p:155,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you usually do, so honor your body by resting it, by letting it recover ",p:155,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"as much as it can.",p:155,x:105,y:309,w:127,h:23},
{t:"The Scourge of Bad Breath",p:155,x:244,y:363,w:231,h:18},
{t:"One of the unexpected and unpleasant side efects of fasting for more ",p:155,x:135,y:392,w:484,h:23},
{t:"than a few days is bad breath. ",p:155,x:105,y:419,w:212,h:23},
{t:"Te saliva in your mouth performs several functions. One of its key ",p:155,x:135,y:447,w:484,h:23},
{t:"roles is to carry and distribute antibodies that kill unwelcome bacteria ",p:155,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in the mouth, thus keeping the mouth fresh. Saliva also lubricates the ",p:155,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"mouth, gums, and teeth, helping to avoid bleeding and disease in the ",p:155,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"mouth and gums. When you stop eating, your salivary glands go to ",p:155,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sleep. Since you aren ’t chewing food, they aren ’t needed; you are no ",p:155,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"longer stimulating them. Consequently, your mouth begins to feel like ",p:155,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sandpaper. Because no new saliva is being secreted, your mouth also ",p:155,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"begins to turn into a septic tank. After three or four days this process ",p:155,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"becomes irreversible. ",p:155,x:105,y:694,w:154,h:23},
{t:"Te smell is mostly the result of the breaking down of all the micro-",p:155,x:135,y:722,w:480,h:23},
{t:"bial food deposits that are left in your mouth from your last few meals. ",p:155,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Brushing your teeth doesn ’t remove them all. So during the fast this ",p:155,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"process gets worse.",p:155,x:105,y:804,w:131,h:23},
{t:"Fortunately—or maybe unfortunately—you won ’t notice the smell ",p:155,x:135,y:832,w:484,h:23},
{t:"yourself. But everyone around you will. I have gone to parties where I ",p:155,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"could consume only water but also had to avoid people due to the odor ",p:155,x:105,y:887,w:514,h:23},
{t:"coming from my mouth. Warn those closest to you that this is going to ",p:155,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"happen. I noted in one of my journals on day six of an extended fast, ",p:155,x:105,y:942,w:514,h:23},
{t:"149",p:156,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"SURVIVING A WATER ONLY FAST",p:156,x:455,y:59,w:160,h:20},
{t:"“Yesterday was the frst real bad breath day. I apologized to the family, but ",p:156,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"they were polite and said they did not notice.”",p:156,x:105,y:144,w:325,h:23},
{t:"You might vow to brush your teeth every hour, but it won ’t work. ",p:156,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Within a few minutes the smell returns. You might try mouthwash; but ",p:156,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"again the smell returns. You could put a small menthol crystal in the ",p:156,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"water you are drinking, which may help a little. But don ’t put the crystals ",p:156,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"directly in your mouth, because they will burn a hole in your tongue! ",p:156,x:105,y:282,w:492,h:23},
{t:"Some people suck on peppermint candy as an attempted remedy. ",p:156,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"But if you are prone to acid refux, peppermint can make the problem ",p:156,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"worse. Gastroesophageal refux, as it is called, is caused by a weakening of ",p:156,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the valve between the esophagus and the stomach, resulting in foul gases ",p:156,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"escaping from the stomach into the mouth. Beware that mints can afect ",p:156,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the one-way valve and exacerbate the refux. Out of concern for others I ",p:156,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have resorted to sucking mints, though I fnd that this only works for fve ",p:156,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"or ten minutes—and I have had to accept the fact that I am taking some ",p:156,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"mint into my stomach. ",p:156,x:105,y:529,w:167,h:23},
{t:"Find out what is best for you, but avoid mints with sugar or sucrose. I ",p:156,x:135,y:557,w:484,h:23},
{t:"use dental foss regularly and brush my teeth at least twice a day. Over the ",p:156,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"years I have tried all kinds of things to help my bad breath, but nothing ",p:156,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"has really worked. And after you break the fast it will still take a couple of ",p:156,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"days to get back to a healthy state. So if you are around other people you ",p:156,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"may need to continue doing something about your bad breath. ",p:156,x:105,y:694,w:449,h:23},
{t:"Note that the changes in your body caused by fasting may also lead ",p:156,x:135,y:722,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to mild toothache, mouth ulcers (canker sores), or bleeding of the gums. ",p:156,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Don ’t panic if your gums begin to bleed—just rinse out your mouth. ",p:156,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"My lips will often begin to crack and bleed, probably due to the lack of ",p:156,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"saliva in my mouth. I constantly want to lick them, but my mouth is dry. ",p:156,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Because of the lack of salivation you may also discover, like I have, that ",p:156,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you develop a slight sore throat that will come and go. ",p:156,x:105,y:887,w:387,h:23},
{t:"150",p:157,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:157,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Other Side Effects",p:157,x:271,y:117,w:178,h:26},
{t:"A number of other unexpected things may begin to happen to your ",p:157,x:135,y:162,w:484,h:23},
{t:"body. My eyes tire more quickly during an extended fast, and my eyes ",p:157,x:105,y:189,w:514,h:23},
{t:"water—sometimes badly. Oftentimes I can ’t read for more than half an ",p:157,x:105,y:217,w:514,h:23},
{t:"hour before I have to close my tired eyes for a few minutes. On one fast ",p:157,x:105,y:244,w:514,h:23},
{t:"my eyes tired more as the fast continued. ",p:157,x:105,y:272,w:293,h:23},
{t:"My nasal passages tend to dry up during a prolonged fast. As toxins ",p:157,x:135,y:299,w:484,h:23},
{t:"are released, something like sties may appear around your eyes or on ",p:157,x:105,y:327,w:514,h:23},
{t:"other parts of your body. As just mentioned, ulcers may appear in your ",p:157,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"mouth as the saliva dries up. In a real sense, these are actually good things: ",p:157,x:105,y:382,w:514,h:23},
{t:"evidence of the breaking down of the fats and toxins stored in your body. ",p:157,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Other annoying side efects may include unexpected fatulence, feel-",p:157,x:135,y:437,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ing like you need to have a bowel movement when there is nothing to ",p:157,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"move, and having really dark urine despite the fact that you are drinking ",p:157,x:105,y:492,w:514,h:23},
{t:"lots of water. As already noted, you may have trouble sleeping. During ",p:157,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the day you may be restless. Unable to sit still for long, you may feel ",p:157,x:105,y:547,w:514,h:23},
{t:"compelled to get up and move around, yet you have little energy when ",p:157,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you do. Restlessness can consume you. ",p:157,x:105,y:602,w:277,h:23},
{t:"Likewise, the waves of hunger can be relentless. I crave the silliest of ",p:157,x:135,y:629,w:484,h:23},
{t:"foods: for example, potato chips (which I normally don ’t eat), sardines, ",p:157,x:105,y:657,w:514,h:23},
{t:"salami, and cream cake. I have found myself dreaming up the craziest of ",p:157,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"meals, vowing to cook them when I get of the fast. (I never do.) Some ",p:157,x:105,y:712,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of this imagining is fuelled by television, where everything is centered ",p:157,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"around food. I fnd I especially have a craving for salty snacks, prob-",p:157,x:105,y:767,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ably because salt is one of the frst things that your body runs out of, ",p:157,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"particularly in hot weather when you are sweating a lot. ",p:157,x:105,y:822,w:396,h:23},
{t:"On the hand, however, there are some positive side efects of extended ",p:157,x:135,y:849,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fasts. After a week or so your body will begin to beneft from the release ",p:157,x:105,y:877,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of toxins. Tis will often frst show in your skin, as it becomes clearer. ",p:157,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I have noticed that my senses become much more acute, especially my ",p:157,x:105,y:932,w:514,h:23},
{t:"151",p:158,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"SURVIVING A WATER ONLY FAST",p:158,x:455,y:59,w:160,h:20},
{t:"hearing and sense of smell. I seem to have more connectedness with the ",p:158,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"material world. Nature begins to sing to me. Perhaps the “death” happen-",p:158,x:105,y:144,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ing within me enhances my appreciation for life. ",p:158,x:105,y:172,w:347,h:23},
{t:"It isn ’t uncommon for people who don ’t even know I am fasting to ",p:158,x:135,y:199,w:484,h:23},
{t:"say that I look contented and relaxed, though this may not be how I’m ",p:158,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"feeling on the inside. Even the dark lines around my eyes go unnoticed. ",p:158,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"And after breaking a fast I frequently become aware that I had greater ",p:158,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"intellectual and spiritual clarity during the fast. Issues sometimes become ",p:158,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"clearer. But at the time you aren ’t always aware that this is the case, be-",p:158,x:105,y:337,w:509,h:23},
{t:"cause all you sense is the gnawing in your stomach. ",p:158,x:105,y:364,w:364,h:23},
{t:"In Summary",p:158,x:300,y:418,w:120,h:26},
{t:"Completing a fast of any length is a huge achievement, and you ",p:158,x:135,y:464,w:484,h:23},
{t:"should be righteously proud of doing so. When it is over, share with oth-",p:158,x:105,y:491,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ers, without boasting, some of the journey. Give yourself time to refect ",p:158,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"on the experience and on what you have learned about yourself, your ",p:158,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body, and your addictions to food. Te benefts are numerous if you are ",p:158,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"willing to appropriate them. ",p:158,x:105,y:601,w:203,h:23},
{t:"Along with this, enjoy the simple joy of eating again: being with ",p:158,x:135,y:629,w:484,h:23},
{t:"your family and friends and having the companionship of your favorite ",p:158,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"foods. Buying a good cut of meat or fresh fsh and cooking up a treat ",p:158,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for yourself and your friends can be a very meaningful celebration. (Just ",p:158,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"don ’t do it immediately after a fast!)",p:158,x:105,y:739,w:252,h:23},
{t:"153",p:159,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"15.",p:159,x:556,y:241,w:44,h:55},
{t:"THE EMOTIONAL FALL-OUT",p:159,x:105,y:422,w:322,h:52},
{t:"If you are not accustomed to fasting, even the shortest fast can pro-",p:159,x:135,y:552,w:480,h:23},
{t:"duce a range of responses. As you become more experienced, however, it ",p:159,x:105,y:579,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is more likely that many of these responses will arise only after the frst ",p:159,x:105,y:607,w:514,h:23},
{t:"few days. Te overall impact on your body will be positive and healthy, ",p:159,x:105,y:634,w:514,h:23},
{t:"though at the time you don ’t feel it because of the misery you are experi-",p:159,x:105,y:662,w:509,h:23},
{t:"encing. Your body will beneft all the while that your will and spirit take ",p:159,x:105,y:689,w:514,h:23},
{t:"authority over your body. ",p:159,x:105,y:717,w:184,h:23},
{t:"On more than one occasion I have found myself moving from the ini-",p:159,x:135,y:744,w:480,h:23},
{t:"tial physical pain of the lack of food to a much more profound emotional ",p:159,x:105,y:772,w:514,h:23},
{t:"pain for what I might be carrying from the recent past. Maybe some hard ",p:159,x:105,y:799,w:514,h:23},
{t:"words were spoken to me or I have feelings of being abused by someone, ",p:159,x:105,y:827,w:514,h:23},
{t:"which I had not really owned. Grieving the loss of your emotional attach-",p:159,x:105,y:854,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ment to food may well transition to emotional pain in areas of your life ",p:159,x:105,y:882,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that need some attention. I have been surprised at how the Lord cleverly ",p:159,x:105,y:909,w:514,h:23},
{t:"154",p:160,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:160,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"links together these dynamics when we are weak, available, and more ",p:160,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"vulnerable to Him. Fasting can be a time of emotional cleansing. ",p:160,x:105,y:144,w:461,h:23},
{t:"The Plague of Irritability",p:160,x:236,y:198,w:248,h:26},
{t:"Because you will probably be quite difcult to live with during an ",p:160,x:135,y:244,w:484,h:23},
{t:"extended fast and while breaking the fast, you need to get the blessing ",p:160,x:105,y:271,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of your spouse or roommate/roommates beforehand. I get very short-",p:160,x:105,y:299,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tempered and feel on a short fuse most of the time. I am sure you also ",p:160,x:105,y:326,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will be prone to bouts of anger and irritability. So make peace with ",p:160,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"yourself, your spouse, and others close to you before you begin. You ",p:160,x:105,y:381,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will need their support. ",p:160,x:105,y:409,w:174,h:23},
{t:"I have known people who missed one meal while working with me or ",p:160,x:135,y:436,w:484,h:23},
{t:"standing with me in leadership, and you would think from their level of ",p:160,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"irritability that they were on a forty-day fast! On the other hand, a friend ",p:160,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of mine doing a seven-day fast was as mellow as they come. Be prepared ",p:160,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for any outcome when you and others are fasting, and be especially vigi-",p:160,x:105,y:546,w:509,h:23},
{t:"lant with those—including yourself—who enter the commitment rather ",p:160,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"casually and then suddenly begin to go through mood changes.",p:160,x:105,y:601,w:446,h:23},
{t:"During an extended fast you won ’t have the resources to maintain ",p:160,x:135,y:629,w:484,h:23},
{t:"your ordinary routine. You won ’t be able to carry your normal load, and ",p:160,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"neither will you be able to be your normal self. You need to make peace ",p:160,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with this, and those close to you need to understand this. Te key for me ",p:160,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"has been to go to work as usual, so that other people’s lives are disrupted ",p:160,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"as little as possible, but then to give myself some slack with the pace of ",p:160,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the day and the intensity of my normal schedule.",p:160,x:105,y:794,w:346,h:23},
{t:"Having nothing in your stomach will deeply impact your tempera-",p:160,x:135,y:821,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ment. You probably will be a bear, showing none of the mellowness you ",p:160,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"would normally display. Eating has a way of soothing both the body and ",p:160,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the soul. You are being denied this comfort. So you will feel like a child ",p:160,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"who is punished by getting no sweets or a teenage who is told “No.” ",p:160,x:105,y:931,w:484,h:23},
{t:"155",p:161,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE EMOTIONAL FALL-OUT",p:161,x:487,y:59,w:128,h:20},
{t:"It’s frustrating to feel like you ’re being punished. Yes, you know you ",p:161,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"are doing this for the Lord. Yes, you knew it would hurt. You knew it ",p:161,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"would be difcult. But secretly you hoped you would cope better. When ",p:161,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the reality hits that the only thing you can swallow is water, you will be ",p:161,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"annoyed with yourself and everyone else. I would bite people’s heads of ",p:161,x:105,y:227,w:512,h:23},
{t:"for the most trivial reasons. I would get annoyed when things didn ’t go ",p:161,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"my way. Beware, and make sure those close to you are aware. ",p:161,x:105,y:282,w:433,h:23},
{t:"Some people panic at the thought of missing a meal and therefore do ",p:161,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"not take well to fasting. If you are one of those people, then please enter ",p:161,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this arena carefully. I have seen people change in quite negative ways just ",p:161,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"because they denied themselves cofee. You would have thought they had ",p:161,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a major mood disorder. Don ’t assume that everyone will react the same; ",p:161,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the length and the type of abstinence is not the guide of how people will ",p:161,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"behave. ",p:161,x:105,y:474,w:57,h:23},
{t:"The Fear Factor",p:161,x:283,y:528,w:154,h:26},
{t:"People also vary in the degree to which they are controlled by fear. ",p:161,x:135,y:574,w:484,h:23},
{t:"When you feel hunger pains in your stomach, you may panic and think ",p:161,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you have stomach ulcers. Or you may be afraid that you can ’t make it for ",p:161,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a whole day without food, in which case you may need to reassess your ",p:161,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ability to abstain. Perhaps you experienced hunger or poverty in your ",p:161,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"childhood; that could certainly create additional challenges for your fast.",p:161,x:105,y:711,w:509,h:23},
{t:"Fear is part of the cocktail of feeling that will surface during the ",p:161,x:135,y:739,w:484,h:23},
{t:"early part of a fast, especially your frst extended fast. Like all emotion, ",p:161,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fear can be either good or bad, either an ally or an enemy. But in some ",p:161,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ways fear is a unique emotion, since it is wired into the body. Tere is a ",p:161,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"growing consensus that our nervous systems mediate a fundamental form ",p:161,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of unconditional fear.1 ",p:161,x:105,y:876,w:162,h:23},
{t:"1 ",p:161,x:105,y:925,w:12,h:21},
{t:" J. Panksepp and J. B. Panksepp, “Te Seven Sins of Evolutionary Psychol-",p:161,x:126,y:925,w:478,h:21},
{t:"ogy,” Evolution and Cognition 6, no. 2 (2000): 108–13.  ",p:161,x:105,y:945,w:361,h:21},
{t:"156",p:162,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:162,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"As far as we know, fear is the only emotion that is neurologically ",p:162,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"woven into the fabric of our bodies. It needs to be, because we all need ",p:162,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the “fght or fight” emotion to guarantee we are able to respond quickly ",p:162,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and make the right choices when danger or threats appear. But that is not ",p:162,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"really the kind of fear I am talking about. Tis, rather, is an emotional ",p:162,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"foreboding, like a fear of hurting your body. Tis is the fear of denying ",p:162,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"your body food, the fear of not being able to eat. ",p:162,x:105,y:282,w:348,h:23},
{t:"Te fear of doing a fast can be forbidding and frightening, even ",p:162,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"overwhelming. Your body will do things it has never done before. You ",p:162,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are entering new territory—outside the comfort zones of food, drink, ",p:162,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and self-pleasure. Your body will complain in all kinds of eloquent ways. ",p:162,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Somewhat irrationally, fear at times will give way to panic, which ",p:162,x:135,y:419,w:484,h:23},
{t:"then gives way to feelings of disobedience when you break a fast because ",p:162,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of the fear. Be prepared for these deep inner emotional conficts. Tey ",p:162,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"come as a result of your feelings and belief that you are making yourself ",p:162,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sick, that you are doing damage to your body. Your mind plays tricks on ",p:162,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you, and so do your fears and imagination. But on the other hand, as you ",p:162,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"begin to connect with your fears you may feel accusations that you are ",p:162,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"indulging yourself—focusing on yourself rather than the Lord. Te fear ",p:162,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"factor will arise at some time for the majority of us, gnawing away at our ",p:162,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"confdence and resolve. Hold steady; you will get through it. ",p:162,x:105,y:667,w:431,h:23},
{t:"Another related issue can be the memory of previous fasts. Fasting ",p:162,x:135,y:694,w:484,h:23},
{t:"can get harder if past fasts have been tough or complicated. Here’s a quote ",p:162,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"from my journal in regard to a fast I did in 1994: “I guess it is because I ",p:162,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have fasted so often before that this time even the decision to go on a fast ",p:162,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is causing shock waves in my body. Almost the moment I committed to ",p:162,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this fast for the Lord I began to feel like I know I will in a week. Body ",p:162,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"cold, hunger, heavy head, fragile, and all else.” At the end of the frst day ",p:162,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of the fast I wrote, “I’m so very uncomfortable, very cold, restless, uneasy. ",p:162,x:105,y:887,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Need to have a hot bath and go to bed. God help me.” Tis fast turned ",p:162,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"into a twenty-fve-day fast and was a defning experience in my life. ",p:162,x:105,y:942,w:479,h:23},
{t:"157",p:163,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE EMOTIONAL FALL-OUT",p:163,x:487,y:59,w:128,h:20},
{t:"You can try to let go of any trauma associated with previous fasts; but ",p:163,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"your body remembers what you put it through, and those memories will ",p:163,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"quickly return as you enter into another fast. So each fast can get harder. ",p:163,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Te minute now that I commit to a fast, and engage the memories, I feel ",p:163,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"waves of nausea.",p:163,x:105,y:227,w:115,h:23},
{t:"I am suspecting that my days of extended fasting may be over. I ",p:163,x:135,y:254,w:484,h:23},
{t:"am well, and fasting has not done me any long-term harm. In fact, the ",p:163,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"discipline and healthful aspects of fasting have been formative in who I ",p:163,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"am. At times, even now, when I fll a glass with water the memory of all ",p:163,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the pain foods back. Although I now enjoy drinking tap water, I lived ",p:163,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with this trauma for many years.",p:163,x:105,y:392,w:229,h:23},
{t:"Tere comes a point when some of us are no longer called to fast. I ",p:163,x:135,y:419,w:484,h:23},
{t:"have begun to experience this in recent years. Interestingly enough, this ",p:163,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"also coincided with a season of harvest in my ministry, with a wave of ",p:163,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"books and anointing that I sense is drawing on a substantial spiritual ",p:163,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"bank account from my decades of fasting. Having said that, I don ’t see ",p:163,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that my fasting days are completely over. I am doing a partial fast as I ",p:163,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"write this book.",p:163,x:105,y:584,w:111,h:23},
{t:"Your Vulnerability",p:163,x:270,y:638,w:179,h:26},
{t:"Allow me to quote from my journal again: “I am continually irri-",p:163,x:135,y:684,w:480,h:23},
{t:"table, sensing a loss of temper. I realize I am on a short fuse. I want to go ",p:163,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to bed at seven or eight in the evening, but when I am in bed all I feel is ",p:163,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the ache in my body. You realize that being busy all day helps, because at ",p:163,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"night you just lie there and feel the pain. It’s an emotional roller coaster.” ",p:163,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Some people only need to stop eating for one meal before they get ",p:163,x:135,y:821,w:484,h:23},
{t:"heavily into self-pity, remorse, and even panic. If you ft into this category ",p:163,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you may want to fnd a non-food type of fast. And if you are going to ",p:163,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"react badly to sitting at the table but not eating, then stay away! Don ’t ",p:163,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"allow your baggage to hurt others. ",p:163,x:105,y:931,w:245,h:23},
{t:"158",p:164,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:164,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"You will likely develop an irrational jealousy of people who are living ",p:164,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"a normal life that includes eating. You know this is irrational, because you ",p:164,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have chosen to do this. But you still feel angry that others are not going ",p:164,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"through the pain you are. Conversely, you may feel contempt for others ",p:164,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"because they need to depend on food. Tis inverted pride is fed in part ",p:164,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"by the emotional roller coaster you are riding.",p:164,x:105,y:254,w:322,h:23},
{t:"I fnd that I am particularly vulnerable emotionally to attacks from ",p:164,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"others while I am fasting. You may not realize how fragile you are until ",p:164,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"someone tells you of or threatens you with strong words. You are easily ",p:164,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"shaken and upset. You don ’t have the resilience or strength to hold frm. ",p:164,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Tis is another emotional roller coaster. ",p:164,x:105,y:392,w:283,h:23},
{t:"You will probably have a total lack of energy. I have to prepare myself ",p:164,x:135,y:419,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to waste time (by my standards) for short stretches by just sitting and ",p:164,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"reading or ficking through the TV channels. After four or fve days I ",p:164,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"begin to fnd some peace in committing myself to the long haul of an ",p:164,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"extended fast. I even have bursts of energy. ",p:164,x:105,y:529,w:305,h:23},
{t:"Some people experience intellectual sharpness and clarity of thought ",p:164,x:135,y:557,w:484,h:23},
{t:"while on a fast. Others fnd it very difcult to concentrate and feel semi-",p:164,x:105,y:584,w:510,h:23},
{t:"moronic. What one experiences on a fast in this regard will be deter-",p:164,x:105,y:612,w:509,h:23},
{t:"mined by a complex range of factors, including body mass and weight, ",p:164,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"circumstances at home and work, care in preparing for the fast, lifestyle ",p:164,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"during the fast, and much more. Some will feel a need for comfort and ",p:164,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"intimacy. Others will experience a permanent dull ache, able to think of ",p:164,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"nothing but their hunger. What becomes evident is that the Lord will be ",p:164,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"taking you down a path unique to you. Surrender to it: settle down and ",p:164,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"enjoy the moment of obedience to Him. ",p:164,x:105,y:804,w:290,h:23},
{t:"I have to confess that I fall into the category of those who are con-",p:164,x:135,y:832,w:480,h:23},
{t:"sumed by hunger and rarely notice much else. I have a work colleague ",p:164,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"who knows when I am fasting and does not allow me to make any impor-",p:164,x:105,y:887,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tant decisions. I treat the time when I am fasting as though I am going ",p:164,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"159",p:165,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE EMOTIONAL FALL-OUT",p:165,x:487,y:59,w:128,h:20},
{t:"through permanent jet lag—a time when I feel OK but need to be aware ",p:165,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that I have lost perspective. Te hunger can be all consuming. ",p:165,x:105,y:144,w:440,h:23},
{t:"I often feel a lethargic indiference to anything and everything. “You ",p:165,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"sort it out” often becomes my mantra. I fnd it more difcult to carry ",p:165,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"responsibility for my business when I am fasting. I need to delegate more. ",p:165,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I can ’t get my mind around the issues as easily. ",p:165,x:105,y:254,w:331,h:23},
{t:"I will often adopt the mindset that I will do what I am told, though ",p:165,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"much of the time, truthfully, I couldn ’t care less. I am consumed by the ",p:165,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"feeling of the dying inside of me. Despairing depression comes in waves. ",p:165,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I feel sorry for myself, for what I have done to myself. I just sit and mope. ",p:165,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"After the frst few turbulent days the body settles down. ",p:165,x:105,y:392,w:397,h:23},
{t:"Adjusting in Your Spirit",p:165,x:243,y:446,w:235,h:26},
{t:"Te response in the core of your being to this new situation should ",p:165,x:135,y:491,w:484,h:23},
{t:"be to seek the strengthening of your spirit and resolve as the days go on. ",p:165,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Te big battle will take place in the frst few days. If you are able to gather ",p:165,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"strength in your spirit in these early days then you will do well. If you ",p:165,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"become consumed with the hunger, depression, and darkness of the fast, ",p:165,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you may be tempted to cave in and break the fast.",p:165,x:105,y:629,w:351,h:23},
{t:"If you are new to fasting, don ’t be surprised if the spiritual onslaught ",p:165,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of the darkness of the fast occurs within hours of beginning a fast—or ",p:165,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"before you even begin. Tis often catches people by surprise. You have ",p:165,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"made a signifcant declaration, a decision to deprive yourself of some-",p:165,x:105,y:739,w:509,h:23},
{t:"thing that gives you life. As soon as this takes place you are quite likely ",p:165,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to feel the diference. It is a time of adjustment to the denial you chose. ",p:165,x:105,y:794,w:507,h:23},
{t:"You also symbolize and relive in some ways dying in your own life. ",p:165,x:135,y:821,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Put bluntly, water-only fasting is a barbaric practice, a slow killing of ",p:165,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"oneself by voluntary surrender and choice. Sounds extreme, doesn ’t it? ",p:165,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Tat’s because it is! It separates you from others, as you are not eating. ",p:165,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"You are diferent, not able to join in with others or with life. ",p:165,x:105,y:931,w:429,h:23},
{t:"160",p:166,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:166,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Te longer you fast, the more darkness you may sense. Having said ",p:166,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"that, though, the length is not nearly as important as your heart obedi-",p:166,x:105,y:144,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ence and its efect on you. You need to prepare yourself for the impact the ",p:166,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast will have on you. How much darkness will you experience, and how ",p:166,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"quickly? And in what spirit are you going to enter into the fast? People are ",p:166,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"often surprised how quickly the spiritual awareness of the reality of the ",p:166,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast hits them, before they have missed even one or two meals. ",p:166,x:105,y:282,w:443,h:23},
{t:"During the frst week of one of the longest fasts I ever did, my wife ",p:166,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"and I had a deep personal shock: our home was broken into. I wrote in ",p:166,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"my journal at the time: “Mary called to say that our house had been bro-",p:166,x:105,y:364,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ken into. Tey broke two front doors, stole all Mary’s jewelry, Indonesian ",p:166,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ivory box, twelve collectible plates, and lots of other things, including a ",p:166,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"valuable Wedgwood jar. Came home to the police and Mary in shock ",p:166,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and tears. All very exhausting. Spent the evening repairing the doors and ",p:166,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"putting new locks on them.” Te shock of this was temptation enough, ",p:166,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for a moment, to break the fast. But instead the break-in strengthened ",p:166,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"my resolve to continue. ",p:166,x:105,y:557,w:169,h:23},
{t:"Feeling Oppressed",p:166,x:270,y:611,w:179,h:26},
{t:"Te oppression of the fast in the frst few days will likely be in part ",p:166,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"because of others adjusting, conveniently forgetting what you are doing ",p:166,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and demanding that you be normal. Tis is especially true if you have ",p:166,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"young children. Tey will not understand your not eating. In addition, ",p:166,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the purpose of the fast will be questioned by the Enemy. He will interro-",p:166,x:105,y:766,w:509,h:23},
{t:"gate every resolve you have made, not wanting you to hold steady. I have ",p:166,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"experienced avalanches of problems in the early days of a fast: money ",p:166,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"problems, hassles with children, power struggles, relational conficts, and ",p:166,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the Enemy gnawing away at my personal weaknesses. Be prepared!",p:166,x:105,y:876,w:468,h:23},
{t:"I sometimes sense a demonic mocking, alongside a sense of accusa-",p:166,x:135,y:904,w:480,h:23},
{t:"tion about the stupidity of what I am doing. I am tempted to see God ",p:166,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"161",p:167,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE EMOTIONAL FALL-OUT",p:167,x:487,y:59,w:128,h:20},
{t:"as a tyrant to require this of me—forcing me to do this, beating me into ",p:167,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"weak submission before being nice to me again. I have passing thoughts ",p:167,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that He is malevolent and unreasonable, a taskmaster who takes but does ",p:167,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"not give. ",p:167,x:105,y:199,w:65,h:23},
{t:"But then I have to say that I am sorry, realizing that I fear Him in a ",p:167,x:135,y:227,w:484,h:23},
{t:"righteous way and am choosing to do this for myself as well as for Him. ",p:167,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"As I recorded in my journal one time, “Tis fast is of my freewill, and I ",p:167,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"give my weakened and frail condition to Him as a free ofering. My weak, ",p:167,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fragile self is all I have to give at the moment. If He can delight in this, ",p:167,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"then He is indeed a remarkable God.” ",p:167,x:105,y:364,w:272,h:23},
{t:"I have constant feelings of spiritual barrenness. You may be one of ",p:167,x:135,y:392,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the fortunate ones God talks to during a fast, but most of the time I don ’t ",p:167,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"hear Him nearly as clearly as when I am not fasting. You get used to the ",p:167,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"barrenness, however, in anticipation of the time when you break the fast ",p:167,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and the Lord begins to talk to you again. You somehow know this, but it ",p:167,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"doesn ’t necessarily help in the dark days of the fast. ",p:167,x:105,y:529,w:362,h:23},
{t:"One time I was bombarded on the twenty-frst day of a fast with ",p:167,x:135,y:557,w:484,h:23},
{t:"thoughts of breaking the fast. Let my diary tell you what happened: ",p:167,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"“Every few minutes thinking of food and drink. Found myself frequently ",p:167,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"going to the fridge to get some juice or nibbles. Have not had such a ",p:167,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"barrage of temptation for a long time. Here I was thinking that I was ",p:167,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"now cruising; yet I fnd myself really being barraged by masses of clever ",p:167,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ideas for breaking the fast. . . . How my body aches for the sun and food. ",p:167,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:". . . I will need a lot of grace and Holy Spirit support to make it through ",p:167,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this day.” ",p:167,x:105,y:777,w:68,h:23},
{t:"But for some of us the biggest problem will be the relational issues. ",p:167,x:135,y:804,w:477,h:23},
{t:"Relational Issues",p:167,x:278,y:858,w:165,h:26},
{t:"It is very important that you have someone walk alongside you in ",p:167,x:135,y:904,w:484,h:23},
{t:"your fast. Don ’t choose someone close to you who is angry with you ",p:167,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"162",p:168,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:168,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"because you are doing the fast. An extended fast will impact everyone else ",p:168,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"around you, whether or not they know you are fasting. You cannot hide ",p:168,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"from people’s spirits what you are choosing to do. Te deprivation you ",p:168,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are requiring of your body will be sensed by others, so assume they will ",p:168,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"notice it—even if only indirectly. ",p:168,x:105,y:227,w:238,h:23},
{t:"At times you will need to talk to someone who brings an objectivity ",p:168,x:135,y:254,w:484,h:23},
{t:"that you lack, someone you can talk to about what is happening to you. ",p:168,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"You don ’t have to be a hero or a solitary saint. Tat attitude just adds to ",p:168,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the burden. You need someone to talk to, ideally comparing notes with ",p:168,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasts that person has done.",p:168,x:105,y:364,w:186,h:23},
{t:"Te individual you talk with will need to be able to cope with the ",p:168,x:135,y:392,w:484,h:23},
{t:"spiritual pressure and honest despair that you go through. So don ’t look ",p:168,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for someone who is vulnerable, such as a young Christian. Enjoy sharing ",p:168,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the journey with them. ",p:168,x:105,y:474,w:167,h:23},
{t:"Let me end this chapter with some comments from my wife, Mary, ",p:168,x:135,y:502,w:484,h:23},
{t:"who has always stood by me in these sometimes-tough times. Here are ",p:168,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"some of her thoughts and observations:",p:168,x:105,y:557,w:277,h:23},
{t:"When Peter and I were married almost thirty-fve years ago, his ",p:168,x:158,y:599,w:430,h:20},
{t:"understanding of the outworking of marriage was that the most ",p:168,x:135,y:626,w:453,h:20},
{t:"important thing each of us could bring to the marriage was to ",p:168,x:135,y:653,w:453,h:20},
{t:"maintain our personal walk with the Lord. He always interpreted ",p:168,x:135,y:679,w:453,h:20},
{t:"this as a personal responsibility. However, when Peter fasted, ",p:168,x:135,y:706,w:453,h:20},
{t:"especially the water-only extended fasts, this line blurred and ",p:168,x:135,y:733,w:453,h:20},
{t:"became very cloudy. I would wake up most mornings feeling ",p:168,x:135,y:759,w:453,h:20},
{t:"trapped in the same closet with him, unable to escape from what ",p:168,x:135,y:786,w:453,h:20},
{t:"he was doing even if I wanted to. I needed to be patient with him, ",p:168,x:135,y:812,w:453,h:20},
{t:"while portraying “business as usual” to the outside world and to ",p:168,x:135,y:839,w:453,h:20},
{t:"our young son, who did not understand the dynamics at times, ",p:168,x:135,y:866,w:453,h:20},
{t:"with me eating but Daddy not.",p:168,x:135,y:893,w:212,h:20},
{t:"163",p:169,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE EMOTIONAL FALL-OUT",p:169,x:487,y:59,w:128,h:20},
{t:"I believe God is amazingly creative, as seen in nature, as well ",p:169,x:158,y:117,w:431,h:20},
{t:"as a God of balance, as also seen in nature: one God in a relational ",p:169,x:135,y:144,w:453,h:20},
{t:"Trinity, living both inside and outside “the box. ” God sees our ",p:169,x:135,y:170,w:453,h:20},
{t:"world and yet has a perspective that is much bigger than ours. He ",p:169,x:135,y:197,w:453,h:20},
{t:"does not stay in our “box, ” but is also outside of it. This is the way ",p:169,x:135,y:224,w:453,h:20},
{t:"Peter and I have sometimes been asked to live—taking separate ",p:169,x:135,y:250,w:453,h:20},
{t:"journeys but simultaneously standing together. ",p:169,x:135,y:277,w:331,h:20},
{t:"Hiding what Peter was really doing, without being deceptive, ",p:169,x:158,y:304,w:431,h:20},
{t:"was particularly difcult. Peter would remind me that life goes ",p:169,x:135,y:330,w:453,h:20},
{t:"on, business goes on, and even children go on. But how could I ",p:169,x:135,y:357,w:453,h:20},
{t:"go on with normal living while I knew he was “dying. ” I was being ",p:169,x:135,y:384,w:453,h:20},
{t:"required to live in the spiritual world while walking in the physical ",p:169,x:135,y:410,w:453,h:20},
{t:"world. Some would see or sense that business wasn ’t as usual, so ",p:169,x:135,y:437,w:453,h:20},
{t:"it felt like I was always living in no-man’s land. ",p:169,x:135,y:464,w:317,h:20},
{t:"Peter is the only person I have known who has had the capac-",p:169,x:158,y:490,w:427,h:20},
{t:"ity and calling to go on water-only fasts of almost forty days. I, ",p:169,x:135,y:517,w:453,h:20},
{t:"on the other hand, struggle—and I mean struggle—with missing ",p:169,x:135,y:544,w:453,h:20},
{t:"even one meal! Having a metabolism that requires small amounts ",p:169,x:135,y:570,w:453,h:20},
{t:"of food at frequent intervals, I discovered shortly after we got ",p:169,x:135,y:597,w:453,h:20},
{t:"married that this diference was just another way in which God ",p:169,x:135,y:624,w:453,h:20},
{t:"put together two people who came from diametrically opposite ",p:169,x:135,y:650,w:453,h:20},
{t:"corners of life. Fortunately we have a big God, and both of us have ",p:169,x:135,y:677,w:453,h:20},
{t:"big hearts. As I get older I can see this as God’s opportunity to ",p:169,x:135,y:704,w:453,h:20},
{t:"balance us out . . . on a good day, that is!",p:169,x:135,y:730,w:277,h:20},
{t:"Another facet of fasting is how it both exposed and changed ",p:169,x:158,y:757,w:431,h:20},
{t:"my perspective. I suppose I had always confused “Christ-likeness” ",p:169,x:135,y:784,w:453,h:20},
{t:"and “doing great feats for God” with perfection. So my frst shock ",p:169,x:135,y:810,w:453,h:20},
{t:"was that people have the capacity to fast not in isolation but in a ",p:169,x:135,y:837,w:453,h:20},
{t:"family context, even though we are not always the easiest people ",p:169,x:135,y:864,w:453,h:20},
{t:"to live with! And as with most nuclear families, when one sufers ",p:169,x:135,y:890,w:453,h:20},
{t:"we all sufer. ",p:169,x:135,y:917,w:88,h:20},
{t:"164",p:170,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:170,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"So the truth is that Peter’s fasting has been very hard work ",p:170,x:158,y:117,w:430,h:20},
{t:"for us all. In today’s 24/7 world, life goes on despite his stopping ",p:170,x:135,y:144,w:453,h:20},
{t:"to fast. But at times it is good to stop—to get of the high-speed ",p:170,x:135,y:170,w:453,h:20},
{t:"train and slow down. We don’t have built in to our lives the accom-",p:170,x:135,y:197,w:450,h:20},
{t:"modating of such spiritual disciplines. We’ve lost it to our peril, I ",p:170,x:135,y:224,w:453,h:20},
{t:"am afraid to say.",p:170,x:135,y:250,w:111,h:20},
{t:"Another surprise to me was the impact of fasting on our mar-",p:170,x:158,y:277,w:427,h:20},
{t:"riage. When Peter engaged the reality of both the spiritual world ",p:170,x:135,y:304,w:453,h:20},
{t:"and his own personal pain, I can only say it was like consistently ",p:170,x:135,y:330,w:453,h:20},
{t:"waking up in the morning and fnding yourself on the frontline in ",p:170,x:135,y:357,w:453,h:20},
{t:"your nightclothes! ",p:170,x:135,y:384,w:129,h:20},
{t:"As to whether Peter consulted with me before a fast: yes, he ",p:170,x:158,y:410,w:430,h:20},
{t:"would always show me his date book, identifying the only win-",p:170,x:135,y:437,w:450,h:20},
{t:"dows where it would be feasible. The good news was that when ",p:170,x:135,y:464,w:453,h:20},
{t:"he was fasting for provision or a breakthrough I could always wit-",p:170,x:135,y:490,w:450,h:20},
{t:"ness with the need for desperate measures, because the situation ",p:170,x:135,y:517,w:453,h:20},
{t:"was getting serious. ",p:170,x:135,y:544,w:141,h:20},
{t:"The hardest thing about the timing of Peter’s fasts was the ",p:170,x:158,y:570,w:431,h:20},
{t:"simple reality that there was never, from a woman’s perspective, ",p:170,x:135,y:597,w:453,h:20},
{t:"a good time to fast! Sufce it to say, any fast was always a day too ",p:170,x:135,y:624,w:453,h:20},
{t:"long! And, as Peter often says, it was a time of vulnerability and a ",p:170,x:135,y:650,w:453,h:20},
{t:"time of God not talking to him. But the Lord would often talk to ",p:170,x:135,y:677,w:453,h:20},
{t:"me during those times, which was sometimes confusing to one ",p:170,x:135,y:704,w:453,h:20},
{t:"or both of us! ",p:170,x:135,y:730,w:95,h:20},
{t:"Overall, ",p:170,x:158,y:757,w:56,h:20},
{t:"I ",p:170,x:218,y:757,w:7,h:20},
{t:"believe ",p:170,x:231,y:757,w:53,h:20},
{t:"“ disorientating” would be the best word ",p:170,x:288,y:757,w:301,h:20},
{t:"to describe my feelings on the subject. Fasting has facilitated ",p:170,x:135,y:784,w:453,h:20},
{t:"touching both the highs and lows of my own walk with God. God ",p:170,x:135,y:810,w:453,h:20},
{t:"did meet me in amazing ways during Peter’s fasts, especially the ",p:170,x:135,y:837,w:453,h:20},
{t:"extended ones. But somehow He always had a way of meeting ",p:170,x:135,y:864,w:453,h:20},
{t:"me and speaking to me from the opposite direction, as men and ",p:170,x:135,y:890,w:453,h:20},
{t:"women, in general, and Peter and I, in particular, are so diferent.",p:170,x:135,y:917,w:443,h:20},
{t:"165",p:171,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE EMOTIONAL FALL-OUT",p:171,x:487,y:59,w:128,h:20},
{t:"Another shock was that Peter’s fasting would sometimes give ",p:171,x:158,y:117,w:431,h:20},
{t:"me a sense of rejection. The implication was that I had no part in ",p:171,x:135,y:144,w:453,h:20},
{t:"what he was doing. It could even feel like waking up and fnd-",p:171,x:135,y:170,w:450,h:20},
{t:"ing you are married to a stranger. So I would say, from a wife’s ",p:171,x:135,y:197,w:453,h:20},
{t:"relational perspective, that Peter’s fasting has always included ",p:171,x:135,y:224,w:453,h:20},
{t:"a sense of redundancy and/or rejection. Food is one of a man’s ",p:171,x:135,y:250,w:453,h:20},
{t:"basic needs, and all the afrming ways of providing it for him have ",p:171,x:135,y:277,w:453,h:20},
{t:"to be given up. When Peter stopped eating there was nothing I ",p:171,x:135,y:304,w:453,h:20},
{t:"could do but sit, watch, wait, and persevere—with the “business ",p:171,x:135,y:330,w:453,h:20},
{t:"as usual” sign up. ",p:171,x:135,y:357,w:120,h:20},
{t:"The steps I take to prepare myself for an extended fast are ",p:171,x:158,y:384,w:431,h:20},
{t:"threefold:",p:171,x:135,y:410,w:67,h:20},
{t:"1. ",p:171,x:135,y:452,w:15,h:20},
{t:"I ",p:171,x:165,y:452,w:7,h:20},
{t:"batten down the hatches, preparing for the emotional/",p:171,x:177,y:452,w:408,h:20},
{t:"spiritual roller coaster.",p:171,x:165,y:479,w:152,h:20},
{t:"2. ",p:171,x:135,y:505,w:15,h:20},
{t:"I remind myself that nothing is as it appears to be: it is like liv-",p:171,x:165,y:505,w:420,h:20},
{t:"ing between “the end of the beginning” and “the beginning ",p:171,x:165,y:532,w:423,h:20},
{t:"of the end. ”",p:171,x:165,y:559,w:78,h:20},
{t:"3. ",p:171,x:135,y:585,w:15,h:20},
{t:"The sum of the frst two make it essential for me to make ",p:171,x:165,y:585,w:423,h:20},
{t:"provision to get away emotionally from the intensity of it all, ",p:171,x:165,y:612,w:423,h:20},
{t:"while needing to be kind to myself by not trying so hard to ",p:171,x:165,y:639,w:423,h:20},
{t:"“ get it right. ” It’s like an intense time of spring cleaning: every ",p:171,x:165,y:665,w:423,h:20},
{t:"woman knows that is a time when things have to get worse ",p:171,x:165,y:692,w:423,h:20},
{t:"to get better, because everything must frst be moved. But ",p:171,x:165,y:719,w:423,h:20},
{t:"women tend to do this cleaning in “relationship, ” and by its ",p:171,x:165,y:745,w:423,h:20},
{t:"very nature fasting feels far more like doing it all by yourself ",p:171,x:165,y:772,w:423,h:20},
{t:"in isolation. ",p:171,x:165,y:799,w:83,h:20},
{t:"The “Daniel fast” is an interesting idea, as it becomes a way of ",p:171,x:158,y:840,w:431,h:20},
{t:"life. I also believe that Daniel was a single man! The best way I can ",p:171,x:135,y:867,w:453,h:20},
{t:"describe handling this is by taking it one day at a time. It is always ",p:171,x:135,y:894,w:453,h:20},
{t:"much easier if you do not have to cater to a large family at the ",p:171,x:135,y:920,w:453,h:20},
{t:"166",p:172,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:172,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"same time that your husband is on the Daniel fast. Cook for the ",p:172,x:135,y:117,w:453,h:20},
{t:"whole family as healthy as you can. Then call a friend when you ",p:172,x:135,y:144,w:453,h:20},
{t:"need space and a treat!",p:172,x:135,y:170,w:160,h:20},
{t:"Hopefully, over the years I have made peace with the fact that ",p:172,x:158,y:197,w:431,h:20},
{t:"fasting is one of the spiritual disciplines, and a gift as well. Since ",p:172,x:135,y:224,w:453,h:20},
{t:"none of us have all the gifts all the time, I have spent our marriage ",p:172,x:135,y:250,w:453,h:20},
{t:"fnding the discipline of complimenting Peter, instead of trying to ",p:172,x:135,y:277,w:453,h:20},
{t:"keep up with him.  ",p:172,x:135,y:304,w:131,h:20},
{t:"Mary M. Holmes",p:172,x:345,y:335,w:240,h:52},
{t:"167",p:173,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"16.",p:173,x:556,y:241,w:44,h:55},
{t:"HOW TO BREAK A WATER-ONLY FAST",p:173,x:105,y:422,w:457,h:52},
{t:"Te importance of being careful in breaking a water-only fast cannot ",p:173,x:135,y:552,w:484,h:23},
{t:"be emphasized enough. Once your body has gone through the shock of ",p:173,x:105,y:579,w:514,h:23},
{t:"breaking the food habit and has conceded defeat and settled down, it is ",p:173,x:105,y:607,w:514,h:23},
{t:"important that you wake it slowly. Gently does it. Even on a relatively ",p:173,x:105,y:634,w:514,h:23},
{t:"short fast of, say, twelve hours, you shouldn ’t just sit down and eat a ",p:173,x:105,y:662,w:514,h:23},
{t:"normal meal. You should build up to full eating over a twenty-four-hour ",p:173,x:105,y:689,w:514,h:23},
{t:"period. Te general rule for a shorter fast is that it takes the same amount ",p:173,x:105,y:717,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of time to break the fast as the length of the fast itself. After an extended ",p:173,x:105,y:744,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast, I have found that I need to allow up to eight days to break the fast.",p:173,x:105,y:772,w:505,h:23},
{t:"I need to make an important comment here. It will take far more ",p:173,x:135,y:799,w:484,h:23},
{t:"discipline for you to break the fast in a responsible way than it ever took ",p:173,x:105,y:827,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for you to abstain from food. Not eating is absolute, but when you begin ",p:173,x:105,y:854,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to eat you will have the whole world of food before you. Breaking a fast ",p:173,x:105,y:882,w:514,h:23},
{t:"has few rules, so you have to write some of your own as you wake your ",p:173,x:105,y:909,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body from its slumbers. ",p:173,x:105,y:937,w:171,h:23},
{t:"168",p:174,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:174,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"As mentioned previously, breaking even a short fast should be done ",p:174,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"with much care. Don ’t dismiss its signifcance. Abstaining from just one ",p:174,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"meal can be an emotional experience and have a backlash. Be careful not ",p:174,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to say silly things like “I will never do that again”—because the Lord may ",p:174,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ask you to! And after you eat again, notice that you may be particularly ",p:174,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"hyper with the food in your stomach. Be careful to read the rest of this ",p:174,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"chapter as background, even though you may not be engaging in longer ",p:174,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasts yet. Te understanding will be helpful for you. ",p:174,x:105,y:309,w:368,h:23},
{t:"At the other end of the fasting spectrum is an open-ended fast. Here ",p:174,x:135,y:337,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the decision to break the fast is a signifcant one and must be done with ",p:174,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"care. Write out a list of reasons why you feel it is right to break the fast. ",p:174,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Tink this through very carefully, being brutally honest about what you ",p:174,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are thinking. Are you being pressured? Is this the right time? Don ’t rush ",p:174,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"your decision. ",p:174,x:105,y:474,w:103,h:23},
{t:"Talk to the person who is walking with you in your fasting journey. ",p:174,x:135,y:502,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Write down the reasons why God and that person are able to confrm ",p:174,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that you have achieved what you set out to do. Record how this witnesses ",p:174,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to you. It is very easy in your weakened state to break a fast, but do not ",p:174,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"make the decision in a knee-jerk way. ",p:174,x:105,y:612,w:268,h:23},
{t:"I normally look in three areas for confrmation. First, I have done, or ",p:174,x:135,y:639,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the Lord has done, what I set out as the goal before I began: there is some ",p:174,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"evidence that it has been achieved. Second, my mentor is in agreement ",p:174,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that this is the case. Tird, emotionally I feel the duty lifting that led me ",p:174,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to fast in the frst place. If at least two of these three are in place then you ",p:174,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are probably close to settling the matter and breaking the fast. ",p:174,x:105,y:777,w:440,h:23},
{t:"Easy Does It",p:174,x:299,y:831,w:122,h:26},
{t:"Let’s assume your fast has been for twelve hours or longer. How do ",p:174,x:135,y:876,w:484,h:23},
{t:"you go about breaking it? You most defnitely don ’t want to begin with ",p:174,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"solid food. You start with fuids, which will settle in your stomach and ",p:174,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"169",p:175,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"HOW TO BREAK A WATER ONLY FAST",p:175,x:434,y:59,w:181,h:20},
{t:"begin the process of awakening the digestive fuids and tract. Even if you ",p:175,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have fasted for just one day, I would still suggest that you break your fast ",p:175,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with liquids frst.",p:175,x:105,y:172,w:120,h:23},
{t:"It is best to choose natural juices that are more alkaline. Te digestive ",p:175,x:135,y:199,w:484,h:23},
{t:"juices in the stomach and intestine will need time to begin to secrete ",p:175,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"again. Te cocktail needs time to reconstitute. Gastric acid and pancre-",p:175,x:105,y:254,w:509,h:23},
{t:"atic enzymes, especially, are not readily available to assist the digestive ",p:175,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"process. Tese need to be restored. Likewise, your saliva ducts will also ",p:175,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"have fallen on bad times, and these glands will need to kick into overdrive ",p:175,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"again. Tese things take time, so the early intake of liquids and even light ",p:175,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"solids will not be met with a fully functioning stomach. ",p:175,x:105,y:392,w:396,h:23},
{t:"Opinion varies on what is ideal to wake up the stomach, but the ",p:175,x:135,y:419,w:484,h:23},
{t:"general view is that initially the juices should be light, not a fruit pulp, ",p:175,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"but full of natural sugar (fructose). You want to give your body a good ",p:175,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"reason to awaken. My favorite is apple juice made from concentrate. It ",p:175,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is inexpensive, full of nourishment and fructose, and light in constitu-",p:175,x:105,y:529,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tion. Fruit juices that have the highest water content, like watermelon, ",p:175,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are the easiest to digest. But you could use a variety of strained juices, ",p:175,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"such as grape or pear. Some recommend tomato. Don ’t use citrus juices ",p:175,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"like grapefruit, orange, and lime, as these don ’t have the more alkaline ",p:175,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"pH balance. ",p:175,x:105,y:667,w:92,h:23},
{t:"Some would contend that you should also take into account your ",p:175,x:135,y:694,w:484,h:23},
{t:"blood type, as this will dictate whether you have an acidic or alkaline ",p:175,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"stomach.  For those of blood group O, being on the acidic end, less acidic ",p:175,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fruit juices would be best; but the A",p:175,x:105,y:777,w:265,h:23},
{t:"’",p:175,x:369,y:777,w:4,h:23},
{t:"s would do well with more acidic ",p:175,x:372,y:777,w:247,h:23},
{t:"citrus juices in due course. 1 I’m not suggesting that you do a blood test ",p:175,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"before fasting, but when and if you do learn about your blood type this ",p:175,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"could be a helpful guide. If you have questions, seek professional advice.  ",p:175,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"1 ",p:175,x:105,y:905,w:12,h:21},
{t:" Peter J. D’Adamo, Eat Right 4 Your Type: Te Individualized Diet Solution ",p:175,x:126,y:905,w:478,h:21},
{t:"to Staying Healthy, Living Longer and Achieving Your Ideal Weight: 4 Blood Types, ",p:175,x:105,y:925,w:511,h:20},
{t:"4 Diets (New York: Putnam, 1996).",p:175,x:105,y:945,w:227,h:21},
{t:"170",p:176,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:176,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"To break the fast, sip a small glass of your chosen juice. On a shorter ",p:176,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fast you might sip the juice over the course of an hour, and then crave ",p:176,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"something more. If you have been on an extended fast this is less likely. ",p:176,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"It will perhaps be several hours before you are ready for another, which ",p:176,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you sip slowly over the course of a few hours. Don ’t forget to continue ",p:176,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"drinking water while you are doing this. You must maintain the intake ",p:176,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of fuids.",p:176,x:105,y:282,w:62,h:23},
{t:"When you are ready for something more, you may want to try a light ",p:176,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"consommé type of soup. My personal preference is a light beef broth. ",p:176,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Don ’t choose a thick or spicy soup, which would cause such an assault ",p:176,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"on your taste buds that it would feel like you were burning your mouth, ",p:176,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and then the food would sit like a lump in your stomach. Drink a glass ",p:176,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of water about an hour before eating, but don ’t drink a lot with the soup. ",p:176,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"If you have done a shorter fast, you might feel ready for a light soup ",p:176,x:135,y:474,w:484,h:23},
{t:"three or four hours after your glass of juice. When breaking an extended ",p:176,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast, I wouldn ’t expect you to be ready for this until twenty-four hours ",p:176,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"after your frst juice. Te principle is that you are continuing to stay with ",p:176,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"liquids, but moving to more savory food. But be careful about the salt. ",p:176,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"And don ’t add condiments, even though you will probably be tempted to ",p:176,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"do so. If your body is reacting well to the initial juices, go for a light soup: ",p:176,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"hot is better, but no bread. ",p:176,x:105,y:667,w:192,h:23},
{t:"Having taken some juice, some suggest it is very healthful to eat ",p:176,x:135,y:694,w:484,h:23},
{t:"some yogurt, but without fruit or additives. Although I have not done ",p:176,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this myself, I believe it could be helpful. Be guided by what your body ",p:176,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"tells you it needs.",p:176,x:105,y:777,w:122,h:23},
{t:"At this point most people take their frst dose of cafeine again. But ",p:176,x:135,y:804,w:484,h:23},
{t:"my caution to you would be to ensure it is very weak and contains very ",p:176,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"little milk. Avoid slipping into any of your old addictions.",p:176,x:105,y:859,w:409,h:23},
{t:"171",p:177,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"HOW TO BREAK A WATER ONLY FAST",p:177,x:434,y:59,w:181,h:20},
{t:"Graduating to Solid Food",p:177,x:235,y:117,w:251,h:26},
{t:"Liquids are the easy part of breaking a fast. You do this for the frst ",p:177,x:135,y:162,w:484,h:23},
{t:"day or so. What you are actually doing is waking up your stomach; don ’t ",p:177,x:105,y:189,w:514,h:23},
{t:"expect much nourishment from these early drinks. Now you need to ",p:177,x:105,y:217,w:514,h:23},
{t:"choose what solid food you are going to eat.",p:177,x:105,y:244,w:310,h:23},
{t:"You need to continue to gradually build up your eating. Perhaps you ",p:177,x:135,y:272,w:484,h:23},
{t:"can move toward a more solid soup, such as minestrone, vegetable, or ",p:177,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"heavy broth. Chew it thoroughly, as this will likely be the frst time you ",p:177,x:105,y:327,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sense that your saliva glands are waking. For an extended fast, start with ",p:177,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"only a small portion.",p:177,x:105,y:382,w:146,h:23},
{t:"If your fast has been shorter you will be able to handle solid foods ",p:177,x:135,y:409,w:484,h:23},
{t:"more quickly. Within four hours of breaking a one-day fast you may be ",p:177,x:105,y:437,w:514,h:23},
{t:"able to handle something very light, a small portion. After eight hours ",p:177,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you may fnd yourself ready for something more solid. Listen to your ",p:177,x:105,y:492,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body and be gentle with it.",p:177,x:105,y:519,w:190,h:23},
{t:"Twenty-four hours after a twenty-four-hour fast, the period of ",p:177,x:135,y:547,w:484,h:23},
{t:"breaking your fast will be complete. A three-day fast will take longer. A ",p:177,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"seven-day fast will take perhaps fve days, and longer fasts will take up to ",p:177,x:105,y:602,w:514,h:23},
{t:"eight days. Be willing to treat this as part of the discipline of your fast. ",p:177,x:105,y:629,w:499,h:23},
{t:"As a guideline, don ’t give in to the temptation to eat a chocolate bar ",p:177,x:135,y:657,w:484,h:23},
{t:"or other sweets at frst. Your stomach will not be ready for them, and you ",p:177,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"could have very uncomfortable side efects. Remember that it takes up to ",p:177,x:105,y:712,w:514,h:23},
{t:"several days for your stomach and digestive tract to reconstitute the diges-",p:177,x:105,y:739,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tive fuids and gain the right pH balance to begin the digestive process. ",p:177,x:105,y:767,w:505,h:23},
{t:"Reawakening Your Digestive System",p:177,x:184,y:821,w:353,h:26},
{t:"By taking your frst nourishment you are calling your digestive sys-",p:177,x:135,y:866,w:480,h:23},
{t:"tem to life again. Eating will feel good, every taste memorable. You can ",p:177,x:105,y:893,w:514,h:23},
{t:"feel your body getting warmer and stronger as you begin to eat. You can ",p:177,x:105,y:921,w:514,h:23},
{t:"172",p:178,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:178,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"sense new waves of energy. You will feel like you could run for miles. Your ",p:178,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"senses feel even sharper, if that were possible. Your sense of taste especially ",p:178,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"awakens, as you burst with the favors and sensations in your mouth. ",p:178,x:105,y:172,w:490,h:23},
{t:"Blood forms an important part of the digestive process. When you ",p:178,x:135,y:199,w:484,h:23},
{t:"begin eating it will again rush to the stomach, so you will need to rest and ",p:178,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"let your stomach do its work. Don ’t overeat or eat too soon, as this can ",p:178,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"cause light-headedness, dizziness, and nausea. You will notice that your ",p:178,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body temperature will begin to rise almost instantly when you begin to ",p:178,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"eat some solid foods.   ",p:178,x:105,y:337,w:160,h:23},
{t:"If you have been on an extended fast, the liquids, with their nourish-",p:178,x:135,y:364,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ment, will run through you like a bath with no plug. Over the next few ",p:178,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"days you will have your frst solid bowel movement, which will probably ",p:178,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"be painful as the bowel reopens. If you begin eating too much too soon, ",p:178,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"or eat the wrong foods too quickly, you will sufer severely. Part of the ",p:178,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"discipline of your fast is to be a wise steward of your body as you break ",p:178,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the fast.",p:178,x:105,y:529,w:55,h:23},
{t:"On one occasion I stayed on a fast too long and only had three or ",p:178,x:135,y:557,w:484,h:23},
{t:"four days to break the lengthy fast before important social commitments, ",p:178,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"including meals, became unavoidable. I had a real sense that the Holy ",p:178,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Spirit was aiding my body, and I was eating normally on the fourth day ",p:178,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"without any pain or side efects. But you must never presume on this, ",p:178,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"unless it is very clear to you that God is helping you in this way. ",p:178,x:105,y:694,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Your bad breath will normally last about a week. You will suddenly ",p:178,x:135,y:722,w:484,h:23},
{t:"realize that it is gone. But don ’t breathe in someone’s face to check! ",p:178,x:105,y:749,w:475,h:23},
{t:"Shaking Off the Death and Darkness",p:178,x:179,y:803,w:362,h:26},
{t:"During a fast death can often hang over you, in the sense that you are ",p:178,x:135,y:849,w:484,h:23},
{t:"inviting death by not eating. In a journal entry toward the end of a fast in ",p:178,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"1993, I wrote about “the monotony of this monochrome existence (e.g., ",p:178,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"no food)—forever black and white. No life. Just life and death together ",p:178,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"173",p:179,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"HOW TO BREAK A WATER ONLY FAST",p:179,x:434,y:59,w:181,h:20},
{t:"in me. Te more I give life during my fast the more I touch into the ",p:179,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"death. Is this to be the way for all of my life?” ",p:179,x:105,y:144,w:325,h:23},
{t:"From the moment you decide to break the fast you must begin de-",p:179,x:135,y:172,w:480,h:23},
{t:"claring that you want the restoration of life, not death. Your spirit must ",p:179,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"begin to feed upon the Lord in this way. Food is life for your body; the ",p:179,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"love of God is life for your spirit. After an extended fast you can feel like ",p:179,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it is still there—lingering, refusing to leave until you tell it to do so. ",p:179,x:105,y:282,w:481,h:23},
{t:"Te discipline it takes to break the fast will wipe you out if you ",p:179,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"aren ’t wiped out already. Don ’t be surprised if you go into a time of real ",p:179,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"depression. See this phase as an opportunity to engage the darkness for ",p:179,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the last time as you let it go. You must give all of this to the Lord. Tis ",p:179,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"experience alone can be quite heavy. ",p:179,x:105,y:419,w:259,h:23},
{t:"You will see more clearly the darkness and anguish that you were ",p:179,x:135,y:447,w:484,h:23},
{t:"under. Some start to see the death accompanying fasting for the frst ",p:179,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"time. If you are in that category, talk to someone. Ask for help if you need ",p:179,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it, as it is often through your relationship with others that you are able to ",p:179,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"see the Lord. Invite the Lord to lift the sufering. ",p:179,x:105,y:557,w:348,h:23},
{t:"Some people fnd the aftershock very severe. You were bringing a lot ",p:179,x:135,y:584,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of death into your spirit while fasting; so after beginning to break the ",p:179,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast you may fnd it hard to shake of the death feelings. Some also have ",p:179,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"difculty starting to eat again. Te idea of eating might even make you ",p:179,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"feel sick. ",p:179,x:105,y:694,w:64,h:23},
{t:"Because many people carry a lot of self-hate, beating up their body ",p:179,x:135,y:722,w:484,h:23},
{t:"through fasting suits them well. Returning to normal eating means they ",p:179,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will need to let go of the hate so they can be at peace with their bodies. ",p:179,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"A great deal of self-cleansing often accompanies fasting. Note it and ",p:179,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"welcome it.",p:179,x:105,y:832,w:81,h:23},
{t:"You may discover that you have a fear of putting food in your stom-",p:179,x:135,y:859,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ach. Or you may have a problem being nice to yourself after a period of ",p:179,x:105,y:887,w:514,h:23},
{t:"punishing yourself. All of these are things to work through to get back ",p:179,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to “normal.”",p:179,x:105,y:942,w:87,h:23},
{t:"174",p:180,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:180,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Ironically, for the frst week after breaking an extended fast you may ",p:180,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"feel like you are still losing weight. Tough your stomach is not fully ",p:180,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"functioning yet, you probably will be. And if you are disciplined to break ",p:180,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the fast slowly you won ’t be eating enough to maintain your weight. ",p:180,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Make a note of this so that you will know for future fasts. Waking your ",p:180,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"body from this slumber is a delicate operation; so remind yourself and ",p:180,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"others that you aren ’t yet ready for a three-course meal. ",p:180,x:105,y:282,w:391,h:23},
{t:"Continue writing notes in your journal as if you are still on the fast. ",p:180,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Keep a record of what you are experiencing. Monitor the spiritual world, ",p:180,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"since much knowledge will often be released to you during these times. ",p:180,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"During the fast, especially an extended one, you may have become quite ",p:180,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"envious of those who were freely eating—enjoying the comfortable life ",p:180,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"you could not enjoy. You will need to confess this to the Lord as well. ",p:180,x:105,y:447,w:493,h:23},
{t:"Finally, be very aware of the onset of pride. Doing an extended fast ",p:180,x:135,y:474,w:484,h:23},
{t:"can feed one’s pride. You may discover that your weight loss and new ",p:180,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"sense of health and vitality gives you opportunity to boast. Honor God, ",p:180,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"not men. Don ’t fnd yourself under the accusation of Christ against the ",p:180,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Pharisees.  Remember that this was an act of obedience, nothing more. ",p:180,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Humble yourself, and keep the spirit of the surrender of the fast.  ",p:180,x:105,y:612,w:464,h:23},
{t:"Changing Your Lifestyle",p:180,x:242,y:666,w:236,h:26},
{t:"After an extended water-only fast, you will likely feel a need to review ",p:180,x:135,y:711,w:484,h:23},
{t:"your normal eating habits. While you are gradually breaking your fast is ",p:180,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the best time to make substantial changes. ",p:180,x:105,y:766,w:301,h:23},
{t:"Eat fresh and healthy. Go organic if you can. Avoid salt, unhealthy ",p:180,x:135,y:794,w:484,h:23},
{t:"fats, processed foods, fried foods, foods that are high in cholesterol, and ",p:180,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"foods that you have been addicted to in the past. Tis is your big chance: ",p:180,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"don ’t go back there. Tis can be part of a new balance in your relationship ",p:180,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with your body—an ongoing beneft from the fast.",p:180,x:105,y:904,w:359,h:23},
{t:"175",p:181,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"HOW TO BREAK A WATER ONLY FAST",p:181,x:434,y:59,w:181,h:20},
{t:"Look especially at the cafeine you consume, particularly via cofee ",p:181,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"and tea. Unfortunately there is not always an available substitute in ",p:181,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Western social life for these drinks, apart from water and sugary drinks. ",p:181,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"But you will traumatize your body with cafeine overdose if you start ",p:181,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"taking it too soon. After an extended fast, eliminate cafeine for at least ",p:181,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ten days—if you must return to it at all. You are also likely to hate water ",p:181,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"(and mints) for some time! Fortunately, you have the option of buying ",p:181,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"juices and decafeinated cofee and tea.",p:181,x:105,y:309,w:273,h:23},
{t:"One of the challenges of a water-only fast is that we can put on ",p:181,x:135,y:337,w:484,h:23},
{t:"weight quickly in the month or two following the fast. Weight can be ",p:181,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"replaced by the body at an alarming rate. We can fnd ourselves back ",p:181,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"up to our normal (unhealthy?) weight before we know it. For some of ",p:181,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"us it will take more discipline to avoid this happening than it took for ",p:181,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"us to fast. ",p:181,x:105,y:474,w:74,h:23},
{t:"Te key is to capitalize on the fast as we break it. We have to see all ",p:181,x:135,y:502,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the negative side efects that accompany fasting alongside the long-term ",p:181,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"benefts of allowing the body to shake of all the stored toxins that go ",p:181,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with the overweight and obesity issues surrounding our lifestyle. Tink ",p:181,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this through very carefully and make some right decisions that honor you ",p:181,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and the Lord. ",p:181,x:105,y:639,w:101,h:23},
{t:"CONCLUSION",p:182,x:228,y:474,w:265,h:83},
{t:"Over the course of your fasting journey ",p:182,x:159,y:615,w:410,h:28},
{t:"you will build your own record of the ",p:182,x:168,y:655,w:390,h:28},
{t:"remarkable interventions of the Lord as ",p:182,x:159,y:695,w:410,h:28},
{t:"a result of your fasting journey. As an ",p:182,x:170,y:735,w:387,h:28},
{t:"encouragement in the meantime, here ",p:182,x:161,y:775,w:405,h:28},
{t:"are some of mine.",p:182,x:268,y:815,w:185,h:28},
{t:"179",p:183,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"CELEBRATING VICTORIES: ",p:183,x:105,y:437,w:326,h:52},
{t:"THE FRUIT OF FASTING",p:183,x:105,y:484,w:282,h:52},
{t:"When my editor began reading the text of this book he was surprised ",p:183,x:135,y:614,w:484,h:23},
{t:"by the numerous references to death. Tis was not a coincidence, but ",p:183,x:105,y:641,w:514,h:23},
{t:"rather a refection of what fasting has been to me: feeling death, entering ",p:183,x:105,y:669,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the death of Christ, or simply wanting to die because it was all getting ",p:183,x:105,y:696,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to be too much. I’m glad this was pointed out to me, though, because I ",p:183,x:105,y:724,w:514,h:23},
{t:"don ’t want to leave this as the last impression. Unlike others who have ",p:183,x:105,y:751,w:514,h:23},
{t:"had victorious encounters with Christ while fasting, for me the joy of ",p:183,x:105,y:779,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fasting comes as a result of engaging death and being privileged to stand ",p:183,x:105,y:806,w:514,h:23},
{t:"with Christ and make a diference in the Kingdom of God. But this is ",p:183,x:105,y:834,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what happens after a fast—sometimes long after. ",p:183,x:105,y:861,w:346,h:23},
{t:"So the enduring memory of most of my extended fasts has been ",p:183,x:135,y:889,w:484,h:23},
{t:"twofold: on the one hand the darkness of the period of fasting and on ",p:183,x:105,y:916,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the other hand the profound signifcance of the changes wrought by ",p:183,x:105,y:944,w:514,h:23},
{t:"180",p:184,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:184,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"the fast and its fruit. In my fasting I have touched into my own death ",p:184,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"while seeing chains broken in other people’s lives when the knowledge I ",p:184,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"had gained has been applied. Likewise, seeing my life and my fasting as ",p:184,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"intercession has meant I have been able to bring to others what I would ",p:184,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"not otherwise have been able to share.  ",p:184,x:105,y:227,w:277,h:23},
{t:"If I were to select the one spiritual discipline that has contributed ",p:184,x:135,y:254,w:484,h:23},
{t:"most to my deepening walk with Christ, it would have to be fasting. ",p:184,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"One of the enduring lessons of fasting has been my realization that in ",p:184,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"our Christian life two extremes walk hand in hand: life and death. Christ ",p:184,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"gave life by enduring the death of the Cross so that we never have to go ",p:184,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"there ourselves. But He also called us to death (see 1 Corinthians 15:31), ",p:184,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"while telling us that we will have joy (see John 16:24). ",p:184,x:105,y:419,w:386,h:23},
{t:"Tose of us in the Western church are in danger of wanting the life of ",p:184,x:135,y:447,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Christ with all its joy and triumphs but without the death of the Cross.1 ",p:184,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"One obvious sign of spiritual maturity is knowing the balance of both ",p:184,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"death and life in Christ. Te joy comes later, but is enduring. ",p:184,x:105,y:529,w:435,h:23},
{t:"Te two things that seem very true: if, on the one hand, I fast for ",p:184,x:135,y:557,w:484,h:23},
{t:"twenty days, then I can enjoy the rest of the year without repeating ",p:184,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this denial! Likewise, the joy endures forever, while the pain is but for ",p:184,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a short season. ",p:184,x:105,y:639,w:109,h:23},
{t:"Fasting Out of Obedience",p:184,x:234,y:693,w:252,h:26},
{t:"One of my most difcult fasts took place one February when I fasted ",p:184,x:135,y:739,w:484,h:23},
{t:"for no other reason than that the Lord required it. I had no specifc reason ",p:184,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to fast, and I had previously learned that the dead of winter in the UK ",p:184,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"was not the time to do a water-only fast. But the Lord clearly told me to ",p:184,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"do so, so I obeyed. I didn ’t know how long the fast would last as I began. ",p:184,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"2 ",p:184,x:105,y:925,w:12,h:21},
{t:" For more on this subject see Frances M. Young, Brokenness and Blessing: ",p:184,x:126,y:925,w:466,h:21},
{t:"Towards a Biblical Spirituality (London: Darton, Longman and Todd, 2007).",p:184,x:105,y:945,w:492,h:21},
{t:"181",p:185,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"CELEBRATING VICTORIES: THE FRUIT OF FASTING",p:185,x:371,y:59,w:244,h:20},
{t:"Te temperature outside was nearing twenty degrees below zero, and ",p:185,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the fast was a killer. After the frst day my body was exceptionally cold ",p:185,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and ached all the time. I spent most evenings in a steaming bath or a ",p:185,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"warm bed. But at the end of fve days the Lord said to me, “Well done.” ",p:185,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Tat was it! No other fruit from the fast—no breakthroughs, no special ",p:185,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"anointing or knowledge. Tis was simply an act of obedience on my part. ",p:185,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I knew God was testing me, reminding me that Jesus led His dis-",p:185,x:135,y:282,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ciples into a storm (see Matthew 8:23–27) and that if He chose to do ",p:185,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"something similar to me then I should shut up and obey Him! Refecting ",p:185,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"on this fast many years later I realized that the Lord was testing me for ",p:185,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"bigger things to come, to see whether I would act faithfully on what I ",p:185,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"heard—without moaning and questioning.",p:185,x:105,y:419,w:304,h:23},
{t:"Fasting has been part of my personal journey for almost ffty years. ",p:185,x:135,y:447,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Looking back I can see that it has both helped defne the direction of my ",p:185,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"life and reinforce positive change. To talk in detail of all of these experi-",p:185,x:105,y:502,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ences would take more than a short chapter, but what I would like to do ",p:185,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is mention some of them and highlight in retrospect what they actually ",p:185,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"did to help defne who I have become and am becoming. ",p:185,x:105,y:584,w:407,h:23},
{t:"By sharing my journey I am not trying to communicate that this is ",p:185,x:135,y:612,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the way others should live. It is one of the most brutal and grueling paths ",p:185,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I can imagine, but it is also one of the most rewarding. So I am careful, ",p:185,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for instance, to avoid intimating that it is a way to get rich quick or a ",p:185,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"fast-track highway to super-sainthood. Tis is far from the case. It is a ",p:185,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"discipline, rather, that involves the whole of one’s person, and that helps ",p:185,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"defne who we are and how far we are willing to go for Christ and for ",p:185,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"our beliefs. ",p:185,x:105,y:804,w:82,h:23},
{t:"In outlining some of my battles and outcomes, then, I am not sug-",p:185,x:135,y:832,w:480,h:23},
{t:"gesting that I have in any way arrived spiritually. Far from it—just ask my ",p:185,x:105,y:859,w:514,h:23},
{t:"wife and closest friends! Instead, I mention these experiences in order to ",p:185,x:105,y:887,w:514,h:23},
{t:"identify the range of ways that fasting can be used to break glass ceilings, ",p:185,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"breach thick walls, and shake of bad times. I will begin with the most ",p:185,x:105,y:942,w:514,h:23},
{t:"182",p:186,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:186,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"common one in my life: seeking the Lord for knowledge to change an ",p:186,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"intractable situation. ",p:186,x:105,y:144,w:150,h:23},
{t:"Fasting for Spiritual Knowledge",p:186,x:203,y:198,w:314,h:26},
{t:"I have had a longstanding interest in why people fail to fnd intimacy ",p:186,x:135,y:244,w:484,h:23},
{t:"with Christ and why people get emotionally ill. Although these are not ",p:186,x:105,y:271,w:514,h:23},
{t:"automatically connected, both require personal change to resolve, and ",p:186,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"both are able to be resolved to some degree with the Lord’s help.2",p:186,x:105,y:326,w:458,h:23},
{t:"By the 1970s I had begun to see patterns in my lay pastoral work ",p:186,x:135,y:354,w:484,h:23},
{t:"with people, noting the kinds of things they needed to do in order to ",p:186,x:105,y:381,w:514,h:23},
{t:"work through deep problems in their lives. So when a person came to ",p:186,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"me for assistance I would help him or her as best I could, based on the ",p:186,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"knowledge and experience I already had. But at times I found myself ",p:186,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"unable to make suggestions for a way forward. In some of these cases I ",p:186,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"would fast for such a way. I always did this without telling the person ",p:186,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what I was doing; I merely said that I would pray about the situation and ",p:186,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"see what the Lord said. ",p:186,x:105,y:574,w:166,h:23},
{t:"Most of the time I would be seeking knowledge for others, though ",p:186,x:135,y:601,w:484,h:23},
{t:"on occasion I would need wisdom and guidance for myself. I discovered ",p:186,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that during such fasts the Lord would give me a key that would help the ",p:186,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"person forward. After I had been given His answer I would then wait ",p:186,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for the right moment to share it with the individual. I have learned ",p:186,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that having some wisdom for a person does not automatically grant ",p:186,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"permission to declare it. Communicating the knowledge to the person ",p:186,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is a separate step. ",p:186,x:105,y:794,w:128,h:23},
{t:"But when I would share my insights I would also teach the person ",p:186,x:135,y:821,w:484,h:23},
{t:"how to apply them clinically, if appropriate. I have done this many times, ",p:186,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"1 ",p:186,x:105,y:905,w:12,h:21},
{t:" For more on these two topics see my book Becoming More Human: Explor-",p:186,x:126,y:905,w:481,h:21},
{t:"ing the Interface of Spirituality, Discipleship and Terapeutic Faith Community ",p:186,x:105,y:925,w:491,h:21},
{t:"(Bletchley, Milton Keynes, UK: Paternoster, 2005).",p:186,x:105,y:945,w:328,h:21},
{t:"183",p:187,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"CELEBRATING VICTORIES: THE FRUIT OF FASTING",p:187,x:371,y:59,w:244,h:20},
{t:"helping numerous people fnd a way forward in their lives as a result. ",p:187,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Over the last forty years I have had to do this less and less as I have ",p:187,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"developed sort of a “healing IQ” in regard to the disorders in people’s ",p:187,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"lives and the way the Lord might tackle the problem. Having said that, ",p:187,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"though, each person is unique, so one should never assume that what ",p:187,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"worked for one person will also work for another. ",p:187,x:105,y:254,w:353,h:23},
{t:"An example of this type of fast occurred in 1993 when I was trying to ",p:187,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"resolve the question of the makeup of human nature. Tis was important ",p:187,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for a particular person, as I had not been unable to help him resolve ",p:187,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"an issue despite my best eforts. Tough the situation focused on this ",p:187,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"individual’s physical ill health, my instinct was that it had a spiritual root. ",p:187,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"But since I couldn ’t get specifc discernment on this, I fasted for him. ",p:187,x:105,y:419,w:491,h:23},
{t:"I had struggled for many years to try to describe human nature in a ",p:187,x:135,y:447,w:484,h:23},
{t:"biblical way, but I couldn ’t fnd a rationale with which I was comfortable. ",p:187,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Tis is what I wrote in my journal toward the end of this fast: “Did ",p:187,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a study on 1 Corinthians 11:27–34. What a dynamic passage! Never ",p:187,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"before had seen inner healing in this biblical perspective. Here we see ",p:187,x:105,y:557,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the roots of physical disorder being in the spirit. No healing without the ",p:187,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Atonement. So good of the Lord to show me new truth.”",p:187,x:105,y:612,w:402,h:23},
{t:"Tis meditation led me to the idea of the unity of body and spirit, ",p:187,x:135,y:639,w:484,h:23},
{t:"which I subsequently rediscovered in the frst three chapters of Genesis. ",p:187,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Over the following years I began to develop these concepts, seeing in ",p:187,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"them an elegantly simple Hebrew idea. Tis allowed me to avoid the ",p:187,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"minefeld of Greek bipartite or tripartite thinking and gave me a way ",p:187,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"forward to talk about a spiritual model of human makeup. I subsequently ",p:187,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"began to apply the principle that the human spirit can condition our ",p:187,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"physical makeup while our physical condition can impact our spirit. ",p:187,x:105,y:832,w:485,h:23},
{t:"184",p:188,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:188,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"Fasting as Part of Surrendering to Christ",p:188,x:160,y:117,w:400,h:26},
{t:"Some dark aspects of my nature have been confronted through fast-",p:188,x:135,y:162,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ing. For example, at one point I had resisted for several months to act ",p:188,x:105,y:189,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in obedience to the Lord because I refused to share with people what ",p:188,x:105,y:217,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the Lord had revealed to me. I knew that if I did what the Lord had ",p:188,x:105,y:244,w:514,h:23},
{t:"asked of me it would change the direction of my life. My diary records: ",p:188,x:105,y:272,w:514,h:23},
{t:"“I can only ofer all this up to the Lord, together with my old, broken, ",p:188,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"damaged body, and plead for the mercy of God for my disobedience. Is ",p:188,x:105,y:327,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it redeemable at this late hour?”",p:188,x:105,y:354,w:223,h:23},
{t:"I was in my forties at the time, and it was while I was fasting that ",p:188,x:135,y:382,w:484,h:23},
{t:"I made the decision to surrender to Christ and to act as He desired. A ",p:188,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"month later, while recovering from the fast, I did what He wished. Tis ",p:188,x:105,y:437,w:514,h:23},
{t:"period was a tipping point in my life, as it began a journey that I am still ",p:188,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"enjoying some twenty years later. ",p:188,x:105,y:492,w:237,h:23},
{t:"At several points in my walk with Christ I have had to take major ",p:188,x:135,y:519,w:484,h:23},
{t:"steps to surrender to Him. One time I had to lay down spiritual gifting ",p:188,x:105,y:547,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for several years while He schooled me. On another occasion I was un-",p:188,x:105,y:574,w:509,h:23},
{t:"able to do what He desired because of the obstruction of others. All such ",p:188,x:105,y:602,w:514,h:23},
{t:"moments were accompanied by a season of fasting as I coped with what ",p:188,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"was being asked of me. ",p:188,x:105,y:657,w:166,h:23},
{t:"As a more recent example of surrender, in 2006 the Lord invited me ",p:188,x:135,y:684,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to go and apologize to several local Christian leaders about the mistakes ",p:188,x:105,y:712,w:514,h:23},
{t:"we made in the early years of planting Christ Church. He did not tell me, ",p:188,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"but rather asked me, to do this. It was something He recommended that ",p:188,x:105,y:767,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I do. I was to do this without talking to others and only speak about it ",p:188,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in our local congregation as and when it was appropriate and after I had ",p:188,x:105,y:822,w:514,h:23},
{t:"completed the bulk of the task. ",p:188,x:105,y:849,w:224,h:23},
{t:"I visited these leaders over the course of several months. It was very ",p:188,x:135,y:877,w:484,h:23},
{t:"hard, but confession is a key part of my ministry. I have even had to get ",p:188,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"185",p:189,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"CELEBRATING VICTORIES: THE FRUIT OF FASTING",p:189,x:371,y:59,w:244,h:20},
{t:"accustomed to apologizing when I had little or no part in the original ",p:189,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"actions or the subsequent harm, which is never easy. ",p:189,x:105,y:144,w:372,h:23},
{t:"But fasting unto the Lord, in a sense, is always surrender to Christ. ",p:189,x:135,y:172,w:484,h:23},
{t:"By the very act of self-denial we are saying that we are putting Him frst, ",p:189,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that nothing else really matters. His perspective is what we choose as ",p:189,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"well. His wishes become our wishes, His death is our death, His pain is ",p:189,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"our pain. ",p:189,x:105,y:282,w:69,h:23},
{t:"I have often thought, while fasting, that it is probably the closest a ",p:189,x:135,y:309,w:484,h:23},
{t:"healthy, free person will ever come to a “living death.” Although I have ",p:189,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"had several near-death experiences in my life, it is fasting that takes me ",p:189,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to the place of connecting with the suferings of Christ. But this is the ",p:189,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"diametric opposite of one issue I have tackled through fasting: the prob-",p:189,x:105,y:419,w:509,h:23},
{t:"lem of gluttony. ",p:189,x:105,y:447,w:117,h:23},
{t:"Fasting to Break Gluttony",p:189,x:232,y:501,w:256,h:26},
{t:"On a couple of occasions I have used fasting to break personal glut-",p:189,x:135,y:546,w:480,h:23},
{t:"tony. Not that I am a compulsive glutton, but at times I have found ",p:189,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"myself in a place where the regular routine of eating has become so ",p:189,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"presumed that I believe it is no longer by grace but my right. ",p:189,x:105,y:629,w:433,h:23},
{t:"Although I would not recommend fasting as a way for everyone to ",p:189,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"break an eating habit, it has been appropriate for me. For most people ",p:189,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it is much easier to discipline their eating than to go on a fast. But in ",p:189,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"practice this may not always be as easy as it sounds. It has not been for ",p:189,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"me. Let me give you an example. ",p:189,x:105,y:766,w:236,h:23},
{t:"My wife and I were living on a beautiful lake in Starnberg, just out-",p:189,x:135,y:794,w:480,h:23},
{t:"side Munich, in southern Germany. Te Eastern Bloc of communism still ",p:189,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"existed and Mary and I were working with a mission smuggling Bibles ",p:189,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"into these closed countries. Let my journal explain: “All those breads, ",p:189,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"cheeses, cold meats, and the good company of Mary and Steve to enjoy ",p:189,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"it with every day . . . I have lost control of my eating. It’s a comfort gone ",p:189,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"186",p:190,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:190,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"too far for me. I have known for some time that I am putting on weight. ",p:190,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I have stopped doing my exercise program. I have really lost it. Tis fast ",p:190,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"is about bringing my body back under control. I must break the body’s ",p:190,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"gluttony—remind it who is in charge.”",p:190,x:105,y:199,w:274,h:23},
{t:"Bringing the body into submission in this way is a basic need for all ",p:190,x:135,y:227,w:484,h:23},
{t:"of us at one time or another. We eat more food than our bodies need, ",p:190,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"we refuse to exercise, and we eat the wrong foods for our health. Te ",p:190,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Western world has seen a dramatic rise in the number of people who ",p:190,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"are overweight. Te Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has ",p:190,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"found that 34 percent of adults aged twenty and over in the United ",p:190,x:105,y:364,w:514,h:23},
{t:"States are obese.3  ",p:190,x:105,y:392,w:131,h:23},
{t:"Going on a fast can be the frst step to changing our lifestyle. When ",p:190,x:135,y:419,w:484,h:23},
{t:"I’m fasting I try to focus on spiritual realities, which are beyond life ",p:190,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"here and the meeting of my physical needs. Human appetites can take ",p:190,x:105,y:474,w:514,h:23},
{t:"over—becoming all consuming, and becoming the end-all of our lives. ",p:190,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"We begin thinking no further than the next meal or the next beverage. ",p:190,x:105,y:529,w:514,h:23},
{t:"We become enslaved to our appetites. ",p:190,x:105,y:557,w:270,h:23},
{t:"During another fast I wrote in my journal that I no longer felt ",p:190,x:135,y:584,w:484,h:23},
{t:"“trapped in my body.” Over time I had noticed that I had become more ",p:190,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and more driven by my body’s physical appetites; my life focused around ",p:190,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"them. If we aren ’t careful, the pampering of our bodies through food ",p:190,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and drink can become the very center of our lives. At such times I have ",p:190,x:105,y:694,w:514,h:23},
{t:"needed to refocus my life on eternal things: Christ, my destiny in Him, ",p:190,x:105,y:722,w:514,h:23},
{t:"helping to hasten His return, fulflling my call, and so on. Fasting can be ",p:190,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"a useful tool in achieving this. ",p:190,x:105,y:777,w:215,h:23},
{t:"On one particular fast there was a tipping point where I was begin-",p:190,x:135,y:804,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ning to break the demands of the body’s physical needs. By fasting I ",p:190,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"2 ",p:190,x:105,y:885,w:12,h:21},
{t:" “New CDC Study Finds No Increase in Obesity Among Adults; But Levels ",p:190,x:126,y:885,w:491,h:21},
{t:"Still High,” National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Department of Health ",p:190,x:105,y:905,w:503,h:21},
{t:"and Human Services, Hyattsville, MD, November 28, 2007, http://www.cdc.",p:190,x:105,y:925,w:497,h:21},
{t:"gov/nchs/pressroom/07newsreleases/obesity.htm.",p:190,x:105,y:945,w:313,h:21},
{t:"187",p:191,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"CELEBRATING VICTORIES: THE FRUIT OF FASTING",p:191,x:371,y:59,w:244,h:20},
{t:"returned my focus toward Jesus. Knowing Christ in this way has been a ",p:191,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"longtime, conscious intent in my life, and I know when I have lost this ",p:191,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"focus. But my body has not been the only thing that has on occasion ",p:191,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"needed refocusing. At times my future has been in the balance.",p:191,x:105,y:199,w:443,h:23},
{t:"Fasting at Defining Moments",p:191,x:217,y:253,w:287,h:26},
{t:"Fasting has played a key role in helping me fnd direction and defni-",p:191,x:135,y:299,w:480,h:23},
{t:"tion. I have been aware of the link between self-denial, surrender, and a ",p:191,x:105,y:326,w:514,h:23},
{t:"change of direction in my life. ",p:191,x:105,y:354,w:217,h:23},
{t:"One time as I went into a fast I wrote in my journal, “It is going ",p:191,x:135,y:381,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to hurt. I have never done a fast in January. Well, here goes. Tis is a ",p:191,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"downhill toboggan, a wild roller coaster, a step of faith into the darkness. ",p:191,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Feels like a darkness around the Trone that I must enter and go through ",p:191,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"before I can see and meet the Lord and sit at His feet. But I fear this fast ",p:191,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for the cold, the loneliness, and the pain.”",p:191,x:105,y:519,w:295,h:23},
{t:"Tis twenty-one-day fast in the depth of winter was one of the most ",p:191,x:135,y:546,w:484,h:23},
{t:"difcult and seemingly foolhardy fasts I’ve ever done. But it was an act ",p:191,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of obedience, and it became one of the defning seasons of my life. It ",p:191,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"concluded with my moving out of London to a diferent part of England, ",p:191,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"setting up a new business, then later birthing Christ Church Deal (CCD), ",p:191,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the Rapha journey, the Life Giving Trust, and a lot of books and teaching. ",p:191,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"At times I would go into a fast knowing what would happen, ",p:191,x:135,y:711,w:484,h:23},
{t:"while at other times I would be fasting for something quite diferent ",p:191,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"when another focus would begin to emerge. On one occasion I had ",p:191,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"completed a fast before I realized what had happened, what the Lord ",p:191,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"had done in answering another prayer of mine that I had not put on ",p:191,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the original agenda. ",p:191,x:105,y:849,w:147,h:23},
{t:"I stopped another fast when I found the Lord giving me something ",p:191,x:135,y:876,w:484,h:23},
{t:"that I had not gone into the fast seeking. On this occasion the outcome ",p:191,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"188",p:192,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:192,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"was also a blessing for my wife, Mary, and my son, Christopher. Let ",p:192,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"me explain. ",p:192,x:105,y:144,w:88,h:23},
{t:"Fasting in Times of Despair",p:192,x:225,y:198,w:271,h:26},
{t:"It was 1990. I was the managing director of several successful property ",p:192,x:135,y:244,w:484,h:23},
{t:"companies based in London. But then we had the UK property crash, ",p:192,x:105,y:271,w:514,h:23},
{t:"engineered by Prime Minister Margaret Tatcher as a means of defating ",p:192,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"an infationary economy. One minute interest rates were low, the next ",p:192,x:105,y:326,w:514,h:23},
{t:"they were 17.5 percent. Within a few weeks Mary and I found ourselves ",p:192,x:105,y:354,w:514,h:23},
{t:"half a million dollars in debt. We lost everything: the businesses, our ",p:192,x:105,y:381,w:514,h:23},
{t:"hopes and dreams, and even our home. We were devastated.",p:192,x:105,y:409,w:423,h:23},
{t:"I went down to the local job center to seek dole money and a housing ",p:192,x:135,y:436,w:484,h:23},
{t:"beneft so that we could rent a place to stay, as we had no money. Before ",p:192,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"moving out of our home Mary went to bed for a week and, understand-",p:192,x:105,y:491,w:509,h:23},
{t:"ably, did not want to get up. I was so low that I contemplated taking my ",p:192,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"own life. If it were not for those I loved, I probably would have done so. ",p:192,x:105,y:546,w:513,h:23},
{t:"I was in such a rage against God and the world that I realized I was ",p:192,x:135,y:574,w:484,h:23},
{t:"capable of anything. I knew I needed to fast to make sense of the loss of ",p:192,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the last ten years of my life, which was the way I saw things at the time. ",p:192,x:105,y:629,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Let me quote my journal: “In the last few days I have found myself hating ",p:192,x:105,y:656,w:514,h:23},
{t:"people who have routines. I hate the rich. I hate those who have not been ",p:192,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"through what I have been through. I have no job, no money, no income, ",p:192,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"no security, no routines, no future, nothing to work for. I fnd such anger ",p:192,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and jealousy fowing out of me when I am alone, mostly driving. Look ",p:192,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"at all the well-appointed retirees, all those who do not have to labor for ",p:192,x:105,y:794,w:514,h:23},
{t:"nothing—to fll a purse with holes. I guess I have felt this way for some ",p:192,x:105,y:821,w:514,h:23},
{t:"time, but in the sixth day of this fast, in my weakened state, I am more ",p:192,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"able to admit it. I cannot pretend anymore. Tis did not used to be me, ",p:192,x:105,y:876,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Lord. I’ve lost it completely. God, redeem me, before my friends and the ",p:192,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"watching world . . . now. For I have no help but You.” ",p:192,x:105,y:931,w:385,h:23},
{t:"189",p:193,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"CELEBRATING VICTORIES: THE FRUIT OF FASTING",p:193,x:371,y:59,w:244,h:20},
{t:"At the end of the fast I went through a time of deep spiritual renewal. ",p:193,x:135,y:117,w:484,h:23},
{t:"Te day after I broke the fast I wrote in my journal, “At the morning ",p:193,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"worship I felt my anointing return—waves of deep passion from the ",p:193,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"heart of God for people’s healing. Te passage, sermon, and worship all ",p:193,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"ft this theme. Remarkable. I felt the Lord giving me back His Spirit for ",p:193,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the church. In your time, O Lord, in your good time.”",p:193,x:105,y:254,w:384,h:23},
{t:"I know that had I not fasted I would have been unable to recover ",p:193,x:135,y:282,w:484,h:23},
{t:"from losing all I owned. Looking back I now realize that God had me in ",p:193,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"His school of despairing brokenness, and I was unwilling to graduate the ",p:193,x:105,y:337,w:514,h:23},
{t:"way He needed me to. ",p:193,x:105,y:364,w:162,h:23},
{t:"Provision has always been a battle for me; so fasting has been my lot ",p:193,x:135,y:392,w:484,h:23},
{t:"on numerous occasions. ",p:193,x:105,y:419,w:173,h:23},
{t:"Fasting for Provision",p:193,x:257,y:473,w:206,h:26},
{t:"Some four years later, in 1994, I was fasting for provision to fnance ",p:193,x:135,y:519,w:484,h:23},
{t:"a business venture. Several of us felt this was what the Lord was going ",p:193,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to do with our lives. But things were in a bad place; we were not seeing ",p:193,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"enough money come in each month to meet our expenses. But we saw ",p:193,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"remarkable provision that allowed us to stay afoat. ",p:193,x:105,y:629,w:362,h:23},
{t:"On another occasion when I was fasting for provision I learned, on ",p:193,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the fourteenth day of the fast, that I was able to sell an apartment I owned ",p:193,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"in one of the companies. Tis released some eighty thousand dollars. We ",p:193,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"also won a Pre-Investment Feasibility Study (PIFS) contract worth about ",p:193,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"the same. A good start. Other things followed and it began to look like a ",p:193,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"formidable list of provision, so I felt able to break the fast. ",p:193,x:105,y:794,w:413,h:23},
{t:"Another time we had ordered steel for a very important fabrication ",p:193,x:135,y:821,w:484,h:23},
{t:"job, but it was delayed. When we fasted together as a team, the problem ",p:193,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"was suddenly no longer there. Te steel was delivered. ",p:193,x:105,y:876,w:384,h:23},
{t:"I have never kept a record of how much I have seen come in as ",p:193,x:135,y:904,w:484,h:23},
{t:"a result of fasting, but it has certainly been hundreds of thousands of ",p:193,x:105,y:931,w:514,h:23},
{t:"190",p:194,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:194,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"dollars for the businesses and the Lord. Having said that, though, this ",p:194,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"has never been a magic formula. In fact, I would call it “blood money”: ",p:194,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"money earned by Christ’s blood, my own, and sometimes that of others. ",p:194,x:105,y:172,w:514,h:23},
{t:"So please do not see fasting as a get-rich-quick formula. ",p:194,x:105,y:199,w:395,h:23},
{t:"For me, one of the golden rules in seeking the Lord for this kind of ",p:194,x:135,y:227,w:484,h:23},
{t:"provision is that He is already afrming through others that this is right, ",p:194,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"that He is waiting on our obedience to honor us. It is never wise to fast ",p:194,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"for provision unless God has frst taken the initiative to invite you to do ",p:194,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"so, together with the confrmation of others.",p:194,x:105,y:337,w:313,h:23},
{t:"Fasting for Renewal or Resolution",p:194,x:193,y:391,w:335,h:26},
{t:"Te fast that brought about the signifcant fnancial provision through ",p:194,x:135,y:436,w:484,h:23},
{t:"the sale of the apartment and the PIFS contract was also undertaken for ",p:194,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"another reason. It was a fast for provision, but it also had a much more ",p:194,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"personal aspect to it. As I wrote in my journal, “I am at a total and utter ",p:194,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"end of myself. I cannot ever recall feeling this way before. I need to break ",p:194,x:105,y:546,w:514,h:23},
{t:"this fast. I have had headaches for several weeks. I feel I want to lie down ",p:194,x:105,y:574,w:514,h:23},
{t:"somewhere and die. Can God really mean that all His promises, hopes, ",p:194,x:105,y:601,w:514,h:23},
{t:"and plans should end like this?”",p:194,x:105,y:629,w:224,h:23},
{t:"Tis was another one of those times of absolute despair. In writing ",p:194,x:135,y:656,w:484,h:23},
{t:"this book I found myself back there, struggling with the devastating ",p:194,x:105,y:684,w:514,h:23},
{t:"exhaustion and confusion. I was in such a dark place after believing I was ",p:194,x:105,y:711,w:514,h:23},
{t:"following Christ in these business ventures. I had wrongly assumed they ",p:194,x:105,y:739,w:514,h:23},
{t:"would succeed. Yes, Christ was in the ventures, but I had to learn that He ",p:194,x:105,y:766,w:514,h:23},
{t:"had very diferent purposes than those I had assumed.",p:194,x:105,y:794,w:380,h:23},
{t:"Tis was one of those instances when I gently moved out of the dark-",p:194,x:135,y:821,w:480,h:23},
{t:"ness during the fast. I was able to allow the Lord to heal my spirit by His ",p:194,x:105,y:849,w:514,h:23},
{t:"having to bear up my body while I fasted. It may sound like a contradic-",p:194,x:105,y:876,w:509,h:23},
{t:"tion, but in some of my fasts, like this one, my spirit grew stronger as my ",p:194,x:105,y:904,w:514,h:23},
{t:"191",p:195,x:595,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"CELEBRATING VICTORIES: THE FRUIT OF FASTING",p:195,x:371,y:59,w:244,h:20},
{t:"body grew weaker. Tis strength did not necessarily bring with it a sense ",p:195,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of God’s presence, but it brought a sense of His strength. ",p:195,x:105,y:144,w:405,h:23},
{t:"Also, by not eating I was able to focus on what was really impor-",p:195,x:135,y:172,w:480,h:23},
{t:"tant—Christ and my calling. Fasting took me back to basics. I was able ",p:195,x:105,y:199,w:514,h:23},
{t:"to remind myself of what was really important, what was eternal, and ",p:195,x:105,y:227,w:514,h:23},
{t:"what I could let go of, at least for a season. Te tyranny of the tiredness ",p:195,x:105,y:254,w:514,h:23},
{t:"was able to fall away as I focused again on Christ. I could give all these ",p:195,x:105,y:282,w:514,h:23},
{t:"other things to Him because in my weak and fragile state I could carry ",p:195,x:105,y:309,w:514,h:23},
{t:"none of it. ",p:195,x:105,y:337,w:78,h:23},
{t:"Te other outcome of this fast, as in others, was that when I began ",p:195,x:135,y:364,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to break the fast and focus again on Christ and my future I was quickly ",p:195,x:105,y:392,w:514,h:23},
{t:"strengthened in body. All the problems with which I went into the fast ",p:195,x:105,y:419,w:514,h:23},
{t:"were beginning to break free. But it was also a time of renewal of focus ",p:195,x:105,y:447,w:514,h:23},
{t:"on Christ and His purposes rather than so much on immediate circum-",p:195,x:105,y:474,w:509,h:23},
{t:"stances. In short, it set me again on my destiny, not the seductive alluring ",p:195,x:105,y:502,w:514,h:23},
{t:"of the drive to “succeed”—even if I believed I was succeeding for Jesus! ",p:195,x:105,y:529,w:503,h:23},
{t:"While the goal of some of my fasts has simply been to see the exhaus-",p:195,x:135,y:557,w:480,h:23},
{t:"tion and tyranny of life broken so that I could refocus my life, the clear ",p:195,x:105,y:584,w:514,h:23},
{t:"purpose of other fasts has been to stand with Christ in order to see Him ",p:195,x:105,y:612,w:514,h:23},
{t:"step into a situation and resolve it. Most of us, at one time or another, ",p:195,x:105,y:639,w:514,h:23},
{t:"will need such resolution in our lives, and fasting can help this happen. ",p:195,x:105,y:667,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Let me illustrate. ",p:195,x:105,y:694,w:124,h:23},
{t:"We wanted to plant a church on the Downham Estate in Lewisham, ",p:195,x:135,y:722,w:484,h:23},
{t:"in southeast London. It was a large housing estate that had very little ",p:195,x:105,y:749,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Christian witness at the time. We needed a building in which to meet. ",p:195,x:105,y:777,w:514,h:23},
{t:"We sensed that only Christ could resolve this. So we prayer-walked the ",p:195,x:105,y:804,w:514,h:23},
{t:"streets and also held a fast, inviting the Lord to step in. He did: a local ",p:195,x:105,y:832,w:514,h:23},
{t:"school welcomed us after initially saying no. ",p:195,x:105,y:859,w:315,h:23},
{t:"We were, in a sense, taking the ground for the Lord and beginning ",p:195,x:135,y:887,w:484,h:23},
{t:"to raise a standard for Him. Tis was a corporate act, as a number of us ",p:195,x:105,y:914,w:514,h:23},
{t:"192",p:196,x:105,y:1010,w:20,h:20},
{t:"THE FASTING JOURNEY",p:196,x:105,y:59,w:112,h:20},
{t:"stood together in this. It is so good when you have a sense that the Lord is ",p:196,x:105,y:117,w:514,h:23},
{t:"going before you and things are happening the way you feel they should. ",p:196,x:105,y:144,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Discovering My Life Destiny",p:196,x:219,y:198,w:282,h:26},
{t:"I have been a follower of Christ since the early 1960s. I have lived ",p:196,x:135,y:244,w:484,h:23},
{t:"a full and active life in Christian service and in the business world. ",p:196,x:105,y:271,w:514,h:23},
{t:"Although I don ’t see these two roles as distinct or mutually exclusive, I ",p:196,x:105,y:299,w:514,h:23},
{t:"am aware that many people do. ",p:196,x:105,y:326,w:226,h:23},
{t:"I have done a lot in my lifetime, including earning, losing, or giving ",p:196,x:135,y:354,w:484,h:23},
{t:"away a lot of money—channeling signifcant amounts into missions, ",p:196,x:105,y:381,w:514,h:23},
{t:"especially church planting. I have also visited over seventy countries ",p:196,x:105,y:409,w:514,h:23},
{t:"around the world, preaching on every continent except South America. ",p:196,x:105,y:436,w:514,h:23},
{t:"I have felt the pleasure of the Lord on all of this. But that was just my ",p:196,x:105,y:464,w:514,h:23},
{t:"apprenticeship. He has been keeping me occupied while making other ",p:196,x:105,y:491,w:514,h:23},
{t:"plans for me. What I thought was the end purpose for my calling was ",p:196,x:105,y:519,w:514,h:23},
{t:"merely kindergarten. ",p:196,x:105,y:546,w:151,h:23},
{t:"When I was still in my teens I was given a prophetic word that I have ",p:196,x:135,y:574,w:484,h:23},
{t:"never forgotten: “Remember, Peter, it takes ffty years for a young oak ",p:196,x:105,y:601,w:514