Get Ready to Grow

In my last article, I shared that I would let you all know how the Lord prepared me for my first real fast. To be effective, preparation is key. Here are the 5 steps I took to get started:

1. Pray.

I’d known for a while now that God was calling me to a fast. I always pushed it to the back burner because food has always helped me to cope. I wasn’t ready to give it up.

In the weeks leading up to my fast, I began to pray and ask God to prepare my heart, mind, and body for the fast. This is how I wrapped my mind around it. I would also pray at length specifying what I wanted the Lord to do in me through the fast, and hearing what He had in store for me as well. Some people fast for their purpose, healing, or guidance.  It’s ok to have more than one focus area.

I believe that praying ahead of time about the fast and my intentions for fasting made me even more excited about the fasting journey. The anxiety I previously had about letting go of food left, and I couldn’t wait to hear from the Lord and receive all He had for me.

2. Find correlating scriptures.

If you are fasting about healing, then write down healing scriptures that you can study and meditate on during your fast. This is very important. It’s so much easier to have everything at hand during the fast rather than trying to find go-to verses while you’re in the middle of the fast.

With all the changes you will go through, you need the process to run as smooth as possible. Scriptures are also a motivational tool. At my job, for instance, I posted sticky notes around my area for encouragement and reminders.

3. Plan.

Unfortunately, most of us can’t get away to a secluded island to fast and commune with God. I’m a single parent working full-time. Meal planning was vital for me – I was fasting, not my daughter. I had to go grocery shopping ahead of time and make sure that during my fast I had everything we needed. Had there been any unexpected inconveniences with our meals, I may have given up and put off fasting even longer.

Also, God told me to fast for 7 days. Ask God how long you should fast as well as what you should sacrifice. Some of you may not have an issue with food like me. Perhaps you’re a vegan saint, but you need to fast from Scandal, Empire, or the NFL network. Maybe God will have you fast from technology or social media.

However you fast, it’s between you and God – so let Him lead you. Plan out as much as you can because any hiccups will seem magnified and you don’t need any unnecessary stress during this time.

4. Eliminate distractions.

What are the distractions? Doing things you don’t need to do. Yes, checking social media counts! Talking with girlfriends, leisure group outings – cut these out and take your time of consecration seriously. This is another reason why planning is important. You may not want to fast if it’s going to be a busy month for your family. Find time to dedicate all spare time to seeking the Lord in prayer and meditating on the Word. Obviously, you have to work, cook, and do housework – but just be mindful. Handle your responsibilities and then get right back to God.

5. Pre-fast (Optional) 

Since I knew fasting was going to be particularly hard for me, I started fasting one day a week to prepare myself for the real thing. Mind you, this is my first real fast where God told Jeannette to fast – it was personal. I was doing this for me, and my next level depended on it. I had to be ready and a little practice helped.

How Did I Fast?

God took me on a 7-day Daniel fast. All I ate was fruit and veggies and it was an amazing experience. One of the things that stood out the most to me during this fast was that I could literally feel the duality of spirit and flesh. I honestly felt like a spirit inside of a body when I ordinarily feel like a body that has a spirit. There were times when my body felt fatigued because of the drastic diet change. But my spirit, which is the real me, never felt better! I felt very aware and my senses were heightened. It was as if my entire body was breathing and able to take in oxygen – not just my lungs.

Another difference I noticed was that it was very easy to get before God. What I mean by that is, sometimes you have to have total quiet or worship music playing, or you have to be home and settled to get into His secret place. Not when fasting! You could be in a burning building and have such a serenity and calm about you – nothing can move you from Jesus’ feet! It is so beautiful to experience that. The level of peace is unreal.

I also had prophetic dreams which I documented in my journal. Please get a journal if you don’t already have one – write down everything God speaks or shows to you.

Now, as wonderful as all of this was for me, I do have a couple warnings:

Hydrate. Before, during, and after. Just drink water even when you’re not thirsty. The first three days of my fast, I had the worst headache of my entire life! I don’t wish that on anyone! Drinking water will help your body eliminate toxins from all the bad food (and bad emotions) you may be dealing with.

Prepare for attacks! The devil does not want you to get delivered, Team. When you begin to step into the supernatural, the devil will be right there to do everything in his power to hinder you – especially after your fast – so be prayerful. You already have the victory through Jesus Christ.

So, what’s the play call?

If you believe God has called you to fast, give yourself plenty of time to prepare.

Have a focus and be purposeful. During your fast, seek the Lord for specific things and write down what He reveals to you.

“Be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour”. 1 Peter 5:8