Commit to Fasting: Renew your Mind, Body and Spirit Essay Example

practiced together, detoxification and weight loss are also closely associated with fasting. Just like sick or injured animals seek a quiet place to rest and drink only water until they recover, Christians believe that fasting and prayer can lead to transformation through the Holy Spirit.

In a biblical fast, the purpose is not to lose weight but to deepen one's connection with God. The fast should be approached with humility and joyfulness. The passage from Matthew 6:16-18 advises against appearing somber like the hypocrites who intentionally alter their appearance to show others they are fasting. Instead, it suggests anointing one's head with oil and washing the face, so that the fasting is not apparent to others but only to God, who sees everything done in secret and rewards accordingly.

By dedicating time for scripture and contemplation through prayer, individuals are reminded that shifting their focus away from worldly matters makes it easier to carry out the fasting taught by Christ. The Holy Bible recognizes the potential benefits of fasting but emphasizes that Christians have the freedom to choose whether or not to participate. In the book of Acts, it is mentioned that believers practiced fasting before making important decisions. It is important to note that fasting does not only involve temporary food deprivation; anything given up in order to strengthen one's relationship and reliance on God is considered acceptable.

The objective is not to punish the body nor is it to change God or bargain for personal gain and favors. The desired outcome for spiritual fasting is to demonstrate to ourselves and to God the seriousness of getting closer and fostering a stronger

relationship with Him. In a hypertext version of The Essene Gospel of Peace, Jesus confirms, "I tell you truly, even so did Satan enter your bodies which are the habitation of God. And he took in his power all that he wished to steal: your breath, your blood, your bone, your flesh, your bowels, your eyes, and your ears."

While fasting and praying, you have managed to summon the lord of your body and his angels. Pray with confidence, knowing that God is invested in your revival (Johnson 73). When I relinquished control to Him, He took charge of every aspect of my life (Johnson 74). The main reason for participating in a spiritual fast is the aspiration to achieve something that is inherently unattainable. Health issues like high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, and other illnesses often serve as motivation for people to start a detox fast.

According to Steve Meyerowitz's book "Juice Fasting and Detoxification," fasting is a commonly used method in alternative medicine for healing various ailments. However, it is not typically encouraged in Western medicine. Longer fasts are necessary for deep cellular repair, elimination, and rejuvenation, especially for chronic conditions such as arthritis, asthma, arteriosclerosis, ulcers, psoriasis, tumors,hay fever,hives,migraines,rheumatism, obesity,and high blood pressure. Despite the severity of these issues,it is possible to undergo a fast for 30 days or more to achieve healing.

Many individuals are willing to abstain from food for 75 or even 100 days in order to experience the rejuvenating effects of long-term fasting. These detoxification and healing fasts usually span an extended period and involve three chemical phases. During the first stage, the body goes

through pH level changes in the stomach, leading to contraction and cleansing of the digestive tract. This phase is when noticeable weight loss occurs as minerals, vitamins, sodium, water, and potassium are removed from the system.

During the second phase, physical symptoms like headaches, hunger, excessive perspiration, and light-headedness may occur as the liver eliminates chemicals and toxins from the body. This elimination process can result in trembling, muscle aches, diarrhea, exhaustion, nausea, and shortness of breath as poisons are expelled through the bloodstream. It's as if the body is actively combating impurities that were recently consumed. In phase three of the cleansing process, deep tissue cleansing commences where toxins in the blood are eliminated and cellular waste is flushed out through the kidneys.

During this phase, you may experience many symptoms from the first two phases along with bursts of energy. As detoxification and regeneration occur, a sense of well-being gradually takes over. Fasting acts as a "spring cleaning" for the body, healing, boosting energy, and prolonging life. Moreover, fasting is an efficient method for losing weight and overcoming food addictions. It yields visible and rapid results and is especially advantageous in conquering cravings for sweets, coffee, alcohol, smoking, and other detrimental habits.

Despite the availability of various weight loss options such as diet plans, pills, and exercise videos, it is surprising to discover that a significant proportion of Americans are overweight, obese, or severely overweight according to the National Health and Examination Survey in 2008.

By assisting in the malfunctioning of digestion and/or metabolism, fasting fundamentally helps with obesity. The thyroid controls metabolism, while the adrenals regulate sodium reabsorption from the

kidneys, leading to water retention. In addition, the pancreas plays a role in fat and carbohydrate digestion. Fasting alleviates the burden on the ductless glands and reduces pressure on the heart (Myewrowitz 98). Even in optimal conditions, the average person's body struggles to digest the excessive amounts of fat, protein, and sugar consumed (Serurer 25).

It is true that individuals are born with predetermined genes, but fasting presents an opportunity for some individuals to reset patterns and overcome obesity. While weight loss is frequently the main motivation for fasting, a hunger strike, or political fast, serves as a powerful tool for bringing about social change. The success of a hunger strike is contingent upon the gravity of the issue. Hunger strikers often face death as they take personal responsibility and show willingness to sacrifice for the problem at hand.