Top of the week to you Rose Buddy! As we know, it is the beginning of the year. Usually, around this time most of us start to embark on new habits that will develop a more structured routine than the last year. Some go on diets, strive to wake up and go to bed earlier. Others want more financial discipline and for the Christian community we tend to start the new year off with fasting and praying. Now, some shy away from it because they do not want it to be a robotic thing that they do and that is fine. However, I find it very fitting to start the year with intentional obedience and sacrifice. It sets the tone for the year and honestly will help with everything I mentioned if we are doing it correctly. The Bible teaches us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and all other things will be added to us.

What it did not say was just seek Him when you feel like it, but first! So how imperative it would be to seek Him through fasting and praying at the beginning of our year, right? Now, this is not to shame those who have not chosen to do so. Again, it is a heart thing and if our hearts are not in it then we need to ask God to search our hearts and clean it as David. God was always after our hearts because once He has that obedience and sacrifice will follow. This is not to say that it will be outrageously easy, but our hearts will desire what God desires for us once we invite Him in to clean it.

Which brings me to my first point, to have the right heart when fasting praying. Again, this is not a robotic routine, but an intimate one. We get to seek God on a level the world cannot fathom. Thinking of how much it would take to talk to the King of England and all the barriers that come with it. When we can have free and easy access as children of God to commune with the King of kings! Moreover, we are in deeper connection with Him through our obedience and sacrifice of certain food and drink. My next point is to not beat yourself up if you break your fast. It can be tempting to live in this world while fasting and praying. The office parties, to holiday leftovers, can leave anyone feeling enticed to eat what they shouldn’t. Go to God when you break fast. He knows what you will do before you do. He wants to comfort you and help you finish strong! When I broke fast before, I felt so embarrassed like the angels in heaven were laughing at me. God’s Love encompassed me to try again. Honestly, the food was not even worth it. After eating it, I did not feel as full as I thought I would. Additionally. my stomach was not ready to eat it due to its current state of fasting.

If we are honest, half of the time we are not as hungry as we believe. Oftentimes, it is psychological. Our brains are used to eating certain foods throughout our day. So, when it is deprived it triggers us to go to that comfort restaurant or buy that ice cream at the grocery store because that was the usual routine. It makes us feel good, but this is a sacred time to let God fill us and comfort us more than food. God has given us dominion over our bodies through faith in Christ Jesus. No longer being a slave to what our flesh desires, but yielding to the will of God. This revelation excites me every time because I have the authority to tell my mind to think differently and my actions will follow suit. Also, I would suggest to tell someone you trust when you are tempted. Let it be someone who can truly speak The Word and encouragement over you. Last thing we need is to feel guilt or ridiculed during a moment of weakness. An additional pair of spiritual eyes will help us to endure because as the Bible teaches two is better than one. If they happen to fast with you, that is even better! I am a living witness of outside prayers helping me in moments I know I could have chosen to give up and I would advise the same for you all.

The next tip is to prepare before you fast and pray. It would not be the brightest idea to eat junk food and every meat known to man right before the fast. Weaning ourselves off of certain food to ease into it will help tremendously. I’d say at least a week to prepare the mind and body to go into a food deficit. Then, look in the pantry and see if there is anything that would be too tempting to keep in the house. If you can bare it, then great! If it is too enticing then throw it out! Food will always be here, but our time with God should be taken seriously and we cannot trust ourselves that much. Especially, when we know what our weaknesses are relating to food. My last tip, but certainly not least, would be to keep it about God. I know this ties in with the first tip but I cannot emphasize enough about sticking to the true reason. Otherwise, our fast and prayer is in vain. This is a dear and intimate time with God that He delights in beyond comprehension. Honoring the sacrifice Jesus made by sacrificing our time, food, drink, and bodies to Him is a huge I love You, back to God. Yes, there are additional natural benefits to fasting but it goes back to that scripture about seeking God’s kingdom first. Once we do that, all other things will be added. Added means it was included after the main thing was established. Seeking the additions before the foundation happens from time to time, but this is why we have to cling to God’s Truth, stay in prayer, and ask God to search our hearts every day. Doing a good thing with the wrong heart is worse than not doing the good thing at all.

Okay friends, we have reached the end of my fasting tips. I pray that this year will be a year of deeper connection with God for everyone. That our hearts are set a blaze for His Kingdom and that the world will see our good works and magnify God in heaven in Jesus Name, Amen! Until next time, Peace!