How To End A Spiritual Fast

I'm proud of you for sticking it out until the end. I've had a few messages from fasters who have struggled and considered giving up. But God reminded them that they were running a marathon, not a sprint, and that even if they fell, they could get back up and race to the finish line. And now you've arrived! We're only a couple hours away from crossing the finish line! Let's get this party started!

How to End Your Fast Physically

If you've been fasting for 21 days, be cautious about how you reintroduce food into your system. Most people who are generally healthy should be able to resume normal eating after a twenty-one-day fast in about a week.

However, there is a period of adjustment. This is due to two things that have occurred in the digestive system as a result of a prolonged fast.

• The stomach has been decreasing over time. The stomach's capacity for food by the end of the fast is nothing like it was at the start. Even the tiniest quantity of food can fill you up.
• The organs in the body that normally assist with digestion have taken a break. It's as though the organs have gone into a profound sleep, which has gotten deeper as the fast has gone on.

Allow time for your stomach to restore to normal size and your digestive organs to fully “wake up.”

Some foods are better than others for breaking a fast. Fruit or vegetable juices, preferably freshly squeezed or juiced, are the finest way to break a long fast. Citrus fruits are thought to be the best. If you live in an area where citrus fruits are imported, however, this is not the ideal option because they are frequently picked unripe, and the juice can be overly acidic. Watermelon juice, as well as tomato, grape, or apple juice, is delicious.

Start with a little amount and dilute as needed. The first day, drink it every two to three hours. Gradually increase the amount, and you'll soon be able to eat the fruit. Milk can be consumed at this point. It would be beneficial to have milk in the form of yogurt with fruit.

Return to regular eating after a few days, with many small snacks in between. Begin with a small bowl of soup and some fresh fruit, such as watermelon or cantaloupe. Start with a few tablespoons of solid meals like raw fruits and vegetables, a raw salad, or a baked potato.

At this time, you can add fresh salads (no dressing), vegetable soups (no fat), and cooked vegetables, starting with a modest amount of anything new and gradually increasing.

After that, a little piece of toasted bread with a small slice of butter could be included, but no cakes, pastries, or cookies. At this point, starchy foods are not recommended. Protein should be introduced initially, in the form of cheese or eggs (or Greek yogurt), followed by fish and meat.

Slow down and eat thoroughly. Before swallowing, chew your food well so that it is reduced to liquid. Stop eating as soon as you feel full.

During the period of reintroducing food to your system, try to get as much rest as possible. It will allow your body to focus on digestion and absorption. Avoid becoming overly active too soon.

How to End Your Fast Spiritually

Although you may be able to unwind physically, do not unwind spiritually! You simply cannot afford it. Your adversary, the devil, stalks you like a raging lion out for prey (1 Peter 5:8-9). You must maintain vigilance and alertness. The “thief” will be on the lookout for the closer relationship with Christ you've developed during your fast.

Your spiritual ears have most likely gotten more sensitive to the Holy Spirit's voice as you've fasted and surrendered your flesh to the Spirit. As a result, you're far more sensitive to even the tiniest act of disobedience and sin in your life…possibly even something you used to do on a daily basis that pained Him and quenched His presence. Satan will now attempt to persuade you to feed your flesh once more. He'll try to draw you back into regions of disobedience and unyieldingness by clogging your spiritual hearing. Oh, don't worry, it'll be subtle. It won't even appear to be happening. After all, if eating returns to normal, why not the rest of your life? Take care! Be on the lookout! Make a conscious effort! Be self-disciplined, soldier. Keep your prayer time and pursuit of God disciplined. Keep your surrender and fast obedience to the Lord disciplined.

How Do You Plan to Keep Fasting a Part of Your Lifestyle?

I'm so delighted you decided to join Pursuit 21 and commit to the life-changing philosophy of fasting! Please keep in mind, however, that a single fast is not a spiritual panacea. We need new moments of fasting just as we need new infillings of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. Consider fasting for 24 hours once a week or the first two days of the month. I encourage you to pray about it now and make a commitment to making fasting a regular part of your life. It will be difficult to make this decision after you return to your former eating habits. Now is the time to pray about it, while the spiritual advantages of fasting are still fresh in your mind and spirit. Put it in your calendar when God directs you to what your regular fasting commitment should be, just like you would a work meeting, a spouse's anniversary, or, women, your hair appointment. When something is written on your schedule, it is a commitment that must be honored, not a contingency that may be canceled.

If You Feel You Failed

Building your fasting muscles takes time. Don't get discouraged if you didn't make it through the first fast. You may simply have been overly enthusiastic and taken on more than you could handle when it came to choosing an extreme fast for your first time out. (Start with a Daniel fast or a partial fast.) Then, on your next fast, go for a one-day full fast. After that, you might want to go on a three-day fast. God will guide you and provide you with the resources you need to succeed. Please don't give up!) It's also possible that you'll need to bolster your determination. Start another quick as soon as possible till you succeed. Maybe if it's only for a day — or even a week. Your faithfulness will be rewarded by God.

Your Testimony

Are you pleased you didn't eat for a while? If so, what's the reasoning behind it? What are some of the advantages you've already reaped? I'd appreciate it if you could tell me about your experience. (Please share in the comments section or on the fasting testimony page.) I understand that not all of the consequences of a fast will be noticeable right away. Many advantages will be realized throughout the year this year, next year, and in the years to come. If your fasts are anything like mine, though, something in your spirit has already changed as a result of them. Something in the normal man had malfunctioned. And for some, God has already answered their prayers!

Your fasting testimony will inspire me, but it will also glorify God and encourage others who are fasting and praying in their own seasons.

First, A Note of Thanks

Thank you for allowing me the honor of accompanying you during this season of fasting. Praying for you and your needs on a regular basis has been a beautiful blessing.

Thank you also for your kind comments of praise and encouragement. You may not realize it, but you helped me when I needed it the most.

Some have also prayed for me in a comment or written me a mail expressing their concern. Thank you very much! Shades of Grace and I are in desperate need of your prayers. Pray for a constant rise in my appetite for God and His Word. Please pray for ministry funding and my health as well. Thank you very much!

From Isaiah 58, the Faster's Chapter:

“6 Isn't this the kind of fasting I've chosen: to untie the cords of the yoke and release the chains of injustice, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to shelter the poor wanderer — to clothe the naked and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood when you see him?

“8 Then your light will shine like the morning, and your healing will appear rapidly; then your righteousness will go ahead of you, and the Lord's glory will be your rearguard.” 9 Then you'll call, and the Lord will answer; you'll beg for assistance, and he'll declare, “Here I am.”

“If you throw off the yoke of tyranny, the pointing finger, and the spiteful discourse, 10 and expend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”

“11 The Lord will always lead you; he will provide for your necessities in a sun-baked area and strengthen your structure. You'll be like a well-watered garden or a spring that never runs dry.

“12 Your people will reconstruct the ancient ruins and restore the age-old foundations; you will be known as the Repairer of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Dwelling Streets.”

Prayer:

Thank you, Father, for the blood of Jesus that paid for our salvation. Thank you for allowing us to fast for the sake of fun rather than to “earn” something. We don't have to do anything to earn our salvation because of the immaculate Lamb and His blood spilt for us! We didn't need to fast in order to punish ourselves and gain a reward from You. We, on the other hand, have the privilege of fasting in order to feast on You! Oh, my God! We are invited to just dine – to come to the table and feast, with no cost or obligation other than to accept your free gift of grace.

We had a great time with You over the past twenty-one days! Now, please help us resume eating without jeopardizing our relationship with You. Without sacrificing a single ounce of our sensitivity or obedience to Your Spirit.

Father, you are aware of our reasons for fasting. May our prayers be heard by the Almighty. Hear from heaven and be resurrected spiritually, given a breakthrough, saved loved ones, healed bodies, provided financially, rescued businesses, given anointing and provision for ministries, restored marriages, given wisdom and direction, loosed bonds of wickedness, undo heavy burdens, set the oppressed free, and broken every yoke of slavery!

Lord, You promised that our light would break forth like the dawn when we began the chosen fast, and Your splendor would be our rear guard. Our bleak night of befuddlement would turn into a bright day. So, Father, I claim wisdom and direction as plain as the noonday sun for those who are fasting for direction. I claim your grandeur and presence as their very protection for those praying for protection for loved ones.

Over every home represented in this fast, I speak blessings, anointing, and the authority of Your Holy Spirit. “Your people will restore the ancient ruins and will lift up the age-old foundations,” Isaiah 58:12 says as we approach Your chosen fast.

Lord, repair families and relationships that are in ruins and devastation! The implications of the phrases in this text are brimming with possibilities for families. “Rebuilding ancient ruins” entails the following:

The word “up” in the statement “You will raise up a foundation for many generations” means:

• to establish, to last, to be fixed, to be proven, to erect, to raise, to excite, to stir up, to station

“To found, to be settled, to ordain” is the notion behind the word “foundation.”

May Your tried stone in Zion, a priceless cornerstone, be our sure foundation… for our families, our companies, our ministries, our jobs, and every step we take this year.

Father, in the same passage, You promise to provide our needs in times of drought and to build our frame. You will make us like a well-watered garden, like a fountain with never-failing waters, even now. Some of us are physically exhausted, spiritually depleted, and financially drained in comparison to past years. Lord, make us resemble a well-kept garden! Like a spring that never runs dry.

But, as much as we want our needs supplied and our prayers answered, Father, we want YOU! With Your presence, fill us – please us. Every day, Holy Spirit, breathe new life into the Word. Give us an unquenchable thirst for Jesus. Assist us in remaining in quiet prayer before the throne. Baptize us in Your holiness's fire! Break our hearts because of what you've done to ours. May the things that please You also please us. For then…we will have our heart's wishes.

Fall, Holy Spirit! My brother will be the one to suffer. My sister will be the one to suffer. Refresh your breath on us. Rekindle the fire like a tremendous wind! Come glorify the Son in us today, tomorrow, next month, and for the rest of the year! Through our lives, we can demonstrate the Savior to the rest of the world! We wish to bring Your Truth to a lost and dying world through Your Might.

How do you end a spiritual prayer?

When it comes to concluding a prayer, Christians might do so in a variety of ways. I investigated the most prevalent ways to conclude prayer, as well as why they are utilized and how important they are.

How can Christians put an end to their prayers? You'll probably hear an amen at the end of a Christian prayer. “All God's people said” or “In Jesus' name,” some Christians say at the end of their prayer.

Your agreement and earnestness are expressed in the prayers' finishes. You can utilize any of these eleven prayer ends.

How long should you fast for spiritual?

Fasting duration is also determined by personal inclination and ability. Fasting for long periods of time is not possible for certain people due to health issues. Others may fast for several days at a time. Remember, the purpose of fasting is to strengthen your relationship with God. It is not a question of how many days or how long one can fast. Fasting is a very personal experience with the Lord. As a result, there's no need to compare how long you've been fasting to how long others have been fasting.

Before you start fasting, I urge that you pray and ask the Lord how long you should fast for. If you're new to fasting, I recommend beginning with one meal or one day. You can continue for extended lengths of time after you are more conscious of and familiar with the topic. You may decide after the first day that you want to continue for a longer period of time. Keep track of how your body feels if this is the case. You may feel lightheaded and weak if your body isn't used to fasting. Once your body has become accustomed to fasting, you will be able to fast for extended periods of time without experiencing these symptoms.

The length of your fast is also determined by what you're fasting from. You should not fast for longer than two or three days if you are fasting both food and drink. Furthermore, if you are only fasting from food, you can fast for extended periods of time. Some people will abstain from eating and drinking, but will sip juice to stay energized.

Types of Fasting

Abstaining from social media, entertainment, sex, sweet meals, or a variety of other things is another type of fasting. You can fast for substantially longer lengths of time if you choose to fast from the following items. This is due to the fact that these fasts have no negative impact on your health. In fact, they may help you live a healthier life. Fasting from these foods for prolonged lengths of time is something I suggest.

If you're married, make sure you have an agreement on sex abstinence with your partner. “Do not deprive each other except by mutual permission and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer,” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 7:5. Then get back together so Satan can't tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

What to say to break a fast?

Iftar is one of Ramadan's religious observances, and it is generally done as a community, with Muslim individuals coming together to break their fast. The meal is served shortly after the call to Maghrib prayer, which takes place around sundown. Three dates are traditionally eaten to break the fast in remembrance of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, who did so, but this is not required. Many Muslims think that feeding someone iftar as a form of charity is extremely fulfilling, and that Muhammad did so.

Allahuma inni laka sumtu wa' bika aamantu wa' aalaika tawakkaltu wa' ala rizqika aftartu – Allahuma inni laka sumtu wa' bika aamantu wa' aalaika tawakkaltu wa' ala rizqika aftartu “Thank you, Allah! I fasted for you because I trust you and believe in you, and I break my fast with your food.”

In an account of her travels in Stamboul written in 1836, Miss Pardoe mentions a Turkish iftar she attended:

The chamber was a perfect square, completely barren except for a carpet in the center of the floor, on which stood a two-foot-high wooden frame supporting an enormous round plated platter with the edge slightly raised. A large white basin sat in the center of the tray, filled with a cold bread soup; around it, a circle of small porcelain saucers held sliced cheese, anchovies, caviare, and various sweetmeats; among these were scattered spoons of box-wood and goblets of pink and white sherbet, whose rose-scented contents perfumed the apartment. The tray's outside range was covered with torn-apart unleavened bread and chunks of Ramazan cake, a dry, close, sickly paste coated with egg whites and strewn with aniseeds.”

The supper was served by slaves “black, white, and gray” as the guests sat on couches around the dish with linen napkins, eating fish with rice from a shared pot, according to Pardoe. This procedure is “made less disgusting than it would otherwise be, by the fact that each individual is meticulous,” according to Pardoe. For the iftar, nineteen courses were presented, including meats, birds and fish, custards and desserts, and a pyramid-shaped stack of pilaf as the last course. Sweets were served before salty dishes, and stews were offered before custards, according to Ottoman custom. Following the lunch, they were greeted by “a lovely old massaljhe, a type of storyteller who would attend ladies' social gatherings to provide entertainment for the visitors. The guests were served Turkish coffee as the massaljhe smoked “scented cannabis” pipes. The family's father and sons joined the guests for coffee and cigarettes, and brought gifts of nuts, sweetmeats, and cakes for the harem's women, as was customary.

How do you break a one day fast?

There are numerous methods to safely break a fast, according to Chelsey Amer, a registered dietitian nutritionist:

• Drink water: This is especially vital if you haven't been able to do so during your fast.
• Eat a little meal after a fast: Eating a substantial meal right after a fast can put a burden on your digestive system.
• Eat prepared foods instead of raw: Cooked vegetables are simpler to digest than raw vegetables.
• Experimenting with different foods after a fast can make digestion more difficult and make a person sick.

How do you break a 24 hour fast?

Here are my recommendations on the most effective approach to break a fast:

• Drink plenty of water (particularly if you've been fasting for more than 24 hours, as is frequent during religious fasts).

How do you end a letter spiritually?

Sign a letter as usual, but after your signature, put a favorite Bible verse. Psalm 136:1 is a good example of a brief and encouraging verse. “Give thanks to God, because he is good. His love is unbreakable.”

In your own words, express your Christian delight. A sign-off doesn't have to be long and stunning. Peace and joy,” “Thoughts, hugs, and prayers,” and “Wishing God's best for you” are just a few examples of informal Christian blessings you can send before signing your letter to a friend.

How do you pray a closing prayer?

Ending with a prayer, whether at the end of a church service or a group gathering, is a terrific opportunity to ask God to inspire and protect you as you depart. Here are some fantastic church meeting closing prayers that may be readily changed for a number of scenarios.

We wish to express our gratitude to you, Lord Jesus, for the amazing service we received today. May we put what we've learned into practice so that we can grow more like Christ and bear more fruit for the kingdom. Allow everything we do to be in accordance with your instructions. As we leave this area, be with us and offer us serenity in our hearts. We believe and pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

As we leave this location, Heavenly Father, please lead us securely to our destination.

Assist us in submitting and relying solely on you.

Give us the confidence to follow your lead by directing our pathways. Please assist us in obeying what you've taught us through your servant. This week, may we prosper in all areas and be firmly anchored in your love. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

We've reached the end of our meeting, and we'd like to express our gratitude to you.

We just want to thank you, Lord, for being with us from the beginning to the conclusion.

Help us to hear your voice and follow you wherever you are leading us this week, Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

Father, may we walk in accordance with the word preached to us today so that we may be a light to the world.

Give us discernment so that we don't fall for a stranger's voice. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

We wish to express our gratitude to you, Father, for the gift of life. Thank you for being with us, Lord. You declare that where two or three are assembled in your name, you are present. Thank you for our church and the individuals you've placed in charge of it. Thank you for allowing us to come here to hear your message. Even as we depart from this location to our various journeys, may grace and peace be upon us. Allow all we've learnt to grow fruit in our life so that men may see your light and praise you as the genuine living God. We believe and pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Thank you for your faithfulness to us, Holy Lord. Many of us had troubled hearts when we arrived, but all of our fears and problems were washed away. We want to express our gratitude to you since it is through your word that we have found the freedom that we have been seeking all week. As we leave this church, may we continue to walk in peace that beyond all comprehension. Assist us in focusing on you and your word rather than the things of this world that make us sad and nervous. Father, forgive us for allowing the enemy to use every means possible to steal your message from our hearts, and enable us to surrender a hundredfold, sixtyfold, and thirtyfold. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Today, Lord Jesus, you have revealed the things of the Kingdom to us.

Show us how to put what we've learnt in this service into practice in our everyday lives.

For the glory of your name, help us to make sensible decisions throughout the week.

May we be able to sort through what we've learnt and walk in your footsteps.

Give us wisdom that leads to love and faith, Father.

We believe and pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

As we conclude today's meeting and return to our homes, we ask you to keep an eye on us.

You have given angels charge over us, Father, to guard us in all our ways, according to your word. As we depart this location, we are confident that nothing will harm us in any way. Keep an eye on the words your servant has placed in our hearts, Father. Allow your message to take root in our lives and generate benefits and beautiful things. Assist us in walking in your love and listening to your promptings. We believe and pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Thank you, Lord God Almighty, for the time we've spent here.

We've sang, prayed, and listened to the scriptures.

We don't take these services for granted, Lord, since we know that Christians are being persecuted in various parts of the world right now.

We've had a great experience, and we'd like to thank you for making this area so happy and peaceful.

We ask you, Lord, to walk with us wherever we go as we end this gathering.

So that we do not sin against you, please help us to keep your word in our hearts. Amen, we pray, in Jesus' name.

Thank you, Almighty God, for granting us excellent health and allowing us to come to this location to glorify your name.

Thank you for your words of comfort, which we always appreciate.

We are not returning home the same way we came because our hearts are overflowing with hope and contentment.

We came with various burdens, but we are leaving with relaxed spirits.

As we return to our homes, please continue to rest in you.

Assist us in avoiding things that take our peace and joy. We believe and pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Thank you, Lord, for exposing to us your unconditional love via your word.

Thank you for allowing us to share this love with you today.

Open our eyes to notice marvelous things in the word that the speaker has presented as we move about the remainder of the day and week.

Those who have come here with broken hearts should go when they have been revitalized and repaired.

Assist us in continuing to live and walk according to your word rather than what we see.

Father, please enable us to focus on our Lord and Savior Jesus rather than on unimportant matters.

Amen, we pray, trusting and believing in you.