Divine Healing Made Simple: Simplifying the supernatural to make healing & miracles a part of your everyday life (The Kingdom of God Made Simple Book 1) (28 page)

There are a wide range of metabolic changes and emotional experiences people have when fasting. The benefits include a heightened spiritual awareness and relaxation of the body, mind, and emotions. During fasting, the blood and lymphatic systems are detoxified. Toxins from the colon, kidneys, bladder, lungs, sinuses, and skin can also be removed by the body.

The decreased consumption of calories during fasting has significant effects on the body. Because of the lack of glucose consumed, the liver converts stored glycogen into glucose which supplies energy for the body. The brain and the central nervous system have a high demand for glucose. When stored glycogen is used up, they must get it either from the breakdown of proteins or fatty acids. The body is resistant to breaking down proteins, so fatty acids are converted into ketones, and they become the primary source of energy. The build up of ketones in the blood can be a problem and it may be averted by drinking fruit juice, which will provide carbohydrates for energy and cellular function.

Short-term, intermittent fasting has become a widely accepted way to rid the body of toxins. Short-term fasts (48 hours or less) can usually be done without medical supervision. For longer fasts, doctors typically recommend a physical examination and they may suggest monitoring of biochemical changes. Thousands of website testimonials cover the success stories of people who have fasted.

Fasting does have hazards you should be aware of. Side effects can include weakness, headaches, nausea, and muscle aches. Everyone responds to fasting differently. While one individual may become sick immediately after beginning a fast, another person may feel energized and renewed. There are rare side effects that can occur during long term fasting. These side effects include a drop in blood pressure, a persistent cold, and emotional distress. If these symptoms persist, the fast should be stopped. A prolonged fast can lead to anemia, impairment of liver function, kidney stones, mineral imbalances, ketosis and other undesirable side effects. Deaths due to prolonged fasting have occurred, though they are not common.

I have had about as many failures as I’ve had victories in the area of fasting. But with every fall, I learned something about myself and about God, and I haven’t regretted any of it. Fasting is a very personal thing. Your experiences will be different from mine. My assignments, my gifts and my calling are different from yours. What you get out of fasting will depend on what God has called you to do.

I first tried fasting years ago during a difficult time of my life. I felt like I needed to hear God’s voice during a time of testing and trials. My first fast was for one day. It didn’t seem that difficult. Since then, I’ve talked with friends who felt like they were going to die trying to go one day without eating. Everyone is different. I may have had an advantage. I had been working 24-hour shifts as a paramedic for about 20 years. I’ve often been so busy responding to calls that I didn’t have time to eat. My mind may have received prior training that helped me with the discipline of fasting.

My second fast was for three days. That was more difficult, but I made it, drinking only water. The hardest part was ignoring my stomach, which grumbled continually. At the end of the third day, I did feel slightly less earth-bound, and I began to sense God’s voice a little more clearly. A week or so after this I fasted for six days, eating no food, drinking only water and some juice. As I progressed further into the time of fasting, God’s voice became easier to discern and the tug and pull of the cares of the world grew faint. After three days, the sensation of hunger left. Resisting the urge to eat on days four, five and six was easy. I spent time alone on day six, asking things of God and listening for answers. When I was satisfied that I had all the information I needed, I began eating again. Most people notice their hunger sensations dissipate during the first three days of fasting.

I didn’t fast again for a couple of years. I didn’t feel a need for it, but God did. He tried in different ways to alert me to the need for fasting, but I was unaware of it. He finally got my attention and I began once again, gradually working my way up to longer periods of fasting. That’s one of the points I’d like to suggest. Begin with a reachable goal and after you succeed – go a little longer the next time. I found that doubling the length of time was a reasonable goal for me. I began at one day, then three, then six, then 12. The longest I’ve fasted so far is 19 days.

I prefer to fast without eating any type of solid food and generally just drink water. That’s just my personal preference. I have a friend who did a 21-day “Daniel Fast” which is similar to a vegetarian diet. (Information about this fast is readily available online and in books.) He had great results and began having visions and powerful dreams during and after the time of fasting. My wife prefers to make a vegetable broth when she fasts. Some people skip one meal a day on a certain day of the week and others fast the entire day. If you work long hours, you might want to fast at work and eat at home. If you feel weak or dizzy while fasting, check your blood sugar. If you have diabetes, liver problems or other health issues, consult your doctor before fasting.

I’d like to suggest a few things about listening to God. Be very aware of what He is saying during this time, and be obedient to whatever He asks of you. Drawing closer to God should always be the focus of fasting. Several times while I was fasting, God gave me instructions and I tried to dismiss it as the enemy talking to me.

After feeling like I should take a few mineral supplements to prevent leg cramps, God told me to stop taking them. I didn’t listen. So He gave me a dream about buying mango, pineapple and orange juice at a store. In the dream, the worship leader, Paul Baloche was working behind the counter. This told me the dream was from God. I stopped taking the supplements and bought juice the next day and never had leg cramps. God has told me to stop fasting before the time I chose to stop. Naturally, I rebuked the evil spirit, and continued on my holy quest. Eventually, God spoke loudly enough to convince me that I was just being disobedient.

Matt Sorger has given some good advice on fasting: “Don’t forget to pray – otherwise it’s just a diet.” I was guilty of ignoring God completely while fasting for 5 days. I was busy doing other things. During that fast I never spent more than a few minutes at a time thinking about God or seeking His instruction. It was a waste of time, except that I learned to pursue God more diligently the next time. God can tell you when it’s time to fast, so ask Him. He gave me a dream about fasting, which I’ll share:

In the dream, I was preparing for a trip. I created a special pillow made of memory foam. I added another pillow inside the pillowcase. I was telling some friends about it. I also had a water bottle with a removable panel that had two parts to it. Another guy had the same bottle. In the dream, we were washing the bottles. I was explaining to him how to clean the bottle thoroughly. Finally, I was in front of a mirror and I noticed I had really flat abs – no spare tire at all, and I was very tan.

There were four things in this dream that spoke about fasting:

1. The water bottle speaks of fasting, because I carry one with me when I fast.

2. The “memory foam” pillow speaks of fasting because God increases revelation through dreams when I fast. “Memory foam” refers to committing my dreams to memory by journaling them.

3. Flat abs speaks of fasting because I lose one to two pounds a day while fasting and my abdominal muscles become more prominent.

4. Going on a trip symbolizes the spiritual journey we take while fasting.

Weight loss is inevitable when you fast. How much you’ll lose depends on your metabolism, activity and method of fasting. I’ll warn you – the weight you lose during fasting is even easier to put back on afterward, unless you make it a routine or alter your lifestyle following the time of fasting.

If you’re single, fasting can be done independently as often as you choose, with little regard for the needs of others. If you’re part of a family that has a routine of eating meals together, having one person who doesn’t eat
can
be a problem. Discuss your plans for fasting with your family and come to an understanding before starting. Having your spouse join you in fasting may be a good option.

I’ll close with this final story. The time that I fasted for 19 days was an incredible experience. After 12 days, I began to hear God’s voice very clearly. After 18 days I heard Him constantly. All day long, wherever I went, God was speaking to me as clearly as anyone else. I didn’t hear an audible voice, but it was a clearly discernible inner voice. I had the most amazing dreams and I began to have visions every time I closed my eyes. He gave me a private Bible study from a couple of different chapters. The first was from Genesis. He spoke about how before the fall, He and Adam had a relationship like I was experiencing during the time I fasted. He told me that this was how our relationship was intended to be from the beginning. He went on to explain that it was my choice to enter into this experience, and I could go as deep in it as I wanted to. There were many other things He told me that morning.

I am not a physician. This chapter is not intended to be used in place of medical advice from a doctor. I would encourage you to research fasting on your own to see if it’s for you. Please consult your doctor before you consider fasting.

S
OME OF US STRUGGLE WITH
sharing testimonies about healing. While most of us want to share our stories about the work of God that we witness, many of us fear being filled with pride or we fear being put on a pedestal by others. I’ve wrestled with these problems, too. When God suggested that I would work miracles through His power, I was both excited and a little fearful. The thrill of seeing the awesome power of God at work is no small thing. But I’ve lived with constant fear of being taken captive by pride or being exalted by people as some kind of spiritual guru they should follow after.

Four years ago while arguing with myself about whether or not to start a blog about healing, I woke up several mornings in a row at 4:20. I thought perhaps God was trying to send me a message, but I didn’t know what it was. The third time it happened I decided to ask Him if He was waking me up at this exact time every day for a purpose.

I sensed His suggestion to look for the answer in the book of Acts. In chapter four, verse twenty, (4:20) I found this:

“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

I took this as confirmation that I should move forward. I began a blog about healing, despite the fact that I’d never seen anyone healed yet. Authoring the blog helped me learn about healing and share information with others. In watching other people operate in healing and hearing their testimonies, I began to believe I might be able to do it, too. One of my goals was to share with as many people as possible what God was doing. But I wasn’t reaching many people. What’s the point of writing if you have no readers? I considered using social networking and decided to create a Facebook profile. Within a few months, the blog had ten times more readers, but it created a more visible, public profile and that’s been a source of concern for me.

In getting the testimonies out I’ve been plagued with worries about pride. I sometimes wonder if my attempts to gain readers might really be a veiled attempt to gain popularity and acceptance. There is an ever-present question lurking in the back of my mind: “Am I really bringing glory to God, or am I doing this for myself?”

Testimonies are a part of training and equipping the Church. Those who don’t yet have faith for healing can be encouraged by watching successful healers at work and by hearing their testimonies. I found someone whose testimonies greatly encouraged me and I devoured everything I could find that showed him in operation. The more I studied his teaching, the more I developed boldness in approaching strangers on the street. His name is Todd White and his testimonies have been a great inspiration for me. Hearing the testimonies of others also gives hope to those who need healing. If we never share the miracles of God, why would anyone expect to be healed?

There are many ways in which people share their testimonies. Some use video, some do it by status updates on Facebook, some have blogs, some write books, and others share their stories in person. There doesn’t seem to be one way that is best. They’re all effective. In sharing healing testimonies some healers display true humility and meekness, while others seem to be filled with pride. I recently read a confession from a man who had a successful healing ministry. He publicly admitted to exaggerating and falsifying healing testimonies. Although he’d seen many legitimate miracles, he disqualified his valid testimonies with false ones. Some people excel in giving glory to God while others appear to be building their own fan clubs. And some people do a marvelous job of presenting the simple truth of God’s power and love without a lot of baggage.

I have a few problems sharing testimonies of the things I’ve witnessed. The battle I have with pride is one problem and privacy is another. I work in medicine and I pray for my patients. Health care laws restrict what can be shared without the consent of my patients. If I were to post a video or photo of a patient, I could get in trouble. My freedom to share testimonies is somewhat restricted, but God still wants me to testify. He gave me a dream to illustrate this point.

In the dream I was going from place to place recording the testimonies of the different things God had done. I took statements from people who were healed or who witnessed some other work of God. In some cases I had seen them healed and in others I didn’t. Most of the testimonies involved healing, but not all. I felt a very strong sense of purpose in the dream. This wasn’t something I did for myself, it was important to God and I knew these testimonies would last into eternity.