Notes on...by Soli
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Observations on extended Prayer and Fasting

The Spiritual

  1. Hyper-focus on the spiritual. Not that the trials aren’t still there, but they’re not a focus. 
  2. You see Yahweh in everything. I mean everything. 
  3. Doubt and fear reduces significantly. Not that they won’t pop up their ugly heads, but they don’t overwhelm as much.
  4. There is a level of peace that almost seems unnatural.
  5. Thankful for everything. Everything. 
  6. Deeper understanding of who Yahweh is and his personal, individual relationship with me: he doesn’t use the same yardstick for everyone. 
  7. You go to great pains not to let anyone know you are fasting. But it’s difficult when living with someone/others. 

 

The Physical

  1. Sleep. This is twofold. In the beginning, there is so much energy that sleep is elusive. By day four or five, sleep comes easily and for a longer period of time. 
  2. Skin looks awesome. My skin always looked decent, but now it looks 100 times better. Almost airbrushed. 
  3. I still sweat. But usually sweat after a while smells (well) sweaty. This doesn’t happen now. (Lol. Got to the point where I would smell my arm just to make sure that this observation was true). Discovered this one by accident.
  4. You physically can’t eat as much as you used to without feeling sick. (My fast was a twenty-one day fast. One small meal between 6am and 9am).
  5. You don’t go to the bathroom as much. Not much going in to come out.
  6. After an extended period (more than two days) on just water, your mouth is super sore, even if what you eat after the fast is super soft.
  7. You feel cold easily.

 

The Painful

One Word: Gas. Not the type they put in cars or use to light a fire. But it’s just as dangerous.

No one mentions how much this affects you during an extended fast (fifteen to forty days type of fast). Now there are some fasts that are during a specific time period. For instance fasting between 6am to 6pm, even though it is for an extended time, it does not affect you as much. But if an extended water only fast, chances are no matter what you do, gas will accumulate in the body. It is also possibly what enables the lack of hunger feeling that comes by day four to six. Now, these are my thoughts and not a scientific study.

While you may feel bloated and knowing that it’s not because of food (because what food?), it’s tempting to ignore the feeling, but I think that is the best time to treat it because a couple days to weeks after breaking the fast, the pain of accumulated gas will hit and it takes a while and some assistance for it to go. What to do then?

While Fasting:
  1. At times consume hot water (if on a full water fast), several times a day. it helps to prevent too much gas from accumulating in the first place.
  2. Massage the stomach in the direction of the intestinal flow – daily.
  3. Heat compress on the stomach area.
  4. If not on a full water fast, drink hot tea whenever able to or during the eating window).
Breaking the Fast:
  1. Eat (sigh), not eat. Drink fruit juices (diluted) to break the fast.
  2. Fruits also on the third or fourth day after.
  3. Essentially break the fast slowly (and drink tea)
After the Fast:

What happens if the gas still gathered in one place causing a displacement and subsequent pain? See a doctor (in all seriousness, if the pain is debilitating, go to the doctor). But there are also possible home treatments that can help.

  1. Massage the area that the pain is manifested. This is not a gentle, sweet, spa day massage. Of course, don’t damage yourself. But it would hurt as the gas pocket is being moved. But it will start to break up and escape the body. It’s possible you will feel nauseous too. People may want to say that you’re feeling nauseous because your body wants a cleanser (Caribbean people nah) – perish the thought. You just ended an extended fast, trust me, your body is cleansed.
  2. Tea. Preferably what we call “bush tea” but what stores call “herbal tea.” but since it’s mainly “bush” I pick from my back yard, Imma call it bush tea. Thyme, Bayleaf, peppermint. Orange peel tea and garlic tea (well these aren’t picked from my backyard). The orange peel should be dried and a couple drops of bitters added to the tea.
  3. Heat compress on the area of greatest pain.
  4. Exercise. as much as physically possible though full range of motion may be limited.
  5. Charcoal tablets. Not even sure why this helps, but it does.
  6. This is listed last, not because it’s not important, but because it’s the most important. Should be done throughout the fasting period and continued after. Pray. On your knees. On your bed. Wherever. Pray. Cry. Cry out loud and let the Lord know that after taking you through the fast, he needs to further sustain you by removing the gas. Don’t take it for granted that he knows you are in pain (He does know, but don’t take it for granted). He will help.

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