WAYS ON HOW TO FAST AND PRAY

Fasting and praying is an age old religious tradition where faithful are encouraged to forego food or certain food stuff for a specific duration in a day or for a several days. In Christian context, Jesus taught regular fasting coupled with prayers as a way of fortifying Christians and bringing them close to God (Mt. 6:16-17, 9:15). Biblically, the recommended fasting period is Forty days although a believer can fast and pray for between two or three days, depending on his/her prayer need.
The benefits of fasting and praying cannot be underestimated. Believers who spare time to fast and pray not only become close to God; they also have their prayers and wishes answered as they glorify God. This is in addition to fortifying their spirituality in their religious path. Benefits of fasting are not limited to spirituality; fasting also benefits the body a great deal. Physically, fasting allows various body organs including kidneys to detoxify.
Although spiritually and physically beneficial, fasting and praying calls for consideration of various factors that inform on how to fast and pray safely. One, there are groups of people who should not engage in fasting as doing so can easily endanger the health. These groups include children, pregnant women, lactating mothers and individuals diagnosed with medical conditions that can be worsened by fasting.
Healthy individuals who intend to fast need to plan carefully before embarking on doing so. Top on their mind should be why they must fast. Fasting and praying requires one to have a clear reason necessitating the need to fast and pray. It is only after ascertaining the reason that one can formulate a way or ways on how to fast and pray safely. Other important considerations one is also obligated to determine prior to fasting include duration of fast and preparation to fast.
One needs to prepare his/her body well before embarking on fasting and praying. Such preparation is very important to avoid incidences of constipation during and soon after the fasting period. In this regard, one needs to start eating such food stuff as raw vegetables or juice, fresh fruits or juice and oatmeal among other food stuff several days prior to start date. It is also important for one to start eating meals in small amounts while avoiding high fat and sugary foods. Drinking sufficient clean water is also very important as part of preparation.
Just in the same way that preparation to fast and pray is important, breaking fast equally important. Breaking of fast should be gradual even after the end of fasting period. One needs to start eating light meals that can be digested easily. One should also continue eating fresh vegetables and juices. Doing so is one effective way on how to fast and pray safely without subjecting the body to health risks.