ESSENTIALS OF FASTING PRACTICES IN THE C&S CHURCH. TYPES, CONDITIONS, BENEFITS AND CAUTIONS.

SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMEMT HINGES ON ONES ABILITY TO FAST AND PRAY. WE HAVE DIFFERENT SHADES OF FASTING. THE REASON WE FAST IS USUALLY BECAUSE WE WANT TO COME CLOSE TO GOD. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ASK GOD TO INTERVENE IN OUR ISSUES AND OUR EXPECTATION IS JE ANSWERS OR PRAYER IN EARNEST. WE FAST IN DIFFERENT KINDS OF WAYS AS OUR CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY CAN CARRY US. NORMAL FAST 6PM TO 6PM THE FOLLOWING DAY. USUALLY AT LENTEN PERIOD WHICH IS ALMOST OBLIGATORY. SPECIAL FASTING TO ASK FOR GODS FAVOUR. THAT WE DO WITHOUT SWEETNERS, SALT, PEPPERS AND CONDIMENTS. WE CAN TAKE INSTEAD COCONUTS AND PROCESSED CASSAVA OR WHAT WE CALL GARRI FOOD IN WEST AFRICA. WITH WATER IF WE INTEND TO BREAK OUR FAST AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY. MY EXPERIENCE ON THIS SPECIAL TYPE OF FAST IS WITH ANY SIGN OF UNUSSUAL DISCOMFORT I NOTICE I WILL IMMEDIATELY STOP THE FAST. WE DO SPECIAL TO ENLEAVEN OUR SOUL AND SOBRIETY WITH GOD WITH THE EXPECTATION OF GOD ANSWERING OUR IN EARNEST. THE THIRD TYPE OF FASTING IS THE ELONGATED ONE USUALLY TO CHANGE OUR FORTUNES. NO MATTER HOW BAD ONES FORTUNES MAY HAVE BEEN ACCORDING TO OUR BELIEFS IN PREDESTINATION WITH THIS TYPE OF FAST WE CAN CHANGE IT. THIS FAST TAKE BETWEEN 1- 21 DAYS. I HAVE NEVER PUT MYSELF UNDER THIS TYPE OF SPIRITUAL FASTING. BUT EXPERIENCED ATTEST TO THE FACT IT IS ALWAYS VERY DIFFICULT IN THE FIRST FIVE DAYS TO SEVEN DAYS. THAT IF CAN SCALE THE DAYS HURDLE ONE CAN TAKE TO MORE THAN TWENTY DAYS AS THE CASE MAY. THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE OF FASTING IS TO ABSTAIN FROM THINGS UNGODLY THINGS VULGAR AND THE LIKES. IT IS GOOD TO COMBINE FASTINGS WITH PRAYERS AND SUPPLICATIONS. TO PUT ONES SOUL GEARED TOWARDS THE HEAVENS IN TOTAL SOBRIETY. DEVOTIONAL READING OF THE BIBLE REFLEXING AND REFLECTING ON NARRATIVES OF THE BIBLE. THERE ARE PORTIONS OF PSALMS OF DAVID THAT IS GOOD TO READ DURING FASTING.