Summary: <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/westside-christian-fellowship/id386117063">If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes.</a><a style="line-height: 1.5em;" href="%22http://westsidechristianfellowship.org/WP/wp-content/uploads/Audio/3_14_18_Fasting_Forum_Pt3.mp3</a"><br><br> </a><a class="twitter-share-button" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><br> <a style="line-height: 1.5em;" href="%22http://westsidechristianfellowship.org/WP/wp-content/uploads/Audio/3_14_18_Fasting_Forum_Pt3.mp3</a"></a><br><br> Complete Sermon Notes<br> Fasting Forum Part 3 – My Fasting Experience<br> <br> <br> Many people think that I have always focused on health and that I don’t struggle. Not so. Although my mother did a great job promoting health, once I left the home, my early years were marked with alcohol abuse, junk food, and neglect of my body—a cinnamon roll and coffee was breakfast and fast food was dinner. My past may someday catch up with me.<br> <br> Twenty-two Days Of Mountains And Valleys<br> <br> Recall my earlier analogy: The desire to seek God is greater than the desire to eat.<br> <br> Week One: I began with a very clean, low-calorie diet for three days followed by water fasting for four days. Unfortunately, I hung onto my morning coffee habit because I was tired and sluggish. I hoped that God would bless my fast even though I wasn’t willing to give up my favorite addiction.<br> <br> Try to get adequate sunlight, fresh air, and open ventilation when possible. Also, be sensitive to what you are putting on your skin in regard to hair products, deodorant, and lotion.<br> <br> I didn’t see many improvements, but my voice became hoarse and sores formed in my mouth. I simply viewed this as detox. On day six, I found myself worshipping God more.<br> <br> Week Two: My weight dropped about 6 pounds. An increasingly painful toothache caused me to resume eating for a few days. My right knee and other joints started to feel better, but a deep pain came first. Before the body heals it often hurts.<br> <br> Many Christians are surprised that they are not on a constant spiritual high while fasting. Deprivation of food, especially things that we’ve been addicted to, often leads to body aches and pains as well as bad moods and weariness.<br> <br> Don’t gauge fasting success by feelings alone. God often rewards later in the fast, or after the fast, versus during the onset of the fast (there are exceptions).<br> <br> Week Three: My weight dropped another 8 pounds after the third week concluded. The first few days were very tough. My toothache turned into a nightmare.<br> <br> I’m not against antibiotics, but they should be the last resort not the first. The word actually means “against life.” They wipe out all bad bacteria, as well as good bacteria, but they will not always fix the main cause of the infection. By the end of the week, the pain was gone, although I don’t know what the future holds.<br> <br> During this 3rd week, I had water only, and finally kicked the coffee habit right before the week began. Sleep was deep and I wasn’t very hungry. I could have definitely eaten, but the feeling wasn’t strong.<br> <br> Remember, fasting is not starving. Hunger does not keep increasing every day. This is another myth that keeps countless people from fasting.<br> <br> <br> <br> Some say that you should stay busy, others say rest.<br> <br> <br> <br> Through my studies, I found that vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes are often stored in the body for seasons of fasting.<br> <br> This was the case in 1973 when a twenty-seven year-old male water fasted for 382 days under the supervision of the Scotland University. His weight dropped from 456 lbs. to 180 lbs.<br> <br> At one point in the fast,
