Now I know these four things might sound really silly to some, but if you have ever been on a long fast you will say “YES” and “AMEN” to what I am about to say! 
Learning from experience, here are four things I try to avoid while on a fast ….
1. Crowds, Crowds and more crowds. I find it very disturbing being in the midst of a lot of people during a long fast or any type of fast for that matter - unless they too are fasting! The conversations, noises, questions, and intensity of inter acting can all be overwhelming – consuming all your energy. In order to stay focused, at peace and single-minded, it is important to seclude yourself to a quiet place (if at all possible!).
It is in this posture where I can hear my name being “whispered”!
2. Cookbooks and lots of them! Now I know you probably are saying “C’mon Kelly… for real”? Yes for real. Cookbooks and lots of them. While living in Malaysia, a few of my girlfriends and I went on a weekend fast together. We didn’t pack food but we did take lots of cookbooks with us. Wasn’t such a great idea as all it did was make our mouths water, tummy’s rumble and create a huge temptation for us to want to break fast!! Finally we did have to say enough is enough and put the cookbooks down so we could focus on prayer and the whole purpose of why we came together to begin with! But just in case you are wondering… here are a few of my favorite raw recipe books and a yummy bRAWnie recipe too!
3. Ignoring my emotions! We spend enough time burying, hiding, feeding and totally ignoring our true emotions. For me I just shut off my emotions and stay busy with life. I have discovered that fasting is a perfect time to allow the Holy Spirit to probe deep into my heart – revealing the real me. Just as my body experiences a physical healing during a cleanse so do my emotions – they have a voice but will we listen?
4. Breaking fast with PIZZA! I know I know… it was silly of me and believe me I will not be tempted to do it again! It’s just that it “smelled” so good and besides all I really ate were just a few bites. But those few bites were all it took. All I have to do now is remind myself of how sick I got that night! Since that 3 day fast I have come to realize that it is much harder to discipline myself coming off a fast then it is to stay on one. Now when I come off a fast, I break it with juices, then fruits and then on into smooshed steamed veggies and I do it very S-L-O-W-L-Y.
I would love to hear what you have learned to avoid while fasting. (and no… avoiding fasting all together is not an option!)
Drop me a line and let’s learn together.
Bless you
Kelly 
