Important Note: Please do not attempt a fast without first consulting your physician.

How should we prepare ourselves for a 5-day fast?

1. Several days before the start of your fast you should begin to cut out caffeine drinks (i.e., tea, coffee, soft drinks, etc). These should not be used during your fast. If you don't wean yourself off of them but decide to go ‘cold turkey’ you will most likely experience a pretty good caffeine withdrawal headache about the second day into the fast.
2. Don't gorge yourself on food the day before thinking that will help you. It will only stretch your stomach and make you more hungry the first day or so of your fast.
3. A day or two before your fast you should start cutting back on your food intake, especially when it comes to things like carbohydrates and heavy foods like meat.
4. Purge your house of all the foods you really crave to safeguard against needless temptation.
5. Remember that just as Jesus encountered satanic oppression and attacks, so will we. So prepare yourself mentally and spiritually.

Some advocate eating nothing but fruit the day before a 5-day fast. This ensures that the last meal in the bowel is fruit, which is less putrefactive than other foods like steak.

Some tips to follow while you're fasting

1. Avoid chewing gum during the fast. It stimulates digestive enzymes and will cause you to be hungry.
2. You may notice body odor and bad breath. Both are normal effects of the detoxification process. Just take extra care washing up and keeping your teeth brushed.
3. Get plenty of rest and refrain from heavy exercise while you're fasting-walking is fine.
4. Drink plenty of water-cold and/or hot.
5. There will be times when the temptation to eat might seem overpowering. If that happens step outside and get some fresh air. Take a walk and pray. A mile or two walk while you're praying will really give you fresh strength.
6. Refrain from sexual activity. (See 1 Cor.7:5)

How to break a longer fast

It cannot be stressed enough; You should never break a fast of three days or longer with a big meal. The longer the fast the more care has to be taken in how you break it.

• When you fast for longer periods of time your digestive system shuts down and goes into ‘sleep mode’. It must be awakened slowly and carefully.
• People have experienced everything from stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and even death by eating a heavy meal after a long fast.
• Break a 5-day fast with fruit and vegetable juices.
• Gradually return to regular eating with several small snacks during the first few days.
• Start with a little soup and fresh fruit such as watermelon and cantaloupe.
• Advance to a few tablespoons of solid foods such as raw vegetables or a salad.
• Your stomach is smaller now, so eat lightly. Stop before you feel full. Stay away from starches like pastas, potatoes, rice, or bread (except for "Melba toast") for a couple of days. Also avoid meats, dairy products, and any fats or oils for a couple of days. Introduce them very slowly and in small amounts.

Further, if you end your fast gradually, the beneficial physical and spiritual effects will linger for days. But if you rush into solid foods, you may lose much of your deep sense of peace and the presence of God while experiencing physical problems such as diarrhea, sickness, fainting, and frankly even death in some cases, due to shock!