Hi! Welcome to Episode 4. Whatever Platform you have utilized to access this podcast, I ask that you please SUBSCRIBE!!
These are my Notes that guide my verbal discussion. Feel free to read them.  Keep in mind, sometimes when I'm talking, I get off track, but overtime God will fix all that. I'm not too worried about it.  I know I will improve with time. Thank you for visiting my podcast channel. Please download the episode and subscribe!   Thank you!

When I think of spiritual hygiene, I think of daily practices one would do to remain fresh and Clean.... spiritually. (smile). Let's discuss physical Hygiene for a second, every day when you wake up, what do you do? You brush your teeth, comb your hair, wash your face and body, and prep yourself for the day ahead, right? At night you likely have a very similar routine; you brush your teeth, wash away the day, and change into fresh clothes before climbing into bed. All of these things are important when it comes to keeping up with your overall health and wellness. Spiritual hygiene is no different and should become a consistent routine of "things" you do daily. Spiritual hygiene practices may include setting what I call "spiritual goals" whether that be memorizing a scripture for the day and then meditating on that scripture all day or any of the following:

1. Self-accountability. It's when you hold yourself accountable for your thoughts, words and actions, apologize to those who you need to and repent to God. This is a daily practice, and this is something you should practice doing all day throughout the day.

2. Reading bible daily

3. Praying daily and several times throughout the day

What do you pray about daily? -- God what do you want me to see today, I pray I have the right mindset throughout the day to see where you would like to use me. I pray I have an encounter that would glorify your name. Give me strength to walk in peace and truth and courage. Lord help me see the opportunities today where I could show Gods Love

4. Daily devotional. - if you did one devotion per day for 365 days, do you think you would have a closer relationship with God? of Course!

The overall benefit of having a spiritually hygienic routine is an intimate relationship with God. I also believe spiritual hygiene practices brings you closer to discovering your purpose.  To know God is to know yourself because God is in you. The development of knowing who you are, will come when you start looking for God.

Matthew 6:33 says Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.
The closer you get to God, the better you’re going to understand yourself. That’s because God is your Creator. The more you understand your Creator, the more you understand yourself because you are his creation.

_____________________________________________________FASTING___________________________________________________________________
Fasting: traditionally, biblically fasting is about removing food intake. Fasting is a practice found throughout the scriptures and is a voluntary total abstinence from food for a set time for the purpose of devoting oneself to seeking God. Fasting denies our flesh what it wants so that we can focus more clearly on strengthening our spirit. (The same holy spirit that resides in each of us must be individually strengthened).    Now days people fast from food for a certain number of hours per day and others fast from food for days at a time. I believe both are acceptable. In 2022, the distractions are so large/vast, its likely one would fast from more than just food.
Fasting is about sacrificing the things you enjoy, to focus on the "one on one" time with God. So for folks of 2022,  removing food, alcohol, cigarettes, cigars, tv, social media, sex, porn, all that is ok and acceptable.   (some of which we shouldn't be doing at all ANYWAY!)   We are offering our alertness to God during times where we would otherwise be eating, sleeping, shopping, watching TV, or on social media for example.
So if you are thinking about doing a spiritual fast, please examine what sacrifices you would make and come to an agreement with God about it.
Some people, during their fast, even sacrifice sleep if sleep is a serious past time.  For example,  one way to sacrifice sleep would be to wake up earlier than normal to provide time to praise and worship God in the morning. Literally get up an hour early and just listen to Christian Music.
_________________________Jesus Fasted to prepare himself for His 3-year ministry _________________________________________________
Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and was repeatedly tempted by Satan, when Jesus was tempted, he used the word of God, not his own strength, to defeat those temptations.  This is a perfect example of how fasting can strengthen us spiritually when we use it to draw closer to God.
Before you fast you should know what you are trying to get out of the fast. Here are a few common reasons for fasting:
1. Deliverance from something (it could be from an addition, a mindset, a fear),
2. Spiritual Guidance: it could be that you want Gods Answer to a very hard decision that must be made.
3. Maybe you want to feel the presence of God . Just that simple. You want to be closer to him.
4. Developing spiritual strength through fasting helps you to learn how to resist temptation. Fasting helps your spirit to develop dominance over physical appetites and I aint talking about just food.
5.Developing self-mastery- masters of our bodies,
6. Strengthen your faith---the fact that you are fasting and praying to God for something is exercising your faith. The more you exercise a muscle it grows or gets stronger, same goes with your faith.
7. To show God humility, this will help with pride we may have towards God or towards people.
What to do now that you've started the fast and you have temptations to indulge in that you promised to sacrifice during your fast:
1. Begin praying to God, talking with him about the purpose of the fast, asking for strength in your moment of temptation.
2. Praise and worship and music.
_______________________________________________Some Don'ts during your fast __________________________________________________
- Do not stop drinking water.  Stay Hydrated. Very important.
-Do not start a fast without talking to your doctor about any medical conditions such as diabetes. Please make sure you don't hurt your body while fasting. Some medications can't be skipped and must be taken with a meal. (clear with your doc if need be)
-if you do intermittent fasting, do not eat too little during your open eating window. Make sure you eat enough to sustain you to make it to your next mealtime.
-Exercise the instruction given in Matthew 6: 16-18 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.
___________________________________________________Olive Oil History of Olive Oil_____________________________________________________
Olive oil is known to be rich in antioxidants that help protect the body from cellular damage.
Aside from being used for cooking, olive oil can also be an ingredient for making cosmetics, soap and medicine and Anointing oils.
To start, the scriptures talk about olive oil in several places.
It is used for:
Anointing, e.g. King Solomon was anointed to King at the Gihon spring, at the City of David (1 King 1:33)
To consecrate kings (1 Samuel 16:1), e.g. Sam...