I used to "Fast and Pray" - I spent a majority of my time quickly jumping from problem to problem, trying to help others as "fast" as possible; ultimately to my detriment, putting myself in a bind, and then trying to "pray" my way out of it.

It left me very disillusioned, resenting my own intentions and good will, but I knew the alternative couldn't be to fully withhold the sincerity of better outcomes I wished for the world.

So instead, I went the other direction - almost involuntarily, I started "fasting", and going without certain things and delaying short term gratification. From that discipline I honed a healthy relationship with saying "NO" more often.

I also found a deeper connection to true prayer in that state, from a perspective of gratitude and not desperation. And thusly the "prey"ing became my "YES" activities, with full enthusiasm and buy in.

To prepare and attack, to go without, and go within, on my terms. It has made all the difference, and whenever I feel that I have strayed, or need to course correct, I can always fall back onto "fasting" and "preying".