Fasting

Fasting is practiced by many people who are not Christian. It is not my purpose to teach on those but I do want to mention them. Some reasons other than Biblical reasons for fasting are: medical/health reasons - to promote weight loss - ritual purification - for political purposes and/or protests (often when there are no other options) - to comply with rules of one's religion (some religion's require fasting at certain times of the year).

While the Bible does not specifically say "fast for this reason", if we look at those who fasted in the Scriptures we can often discover the reasons they did and learn from them.

Scholars have long agreed there are different types of fasting in the Bible. The type of fast a person engaged usually depended upon them and what they felt the situation required.

This is fasting by abstaining from eating any food. Water was the normal drink and was the only thing ingested. The duration of the "normal" fast was up to 40 days in the Scripture.

This type of fast is a "restricted diet" type of fasting ... abstaining from certain food and drink and eating a limited, bland diet. Some who today go on this type of fast eat only fruit during the fasting period. The duration of the "Daniel" fast in the Scriptures was 21 days.

The "total" fast is where nothing is eaten or drunk. The duration of the "total" fast in Scripture is 3 days.

No fasting should be done by any individual with medical problems unless under a Doctor's care and with their approval. The "Total" fast can be especially dangerous - even to healthy individuals - as the kidneys can begin to fail when not drinking any liquids.

If you have never fasted before and if you are in reasonably good health, you might start out by skipping one or two meals and spending that time in prayer and Bible reading. Do this several times before launching out on a longer fast.

As you seek the Lord you might begin praying about a 24 hour fast. Or a 2-day or 3-day "Normal" fast.

The options of how you are to fast are up to you as you seek the Lord's will. Some people have a set time every month and spend a 24 hour period fasting, while others fast a set time every week. Be led by the Holy Spirit and by common sense.

A fast may be undertaken while one is in school, while working on a job, or during any other normal activity of life. As the schedule permits, regular intervals of prayer should be followed (again, depending on where you are and what you are doing). Indications are that Daniel was working when he undertook the fast in Daniel chapter 10. It is apparent that he engaged in regular prayer times. When fasting during work, at times I would take 5 to10 minutes, every hour on the hour, and spend that time in prayer. Then I would return to my work. (working for myself in an office made this easy... in other situations it may not be so)

Regular times of reading the Scriptures should be followed also. The whole idea is that this is a time of setting yourself apart to God, to seek Him and to learn more of His will.

During a "Normal" or "Partial" fast make sure you drink plenty of water. If it starts tasting 'metallic' or bland, squeeze a little lemon juice into it.

Avoid television and radio. A large part of the advertising is food related. You do not need to add to any discomfort by exposing yourself needlessly to it.

Ending a fast properly is important. If you have gone 24 hours or longer with only water to drink you do not want to suddenly introduce a heavy meal into your stomach. Begin with a little fruit, and some "light" (easy to digest) foods. Note this Biblical example from I Sam. 30:12 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.

Fasting is a historical part of the Church's past. It is as valid today as it was then. And there can be wonderful side-effects, the main one being to draw closer to Jesus.

Recommended Reading - GOD'S CHOSEN FAST by Arthur Wallis
Available from Amazon.Com or most any Christian Book Store