Fasting

Fasting is possibly the strongest form of prayer there is.

WHAT IS FASTING?
The Bible mentions at least 4 different types of fasting:
1. No food or water for a certain period of time.
2. No food (but water is permitted) for a period of time.
3. No pleasant food for a period of time (in Daniel, this meant going vegetarian for 21 days).
4. No sex for certain amounts of time and agreed on by both parties (this was for the married people in Corinth).

HOW LONG DID PEOPLE FAST?
1. Daniel fasted 21 days.
2. Moses, Elijah and Jesus fasted 40 days.
3. The entire city of Nineveh fasted 3 days.

WHY DID PEOPLE FAST?
1. Jesus fasted before he began his ministry.
2. Moses fasted before receiving the Law.
3. Daniel fasted for his people.
4. The Antioch church fasted before sending out Paul and Barnabus as missionaries.

MODERN DAY FASTING

When I was young I fasted a lot; days at a time. Sometimes I struggled through the fasts, and sometimes I blew through the days without struggle. I am thankful for the times I fasted and sought the Lord. During those days, I learned from experience that fasting was a powerful form of prayer, and that after several days of fasting I usually felt very "clean" spiritually. Actually the feeling was a natural reaction of the body being without food for several days.

As my kids grew up I suggested fasting for certain issues that they dealt with. Their reaction caught me off guard...they told me that fasting would ruin their metabolism. I'm afraid I have to admit that the books that I read were not based on modern scientific research; so not really knowing what the latest studies were about fasting and health, I suggested a different way to fast. I suggested that they fast caffeine, or processed sugar, or t.v. or whatever.

Through my own experience I knew that this has been effective as well, so I encouraged this form of fasting.

DO I NEED TO GET SPIRITUAL?

This is a weird question, but I have talked to a lot of people who think that if they fast they have to spend the entire day praying and reading the Bible. NO! It would be nice to get a bit more time set aside for devotions, but don't get too weird about it. When you place such pious and unrealistic demands upon yourself, you are setting yourself up for failure.

Having said this, there may be some who are called to this, but I do not encourage this from anyone.

BEWARE OF PRIDE

Some people fast longer than or more intensely than necessary, thinking that if they fast longer they will become a spiritual giant like Moses or Jesus. This is spiritual pride and is not good. Sometimes it is more humble and spiritual to accept that you are not a spiritual giant, and do not need to fast 40 days to prove that you are as spiritual as people in the Bible.

LIQUIDS

-Do not try to fast without water. People die after 3 days without water.
-If you are going to fast caffeine at all, get off of it slowly beforehand if you drink a lot of it. Headaches can be horrible.

MY SUGGESTION FOR FASTING

When you need to pray for something important and regular prayer just doesn't seem to be enough, plan a day or two or three of fasting. If you are diabetic, don't even think about not eating.

Here are some other possibilities:
-21 days with no caffeine or processed sugar.
-3 days with only vegetables.
-31 days without t.v.

EXPECT AN ANSWER TO PRAYER

In my experience, most fasts accomplish something positive. I may or may not get an answer to whatever I am praying about, but there is a higher percentage of answered prayer than usual.

WHAT IF I CAN'T MAKE IT?

Sometimes I will quit fasts early - better to quit early than not fast at all.

PREPARATION

Finally, while you fast, put away all pornography or any other sin that you may struggle with. You can put it away for the period of time you need to. Try to keep yourself committed to God as much as you can during this time. Even bad kings and normal people won God's heart by fasting and seeking him, putting away their sins during their time of seeking God.