But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. There are several ways to engage in a fast. Ask God to show you what to give up. A fast typically occurs during a set amount of time a day, a week, a season like lent, 21 days, 40 days. This especially applies to those with certain medical conditions or a previous history of eating disorders.
Some who cannot fast food or drink may be called to fast from television, streaming networks, movies, social media, and other modes of entertainment. God may call some to fast from technology all together, which includes computers, cell phones, tablets and other devices. And be creative! Fasting can include the obvious rhythms of Bible reading, journaling, listening to worship music and Christian podcasts. But it could also look like taking a prayer walk, incorporating Scripture into your workouts, connecting with someone else for discipleship and engaging your creative side.
When a surrendered heart heads into a fast, God will lead you to the ways to connect with Him. How to Fast by PrayerCourse. I have completed five day fasts.
I want to share with you what I have learned and what has helped me. If you do not already know of the power and importance of fasting, here are some very important facts:. If you fast, you will find yourself being humbled as I did. And as He leads you to recognize and repent of unconfessed sin, you will experience special blessings from God. As you begin your fast, you may hear from concerned loved ones and friends who urge you to protect your health.
And they are right. You should protect your health. But I assure you, if done properly, fasting will not only prove to be a spiritual blessing, but physical blessing as well. By all means, consult your doctor before you begin your fast. But, be aware that many doctors have not been trained in this area and so their understanding is limited.
Even so, it would be wise to ask your doctor for a physical exam to make sure you are in good health. You may have a physical problem that would make fasting unwise or dangerous. Also, if you are under any type of medication, make sure you talk to your doctor before changing your regime. Prudence and caution are in order. When you are assured that you are in good health, you are ready to begin your fast. Follow the guidelines in the Physical Preparations and Maintaining Nutritional Balance and Health parts of this website.
In spite of the absolute safety and benefits of fasting, there are certain persons who should NEVER fast without professional supervision. For example:. If you have never fasted before, I applaud your present interest!
Fasting has been a major emphasis in the lives of many of the great spiritual leaders throughout history. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist denomination, fasted every Wednesday and Friday and required all of his clergy to do the same.
Fasting is about the condition of the heart, not the number of days. Each time that I have fasted for forty days, it was because I felt impressed by God to do so. So, start slowly.
Fast for one meal a day, or one day a week, or one week a month. Build up your spiritual muscles so that you will be prepared in a period of several months to fast for an extended 40 day period. A partial fast is described in the book of Daniel. These are total fasts—no food solid or liquid and no water.
Paul went on an absolute fast for three days following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus Acts Moses and Elijah engaged in what must be considered a supernatural absolute fast of forty days Deuteronomy ; I Kings So, I strongly advice you to drink plenty of liquids.
Obviously, if God leads you to undertake an absolute fast, you should obey. If so, be certain, without doubt, that God is leading you. Water-only fasts that last for more than several days need to be undertaken with complete rest and under medical supervision because of the extreme danger of over-toxification, breakdown of vital body tissues, and loss of electrolytes. I personally recommend and practice water and juice fasting, especially if you are going to fast for an extended period of time.
This type of fast will provide you with more energy than absolute or water-only fasts and still lead you into the humbling experience of denying your desire for solid food that you can chew. When it comes to making your final decision about what type of fast is right for you, the best advise I can give you is to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. He will guide your heart and mind as to what is best for you. Remember, the most important consideration in fasting is your motive.
Why are you fasting? In preparation for this special time with God, I strongly urge you to examine your heart, and detect any unconfessed sin. Scripture records that God always requires His people to repent of their sins before He will hear their prayers.
King David said:. In your prayers, confess not only obvious sins, but less obvious ones as well. The sins of omission as well as the sins of commission experiences. Like physical breathing, Spiritual Breathing is a process of exhaling the impure and inhaling the pure. You exhale by confessing your sins immediately when you become aware of them, and you inhale by inviting the Holy Spirit to re-take control of your life.
As an act of faith, trust Him to empower you. During the fast, spiritual breathing—constant reliance on the Holy Spirit—will enable you to resist temptation, not only to sin but to abandon your fast. Although fasting is primarily a spiritual discipline, it begins in the physical realm. You should not fast without specific physical preparation. If you plan on fasting for several days, you will find it helpful to begin by eating smaller meals before you abstain altogether.
Cutting down on your meals a few days before you begin the fast will signal your mind, stomach, and appetite that less food is acceptable. Some health professionals suggest eating only raw foods for two days before starting a fast.
I also recommend weaning yourself off caffeine and sugar products to ease your initial hunger or discomfort at the early stages of your fast. How long you fast, the kind of fast you undertake, and how you adjust your work schedule depends mostly on your occupation. Persons with office jobs, pastors, or homemakers may find it easier to continue their duties and fast for longer periods of time. In fact, on the basis of my personal experience, worldwide travels and the many letters, which I have received, I am confident that many, many thousands of pastors and lay men and women have already completed a day fast!
Though there are many who engage in strenuous physical labor and have enjoyed their extended fast, if you are so engaged, you may wish to fast only one or more days of the week, limiting yourselves to partial fasting if you are so engaged. Or you may look to weekends as the prime time to abstain from food. Remember, too, fasting during major holidays is not always a good idea. Families may be inconvenienced, and temptations to eat can be overwhelming.
The first is physical. Throughout your fast, you may feel somewhat weaker than normal. During the first few days, you may feel tired and irritable. Lightening your workload and cutting down on strenuous exercise would be a very good idea to maintain your health and your morale. The second reason is spiritual. Fasting is not just denying yourself food. It is exchanging the needs of the physical body for those of the spiritual.
While fasting, if you dissipate your energy on numerous errands or busy-work to the neglect of spending special time with God, you will starve both physically and spiritually. You will find yourself becoming discouraged and frustrated with your fast instead of being benefited and uplifted and blessed. The more time you spend with God in fellowship, worship, and adoration of Him, and the more you read and meditate upon His Word, the greater your effectiveness will be in prayer and the more meaningful your fast will be.
So I encourage you to arrange your schedule accordingly! Many people are reluctant to tell others that they are fasting so they will avoid the sin of the Pharisees: fasting just to gain recognition for themselves. By isolating ourselves from the support of other Christians, we will be more susceptible to doubts and negative influences both human and demonic.
We need the prayer shield of our Christian friends and family members to help us continue when we feel alone and when the enemy tempts us to give up Our Lord as he did Jesus Christ. Eventually, people will notice you are not eating. However, I have found that unless you see them daily, they do not consider your skipped meal much of a concern. If friends and family express concern for your health, ease their fears by telling them that you will stop fasting the moment you feel you are harming your body or if the Lord leads you to end your fast.
There is usually no reason for telling strangers or casual acquaintances that you are fasting. If you do, they may subject you to a lot of questions that you may not want to answer. Arranging special time each day with God is absolutely crucial in attaining intimate communion with the Father. As I began my fast, I was not sure I could continue for forty days.
But my confidence was in the Lord to help me. Each day His presence encouraged me to continue. The longer I fasted, the more I sensed the presence of the Lord. The Holy Spirit refreshed my soul and spirit, and I experienced the joy of the Lord as seldom before. My faith soared as I humbled myself and cried out to God and rejoiced in His presence. This proved to be the most important forty days of my life.
As I waited upon the Lord, the Holy Spirit gave me the assurance that the United States and much of the world will, before the end of the year , experience a great spiritual awakening.
This divine visit from heaven will kindle the greatest spiritual harvest in the history of the church. The scope of this revival depends on how believers in the United States and the rest of the world respond to this call. I encourage you to keep it with you during your fast and refer to it often because it gives easy-to-follow suggestions on how to begin your fast, what to do while you fast and how to end your fast properly.
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