What do we need to know about fasting?

1. What’s a fast?
2. Why we fast?
3. How we fast?

What’s a fast?

The dictionary definition of “fasting” is to “abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink, especially as a religious observance.” This is the type of fasting seen most often in the Bible and within Christian traditions like Lent.

Yet, in our modern era, we acknowledge that fasting can be applied to whatever one sacrifices that draws him/her closer to the Lord. We’ll get into this more when we look at how to fast, but just know that fasting can include food and drink or sweets, but we can also fast certain words, turn off media, sacrifice time, etc.

Why we fast?

The Prophet Isaiah shares that the kind of fast that God chooses for His people is a fast that is able to “to loose the chains of injustice, untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke,” (Isaiah 58). Fasting breaks yokes and activates supernatural answers.

Over and over again in the Scriptures, we see men and women fasting when they desperately need the Lord to intervene in situations that are too overwhelming for them. Many of these are life and death circumstances or what we might term: “Desperate times, desperate measures.”

• Esther asks the entire nation to fast and pray when she must go before the King to make intercession to save the Jewish people from complete annihilation. (Esther 4:16)
• King Jehoshaphat calls a national fast when Judah’s enemies mount an offensive against them. (2 Chronicles 20)
• Daniel fasts a couple of times, that we know of. The first is a fast to lean into God in a foreign land, setting himself apart (Daniel 1). The second is to seek the Lord about a vision he receives that was so disturbing he cannot do anything else but petition God for answers (Daniel 10).
• Nehemiah fasts and mourns and prays for Israel when he hears of his nation’s troubles and setbacks and petitions God to show him favor in finding a solution (Nehemiah 1).
• Moses is called into a 40-day fast, no food or water, with the Lord (twice) to receive the Law from God for the nation of Israel. (Exodus 24:18 + Exodus 34:28).
• Elijah also experiences a 40-day fast, no food or water, when he runs for his life from Queen Jezebel and ends up in the wilderness.
• Jesus, Himself, experiences a 40-day fast, no food or water, in the wilderness, to be tempted by the enemy, before His public ministry commences (Matthew 4:1-11).
• Please Note: that these 40-day fasts with no food or water were miracles and special circumstances where God called His prophets or His Son into a time that He sustained their bodies physically. We cannot recommend that anyone attempts a 40-day fast with no food or water, okay?! :=)

How we fast?

In preparing to fast, there are several things that we need to seek clarity on:

1. GOD’S PART
   What’s the main purpose of the fast? What are we petitioning God to do supernaturally that we cannot do ourselves? What do we have faith to believe God for?
2. OUR PART
   What’s the main sacrifice that we’re offering to let go that reminds us to grow closer to God? What’s the main addition that we’re adding daily throughout the fast that positions us to hear and receive from the Lord? What are the obstacles and distractions that we’ll need to overcome?
3. OUR PLAN LOGISTICS
   We must make decisions and plans ahead of time, as there will be temptation every day to not follow through with the commitments that we’ve made.

Each person’s fast is unique and different. For example, for many Californians whose way of eating does not involve meat, abstaining from meat during a fast is not a pressing sacrifice. For one who has already given up alcoholic beverages, fasting wine would not be sacrificial. Each person must search their heart with the Lord and decide what constitutes an actual “fast” to him/her.

Pray and get clear on the logistics so that we know what we are committing to do. Then, tell someone whom you trust to add a level of accountability, support and encouragement. The Lord will meet you where you are.