FASTING

What is fasting?

• Fasting is normally associated with refraining from food for a short period or from certain types of food
  
• Fasting is a powerful spiritual tool to make a difference in our lives
  
• Fasting is a way of saying to God that we are taking prayer seriously; it can also help us to become more sensitive to what He is saying to us
  

Biblical reasons for fasting

• It is a normal part of discipleship (Matthew 6.16,17; Acts 13.1)
  
• It can be a sign of repentance (Nehemiah 9.1)
  
• We share in God’s mourning over the state of things (1Timothy 2.4; Joel 2.12)
  
• It is a sign of humbling ourselves before God (Psalm 35.13; Ezra 8.21)
  
• It is a tangible way of declaring that God’s interests are higher than our interests, as if we’re saying to God: ‘We value what you want over what we want – food!’ (Acts13.2)
  
• It shows the Lord that our prayers are serious and earnest (Acts 14.23)
  
• When there are limited opportunities to pray, fasting is implicit prayer (Esther 4.16)
  
• According to Scripture, when God's people fast with the right motives, seeking him with a humble heart and in a spirit of repentance, God hears from heaven (2 Chronicles 7.14); He promises he will heal our lives, our churches, our communities and our nation
  

What different ways of fasting are there?

• Partial: vegetables only or basic food – no luxuries, (e.g. Daniel 1.12; Ezekiel 4.9)
  
• Juice: fruit juice only
  
• Full: water only. This is the fast that occurs most often in the Bible (e.g. Jesus in Matthew 4.2)
  
• Symbolic: where it is not appropriate to fast from food, some people may fast from an activity, e.g. social media, television, etc.
  

           Note: children under the age of 15 should not attempt a strict water or juice fast

How long should I fast for?

• Either miss one meal or fast for 24 hours (in New Testament times, sundown to sundown). The easiest way is to eat your evening meal, then don’t eat breakfast or lunch the next day, resuming by eating your next evening meal – more like 23.5 hours
  
• Longer periods of fasting are possible, but should normally be undertaken only when you feel specifically called by God to a long fast and if you have already experienced fasting for shorter periods
  

Important tips

• If you have a health condition, are pregnant, or – especially – if you're taking medication, you should check with your doctor about how to fast without harming your health. This is especially true for those with type 2 diabetes, who are at risk of hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis and dehydration during a fast.
  
• Stay hydrated: we need water to live, so plan to drink enough water during your fast
  
• Chewing gum can make it worse
  
• Gentle exercise is fine, but try not to over-exert yourself
  
• You may feel a slight headache as a result of caffeine withdrawal. Don’t worry too much about this, but if you suffer badly, you may want to continue having caffeinated drinks.
  
• If you set your sights too high, you’re not letting God down if you have to eat sooner than you thought
  
• The degree to which you can fast depends on your life situation. For some, going without desserts or some other treat may be all that is practical.
  
• It is not a competition! You decide the level and length of your fast. If you want to drink fruit juice, tea or coffee instead of water, that’s fine.
  
• Don’t fast to impress others; however, don’t worry if someone finds out you’re not eating
  
• Whoever called it fasting had obviously never done it! When you fast, you feel hungry, and time doesn’t fly. (As Martin Luther said: ‘The flesh was wont to grumble gracefully when I fasted.’)