If you are fasting for the first time, you might begin by missing a meal or two. Over time, you can build up to a full day or more. Begin by refraining from solid food, but drink liquids. Water is the best, since soft drinks are not good for the digestive system, and coffee and tea stimulate the nervous system. Before beginning a fast, it is best to eat lightly and cut back on caffeinated drinks.
During the first few days of a multi-day fast, it is common to experience headaches as the body withdraws from caffeine. If you are planning for an extended fast more than 14 days , you should prepare mentally and physically by cutting down on food intake one week before the actual fast, taking on a vegetarian diet to control cravings for food. Reduce your intake of beverages like coffee, tea and soft drinks as well.
During your fast, set aside specific and significant time to worship and seek God in prayer. Plan ahead so your time can be unhurried and conducive to enjoying the Lord. This is essential to ensure that sin is not hindering your communication with God.
Then plan time to make your requests known to God and to seek His will. Take breaks to study Scripture passages you have chosen. Take time to listen. Keep a notebook and pen nearby to record the ideas, insights, directions and instructions He impresses on your mind. Continue to drink plenty of water.
Apple or watermelon juice is a great morale booster. Sleep early — the first few days of the fast are usually the most challenging. Persevere through this period. Consult your doctor if you are unsure of any headaches or bodily reactions. Breaking the fast may require as much discipline as beginning it. The longer you fast, the more time the digestive organs need to reactivate before functioning at full speed. If you plan to fast only a day or two at a time, it is best to end the fast with a small glass of fruit juice as your first meal.
Gradually introduce small amounts of easily digestible foods such as yogurt, soup, fresh fruit, and cooked vegetables. If your fast lasts longer than a few days, you should continue with juices for a day or more before gradually introducing more substantial foods like yogurt, soup and fruit. Be sure you introduce new foods in small quantities and that you chew it well.
You should stop eating at the slightest sensation of fullness. If fasting only a few days at a time, ending the fast should be easier. If you have built up to and desire to fast longer, you should consult your physician and review a health book on fasting. Consult your physician before beginning any fast lasting longer than three days. If you have underlying health conditions such as pregnancy, anemia, behavioral disorders or other chronic health problems, you should never fast without consulting a physician first.
Bill Bright put it this way : It takes time to build your spiritual fasting muscles. If you fail to make it through your first fast, do not be discouraged. You may have tried to fast too long the first time, or you may need to strengthen your understanding and resolve. Keep trying until you do succeed. God will honor you for your faithfulness. Jesus, David, and many other followers of our God have gone without food for a little while to worship and pray to the one who supplies all our needs.
God considers fasting important. His Word, in fact, contains 92 passages mentioning it. Many of our heroes of the faith, including Moses, Elijah, Esther, Nehemiah, Daniel and Paul, fasted at crucial points.
Discover what fasting is and how it can impact your faith. Learn why giving up food and drink for a period of time can improve your relationship with God. There is little instruction about how to fast in the Bible, but there are plenty of examples of people who fasted. Learn about the key times in which individuals and nations fasted in the Bible. What is Christianity? Learn the basics of what Christians believe. Dealing with Life's Questions Explore answers to life's biggest questions.
Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. Spiritual Growth Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. Bible Studies Find resources for personal or group Bible study. You will feel mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed. You will see answers to your prayers. A single fast, however, is not a spiritual cure-all.
Just as we need fresh infillings of the Holy Spirit daily, we also need new times of fasting before God. A hour fast each week has been greatly rewarding to many Christians. It takes time to build your spiritual fasting muscles. If you fail to make it through your first fast, do not be discouraged. You may have tried to fast too long the first time out, or your may need to strengthen your understanding and resolve.
As soon as possible, undertake another fast until you do succeed. God will honor you for your faithfulness. I encourage you to join me in fasting and prayer again and again until we truly experience revival in our homes, our churches, our beloved nation, and throughout the world. Download Personal Prayer Guide. How to Begin Your Fast How you begin and conduct your fast will largely determine your success.
Before you fast, decide the following up front: How long you will fast—one meal, one day, a week, several weeks, forty days Beginners should start slowly, building up to longer fasts. Here are several things you can do to prepare your heart: Ask God to help you make a comprehensive list of your sins.
Seek forgiveness from all whom you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you Mark ; Luke ; ,4. Make restitution as the Holy Spirit leads you. Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master; refuse to obey your worldly nature Romans ,2. Meditate on the attributes of God, His love, sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, compassion, and others Psalm ,10; , Begin your time of fasting and prayer with an expectant heart Hebrews Do not underestimate spiritual opposition.
Satan sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit Galatians , Do not rush into your fast. Prepare your body. Eat smaller meals before starting a fast. Avoid high-fat and sugary foods. Eat raw fruit and vegetables for two days before starting a fast. While You Fast Your time of fasting and prayer has come. Here are some helpful suggestions to consider: Avoid drugs, even natural herbal drugs and homeopathic remedies.
Limit your activity. Exercise only moderately. Walk one to three miles each day if convenient and comfortable. Rest as much as your schedule will permit. Prepare yourself for temporary mental discomforts, such as impatience, crankiness, and anxiety. Expect some physical discomforts, especially on the second day. Physical annoyances may also include weakness, tiredness, or sleeplessness. Morning Begin your day in praise and worship.
Invite the Holy Spirit to work in you to will and to do His good pleasure according to Philippians Invite God to use you. Ask Him to show you how to influence your world, your family, your church, your community, your country, and beyond. Pray for His vision for your life and empowerment to do His will. Take a short prayer walk. Avoid television or any other distraction that may dampen your spiritual focus.
We can see how God answered prayer when people fasted in the Bible. Let's take a look at Ezra for an example. Ezra's assignment was rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem.
And there were moments when it felt overwhelming. So, here's what he did: "We fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer" Ezra When you are willing to go without food and take time to seek God with all your heart, He will respond to you. Let's observe three things Ezra fasted and prayer for:. Without God's guidance you are left to the mercy of your own best thinking, and that can get you into trouble you may not get out of in a hurry.
God doesn't want you traveling blindly into the future, hoping for the best. Like Jesus taught the disciples, Ezra sought God through prayer and fasting and so should we, especially when we face a challenge or decision in life.
Keep in mind that God Himself is a father. This much is sure: when you petition Him on behalf of your children He gets involved in their lives! Ezra and the other priests fasted and prayed for the next generation of Israel's children as well as the future priests of Israel. He knew this was not just a personal prayer, but a God-connected desire to see generational striving cease. Eventually, Samuel was molded into one of Israel's greatest prophets by the prayers of a godly mother called Hannah.
The community of prayer and fasting that Samuel was raised into allowed him to grow in God and see many prayers answered. God cares about the daily concerns of our lives, even financial ones. If unemployment, the foreclosure rate or the stock market are anything to go by, you'd be wise to consult God before you make a financial decision.
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