How to Fast

HOW YOU SHOULD FAST

(1) There are many ways to participate. 

The Bible is clear that we, as Christians, should be fasting as part of our regular disciplines; however there are no guidelines as to how a fast should be conducted. Each of you must allow Holy Spirit to guide you in what you as an individual are to do.  The most important thing to remember is that fasting is for the purpose of drawing us closer to God.  One common misconception about fasting is that somehow going without food somehow forces God to respond, nothing could be further from the truth.  Fasting may consist of anything from abstaining from habits or hobbies all the way to a total fast (i.e. abstaining from any food and liquids).  No particular method of fasting is more “spiritual” than the other.  We must allow the Spirit to lead us.

(2) Prepare yourself for fasting. 

The time you spend preparing yourself for a period of fasting can make the difference between a successful, productive fast and a bitter spiritual exercise.  There will be many obstacles for you to face and overcome before, during and after your fast, so the time you take getting ready is of the utmost importance.  Preparing your mind and body will help you avoid both mental and physical hardships during your fast, after your fast and in times of fasting to come.  Get ready for fasting by using the last 24 – 48 hours before you begin to cut down on the amount of food you take in.  It is an easier transition into your fast if you have already eliminated heavy foods or foods which are hard to digest.  It is also helpful, but not necessary, to cut down on or eliminate processed sugars and caffeine (the reason for this will be explained later).

(3) Proper fasting is not bad for your body. 

To the contrary, fasting is a natural way for your miraculous body to work healing.  Hippocrates, from whom doctors get the “Hippocratic Oath”, taught his students the benefits of fasting and exercises instead relying on drugs.

(4) Fasting purifies the body of impurities and pollutants. 

This gives the body time to flush out the contaminants that are in a lot of the food and beverages we consume. This is one of the reasons it is important to drink plenty of pure water before, during and after you fast you will know that this is happening by such symptoms as bad breath, headaches and tiredness.  These are all natural signs that the body is doing the house cleaning.

(5) Drink plenty of fluids. 

The best rest for the body during a fast is to drink bottled or filtered water.  The amount varies by body weight and size, is has been suggested that an individual drink between two quarts and one gallon of water each day.  One doctor suggested one quart of water for every 50 pounds of body weight.  Some choose to drink fruit juices or their regular coffee and tea.  Remember when choosing for yourself, the more natural (free from preservatives) the better.  Caffeine can make you both hungry and thirsty making it harder to concentrate on your objective and to accomplish the desired goals.

(6) Make your focus God. 

During the entire process of fasting you must stay focused on your objective.  Feed constantly on God’s Word it is a light to you and will show you how and where to walk.  God will reveal Himself to you as He has promised, if we will draw near to Him He will draw near to us.  Maintain a perpetual attitude of prayer.  Most of us cannot afford to take a break from “life” to close ourselves away in a mountain cabin for the duration of our fasting.  The answer to this is to maintain a “God consciousness” all of the time during our day even at work.  One exercise that can help with this is to spend sixty seconds at the beginning of each hour giving praise to God.  This will keep your mind focused on Him as you watch the clock in anticipation of your “minute with God.”  Fasting without focus is simply missing meals.

(7) The spiritual victory is often not seen until the completion of the fast. 

Winners cannot be declared until the battle is completed.  Jesus came into His ministry only after enduring His Spirit led fasting and His time of satanic temptation.  The battle is waged over and fought with the accuracy and truth of the Word of God.  With God’s Word you will both feed your flesh and defend your spirit.  Rest assured, the crown, or prize always goes to the winner.

(8) After you fast.

It cannot be stressed too much how important it is to be very cautious in the breaking of the fast.  Always break a fast slowly and by gradually adding things back to your diet.  Some things you may not want to return to like fats, harmful sweets, caffeine, etc.  Eat light breakfasts (juice & fruit), light lunches (salads), and maintain very light dinners for several days following the fasting time.  Take advantage of this opportunity to begin practicing wise eating habits.  MODERATION IS THE KEY.  (Phil. 4:5)  A good rule to live by is to never eat, whether sick or well, unless you are genuinely hungry. 

EAT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE, NEVER AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ANYMORE.  If one diligently adheres to proper fasting procedures they will find they have a greater endurance level, better disposition, freedom from many ailment and viruses, and above all freedom in the spirit.  WHEN BREAKING THE FAST EAT SLOWLY AND CHEW THE FOOD THOROUGHLY.  This aids greatly in proper digestion.  Avoid heavy, spicy meals for this stresses the digestive system that has been in a state of relaxation.  DO NOT OVEREAT!  (Luke 21-34)  Always take several days before gradually transcending to a vegetable diet.  THE FIRST THREE DAYS AFTER YOUR FAST ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT.

No matter how long you fast, hunger may become very intense during the “break-fast”.  This is the most critical point of the entire fast and break in period.  The victories that we will have forever afterwards are determined largely on how we control the appetite after the initial breaking-in period.  Sipping juices can help greatly in most cases.  Continue to rest the first week of eating and also let activity be very gradual.

Sometimes when a fast is improperly broken, many uncomfortable conditions can arise.  Bloating and other conditions can be corrected by spacing your meals at longer intervals, going on a partial fast again, and then proceeding to break the fast properly.

The stomach and intestinal tract go to sleep after a few days of fasting.  When wrong food is placed into them suddenly, and in the wrong manner and quantity, they rebel.  They cannot awake suddenly.  To receive real benefit from fasting, a nutritious build-up diet of natural foods must be taken.  Strength and energy should be conserved more during the initial breaking-in period because great strain and labor is required to enable the stomach to receive food again.  Your strength will pick up as soon as the stomach can readjust sufficiently to assimilate the heavier food soon to be received!

How Not To Fast

Are you thinking, “That’s simple, eat!”  Good thinking, but that is not what we are addressing here.  Let’s take a quick peek at four cautions to your fasting motivation:

1) Do not fast to be seen.  While you are probably already loosing weight and fasting sounds very “spiritual”, Jesus had some instruction for us.  “Moreover, when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast.  Verily I say to you, they have their reward.  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”  (Matthew 6:16-18)

2) Do not fast for strife.  Be sure your motivation is right.  Some may say, “I’m going to fast so that others will see that they are wrong and I am right”.  Sorry, wrong motive.  (Isaiah 58).

3) Do not fast for selfish reasons.  If you go into fasting and prayer to get something you want and have unrepented sin, you will not get it!  The bottom line in fasting is you must be straight with God.  (Check the story of David in 2 Samuel 12:16, 22).

4) Do not fast because of pity.  Some people fast because they feel sorry for themselves.  Zech. 7:5 says that people fasted and mourned, but it didn’t do any good because they hadn’t repented.  You must have the right motivation.