Fasting Practicalities
So friends, we've spoken about fasting the whole week, but we haven't really gotten that practical. So let's talk about what your fast might actually look like when you do it.
What Fasting Really Means
Firstly, let me say that fasting in the Bible is going without food. The Hebrew term means abstinence from food, literally meaning don't eat. So yes, there are times when giving up TV or social media or whatever else it might be. It's a good idea. But really, the true biblical fasting is giving up food and not just saying I'm giving up chocolate, you know, giving up my treats. That's not fasting. Fasting is giving up something that is necessary and fundamental to your life so that you can go deeper with God.
And also don't fall for this thing that was going around Facebook a while back that said, oh, this Lent I'm going to give up negative thoughts and harsh words. That's nonsense! That's not a fast. Giving up something negative is not a fast. You're not supposed to be doing it in the first place! You've got to give that stuff up every day of your life. It's called crucifying the flesh daily. Fasting is something different. Fasting is taking something good and something necessary and saying “for a season I'm going to not do that so that I can reap spiritual blessings.”
How to Choose Your Fast
So choose what you're going to fast. Now, of course, be careful. If you have health issues, be very careful. We've been praying about perhaps not completely giving up food, but eating radically less for this season, because after my stomach op and everything, I've had to be quite careful about diet, about eating certain times of the day. So please don't put your health at risk if you have heart problems, immune system problems, if you're pregnant or nursing, if you're preparing for or recovering from surgery, if you have cancer, diabetes, mental illness. Any sort of other health issues, then you might look at choosing another thing other than food.
You may also consider just giving up a certain type of food, saying no meat, no sugar, that type of thing - for a certain amount of time. So choose what you're going to fast and do it prayerfully. Choose how long as well. I'm going to do 21 days. You might choose to do one day fast, three day, five days, seven day, ten day, forty day. That might also impact what you decide to give up for that time.
Fasting with a Purpose
Again, do it prayerfully. Figure out what's going to really make you recognize your weakness and go deeper in prayer. Prayerfully choose why you're going to fast. Don't just do it on a whim, but think about it and have a prayer focus.
Another option is to fast a certain day of the week. This is the practice of a lot of Christians do - say every Monday I'll fast from when I wake up until supper, whatever it might be. And so you can fast and pray over a long season for somebody in that way.
Don't overthink it though. Figure out what you're going to fast, how long and why, and then just do it! And pray like you've never prayed before, taking time to sit with God in prayer, and whenever those pangs come, praying again.
Remember as well to drink lots of water when you're fasting. That really helps. Keeps you nourished, keeps you sustained.
And so if you'd like to join me for a 21 day fast, join the admin-only group that I've started. And every morning I'm going to put a prayer focus on for that day as we pray and fast together. May your prayer and fasting be powerful, bring you great blessing and unlock great works of God in your life or in the life of those you're praying for.
So I hope that this has been helpful for you friends. I know it's been a bit different, but I just pray that it's given you some motivation to fast when the Spirit prompts.
God bless you guys. Thank you for your financial contributions to my ministry. Go well. Take care.
