God created the human body as a finely tuned physical engine of enormous power but it requires fuel to keep operating so why would anyone choose to go hungry the world calls not eating dieting and usually does it to lose weight or for health reasons but some go without eating for Spiritual reasons this is referred to in the Bible as fasting a fast is typically held for a set period of time in order to achieve a spiritual goal okay Jesus said to his disciples when you fast Matthew 6 16 to 18. when you fast do not look somber as the Hypocrites do for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting truly I tell you they have received their reward in full 17. but when you fast put oil on your head and wash your face a t so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting but only to your father who is unseen and your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you when you give up food both enjoyable and necessary you draw God's attention even back then Jesus warned us not to flaunt our fasting Jesus warned his disciples not to fast for public acclaim the fact that he says whenever you fast indicates that he regards fasting as a legitimate spiritual discipline to fast is to temporarily abstain from a bodily craving usually food for the sake of a spiritual need instead of eating you devote yourself to secret prayer seeking God's intervention in the Kingdom if you've never fasted before the thought of going without food for any length of time is probably frightening others have different concerns such as can I hold out they don't want to embark on a journey they won't be able to complete others are concerned about how their friends will perceive them if they fast the answer is simple you don't fast to impress your friends and you usually don't even tell them as previously stated Jesus said when you fast anoint your head and wash your face so that you do not appear to men to be fasting but to your father who is in the secret place and your father who sees in secret will reward you openly Matthew 6 17 to 18.
Jesus was reminding us not to make an outward show of our religious dedication to God fasting on the other hand is a private commitment between you and God you can fast privately and not tell anyone other times you will participate in a public fast such as with your church or another individual fasting is a Biblical discipline that can help anyone improve their spiritual Fitness and become a prayer Warrior for God some believe that Christians do not require discipline however we build our strength through spiritual exercises we must remember that we are Christ's soldiers a good soldier is well versed in a variety of disciplines fasting is just one of a Christian's many disciplines fasting like climbing a mountain is both spiritually and physically demanding set out on this adventure with a clear understanding of what you're doing and the knowledge that the road ahead may be difficult but the benefits will be well worth it start small if this is your first fast God will honor your first step of Faith which may appear small to others but be a giant one for you God is also concerned about your heart's response during a fast your attitude is a very serious part of your fast just like when a man proposes to a woman it is not the length of his proposal that gets a yes but his heart so when you start fasting don't worry about how long your fast should last just make sure your relationship with God is in good working order God is aware of everything he understands and values the sincerity of your prayers over and above their length so if you've never fasted before start with a one meal skip fast in the Old Testament Jews were required to fast for one day on Yom Kippur every year a day began at sundown and ended at sundown the following day according to the Jewish calendar God taught the Jews how to count their days so the evening and the morning were the first day Genesis 1 5. plan to start your fast when the Sun goes down or perhaps a little before the sun goes down this means you are going to do without the normal evening meal then skip breakfast and lunch the following day after the sun went down most Jews broke their fast by eating a normal meal if you're fasting for a specific answer to prayer invite someone else to pray and fast with you their strength in numbers Jesus said Matthew 18 18 to 19. truly I tell you whatever you bind on Earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on Earth will be loosed in heaven again truly I tell you that if two of you on Earth agree about anything they ask for it will be done for them by my Father in heaven these verses are not just about prayer they are also about the commitment we make in agreement with someone else purposeful fasting when you're getting ready to fast look deep within your heart to find out why you're fasting make a list of your course put it down on paper so you can see it with your own eyes when you keep a cause wrapped up in your mind it can become blurred or vague you may have a general idea about why you should fast right now but take the time to write down your reasoning it will sharpen your focus if you see it written down plan everything don't enter your fast casually or with a Hit or Miss Attitude plan to succeed make a firm commitment to fast for one day regardless of the circumstances what kind of fast types of fasts the absolute fast this is a fast where you eliminate all food and water Paul followed this type of fast for three days after he saw the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus and was struck blind and he Paul was three days without sight and neither ate nor drank acts 9 9.
in your first fast do not follow the absolute fast this fast is intended for those who are deeply distressed or who are fasting to solve a severe problem such as deliverance from an addiction or protection from a spiritual adversary the normal fast during this fast you avoid all solid foods and drink only liquids fasting is most often used in the Bible to refer to people who do not eat solid food the issue of drinking liquids is usually omitted in those days he Jesus ate nothing and afterward when they had ended he was hungry Luke 4 2.
