Fasting is about humbling ourselves before the Lord ad recognising that we are not gods, but He is.
Fasting is also about dedicating ourselves to seek God in added prayer- more prayer and more intensive prayer.
Regular fasters report that there are more miracles, more answers to prayer received during fasting times than regular times.
We do not fast for health benefits, but for spiritual growth.
Types of Fast
1. Complete Fast- in this fast, no food is taken, but water or juice may be drunk.
2. Absolute Fast- nothing at all, including water, is taken. Obviously this is a very short fast as we cannot go very long without water.
3. Partial Fast- this includes the so-called Daniel fast. It means to abstain from all “rich foods”, meat and alcohol.
We think fasting is hard, but if a doctor tells you to fast for 24 hours before a treatment, then you just do it. It is the same discipline but for a godly purpose.
Length of Fast
How long you fast for is up to you.
People often fast for a whole day or until the evening meal or sunset. Some fast for 2-3 days, occasionally some people undertake a 40 day fast.
A Daniel Fast typically goes for 21 days, the time that Daniel fasted.
Your Fast
Lent this year goes from February 14th to evening of March 28th (the day before Good Friday). It excludes Sundays because Sunday is the celebration of resurrection and new life in Christ, and who can fast on the day of joy?
So think about the type of fasting that feels right for you. How long will you fast for? How often will you fast during Lent?
What prayer goals will you focus on when you are fasting?
For example, I am thinking that I will fast every Wednesday during Lent. I will aim for at least one or two times of making them the full 24 hour fasts.
You might think that just doing one fast is as much as you can manage- that’s OK.
My Fast
I am going to embrace the adventure of fasting during Lent.
With God’s grace I will do a ______________________ fast on these days:
________________________________________________________________________________________
When I fast I will be praying for these things:
Important note: If you accidentally fall short it’s no big deal, and it is not a sin. We have all had those times when chocolate bars have thrust themselves down our throats against our will. If it gets too hard, then that’s OK. Have a go another day or try a different type of fast. Don’t give up on the praying though.