FASTING
Fasting can be a full fast of no food or water, or no food only, or no “pleasant” food—in this last situation, one could still eat and drink water (Daniel 10:2–3). The length may vary from one night (Daniel 6:18), or just during the daytime (Judges 20:26), or three days (Esther 4:16), or one week (1 Samuel 31:13), or three weeks (Daniel 10:2–3), or longer. If someone is having health issues, he should consult a doctor before fasting, and even if healthy, it is dangerous to fast without water for more than three days. It is not always appropriate (Luke 5:33–35) and appears to be harder the first time one fasts and also when one is older. Long fasts are harder. The apostle Paul “often” fasted (2 Corinthians 11:27), and the oldest recorded person in the New Testament “served God” with “fastings and prayers” (Luke 2:37).
What is that you want? If it is important enough you will fast for it!
We are not to draw attention to ourselves when fasting. “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). But it is not wrong to call for a public fast or ask the members of your church to fast for someone or some event in the church (see 2 Chronicles 20:3 and Ezra 8:21). It does not of itself make one spiritual (see Luke 18:9–12 and Matthew 6:16). As to why it is helpful, one can only guess, but no one wants to make a “fervent” prayer (Colossians 4:12) after eating a big meal. Whatever the reason, it definitely increases power in prayer, and times that are set aside for fasting should be mixed with prayer: “And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief:…Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:18–21; see also Daniel 10:3, 12–13). Also, in Isaiah 58:5–8 we are told to help others when we fast.
Fasting can be a full fast of no food or water, or no food only, or no “pleasant” food—in this last situation, one could still eat and drink water (Daniel 10:2–3). The length may vary from one night (Daniel 6:18), or just during the daytime (Judges 20:26), or three days (Esther 4:16), or one week (1 Samuel 31:13), or three weeks (Daniel 10:2–3), or longer. If someone is having health issues, he should consult a doctor before fasting, and even if healthy, it is dangerous to fast without water for more than three days. It is not always appropriate (Luke 5:33–35) and appears to be harder the first time one fasts and also when one is older. Long fasts are harder. The apostle Paul “often” fasted (2 Corinthians 11:27), and the oldest recorded person in the New Testament “served God” with “fastings and prayers” (Luke 2:37).
What is that you want? If it is important enough you will fast for it!
We are not to draw attention to ourselves when fasting. “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). But it is not wrong to call for a public fast or ask the members of your church to fast for someone or some event in the church (see 2 Chronicles 20:3 and Ezra 8:21). It does not of itself make one spiritual (see Luke 18:9–12 and Matthew 6:16). As to why it is helpful, one can only guess, but no one wants to make a “fervent” prayer (Colossians 4:12) after eating a big meal. Whatever the reason, it definitely increases power in prayer, and times that are set aside for fasting should be mixed with prayer: “And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief:…Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:18–21; see also Daniel 10:3, 12–13). Also, in Isaiah 58:5–8 we are told to help others when we fast.
