Why We Fast

Pastor's P.O.V.,

What is a fast? It’s abstaining from food for a limited period of time to seek God. It’s a denial of self for the purposes of intense spiritual activity.

A fast is not eating fast food.

4 Types of Biblical Fasts

The Normal Fast: Fasting from all food like Jesus did for 40 days and forty nights. (Matthew 4:2)

The Partial Fast: This is when you eat or abstain from eating certain things like when Daniel refused to eat the king’s food, but only vegetables. (Daniel 1:12) (Some people may want to fast from going on the computer or anything else that may hinder time with God.)

The Absolute Fast: This is when you eat and drink nothing like Ezra did when he mourned over the unfaithfulness of his people. (Ezra 10:6)

The Supernatural Fast: When Moses went to get the two stone tablets, he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights and ate no bread and drank no water.” (Deuteronomy 9:9)

Biblical fasts could be 1 day, 3 days, 7,14, 21 days, or 40 days. (Judges 20:26; Acts 9:9; 1 Samuel 31:13; Acts 27:33, Daniel 10:3-13, Matthew 4:1-11)

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Fasting for God

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(Originally published on 2/14/16. Revised 6/3/20)

As our church is entering into a new phase  with lots of goals to accomplish for the Kingdom of God, perhaps I can convince you through Scripture that fasting is a worthwhile spiritual discipline to investigate.

Also, I’d like us as a church to engage in this practice on the first Thursday of every month.

What is a fast? It’s abstaining from food for a limited period of time to seek God. It’s a denial of self for the purposes of intense spiritual activity.

In the OT, regular fasters were Moses, David, Elijah, Daniel and Hannah. In the NT, Jesus fasted, and, of course, his Apostles and Anna.

Jesus did not say “If you fast,” but, “When you fast…” (Matthew 16:16), the implication being that this is something we should do.

Fasting is not a hunger strike, nor a manipulative device nor a form of dieting. Fasting should be about God, one that is set apart for him to honor and glorify him, designed to accomplish his will.

But why should we fast today? What spiritual benefits can we get from this ancient discipline? I want to give you 3 reasons why you may want to consider fasting as a regular part of your spiritual life:

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40 Days Past My 40 Day Fast

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My 40 day fast ended on Valentine’s Day. Good Friday marked 40 days after my fast.

This is what I’vemefastedit learned since eating again, including why everyone needs to use a Squatty Potty.

(Read about my travails while fasting for 40 days by clicking here.)

After the first 10 days I gained about 10-12 pounds, not because I was over-eating, but because my body held onto every calorie. My weight now ranges between 169 and 175 pounds, depending on how much popcorn I eat at night. I love my new waist size; I haven’t been this weight since my sophomore year in high school! (I know what you’re thinking: “He’s going to gain it all back!” Stop it. Stop it now!) Read on….

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