Fasting is Not for Suckers: A Quick Guide to Fasting

Prayer Strategies
March 16, 2015
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Fasting is Not for Suckers: A Quick Guide to Fasting, by T.C. Spellen

Fasting, a forgotten discipline is as necessary today as it was during biblical times.

What’s troubling is that we live in a world that tells us we can have whatever we want, when we want and how we want and that self-denial is for suckers.

Allow me to assure you that self-denial is not for suckers but for the bold, the curious, the spiritually mature and especially for all those who seek miracles for their lives. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that has supernatural benefits and powerful results that we would not otherwise experience. In the book of Matthew when the disciples could not cast out a dumb spirit, Jesus said, “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (NASB) Not only do we receive a certain level of power to exercise our spiritual and natural gifts when we fast, but there are also some needs, desires, plans, and expectations that we have that cannot and will not be fulfilled without fasting.

Fasting can be categorized into two areas, biblical and contemporary. Biblical fasting is the denial of food and/or water and in some cases wine (See Daniel 10:2-3). We may decide to give up eating meat or drinking soda or we may abstain from eating breakfast or dinner for a specified period of time. There are no hard and fast rules to this.

Contemporary fasting is the denial of a variety of healthy and unhealthy activities, hobbies and behaviors. For example: listening to certain types of music, watching TV, smoking, drinking alcohol, having sex, shopping, lying, manipulating people or situations and cursing, You get the picture. Denial of self rids us of the clutter in our lives and opens the portals of our minds, hearts and spirits in such a way that we become strong in God.

This tool called fasting is undeniably required by God, used for the purpose of setting us free of the things that dominate us. Our spirit empowers us to totally depend on God to sustain us while fasting. The late Dr. Myles Munroe stated it this way in his book, Understanding The Purpose And Power of Prayer, “Fasting enables you to discipline your body so that the body becomes a servant of the Lord, rather than the master of your spirit.” (225) Going through allowing things to rule us is certainly not how God intended for us to live.

When fasting, praying consistently is key, as it completes the fasting experience. Prayer keeps the supernatural communication flowing between God and us. We pray and God listens and responds. God speaks and we listen and respond. Furthermore, the Bible teaches us that we can pray without fasting, but we can’t fast without praying.

Why does God require us to fast?

Well, when Jesus called the tax collector to follow Him in Matthew 9:9-15, Jesus was the guest at Matthew’s house for a meal. The Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist had a problem with this. They asked Jesus, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered, ‘How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom is taken from them; then they will fast.

Jesus’ disciples were taught personally by Him to pray and to cast out demons. The disciples had close and daily contact with Jesus as He elevated their minds and encouraged them every day. Therefore, it was unnecessary for His disciples to fast. So, until Jesus, the bridegroom returns, He expects us to fast.

How should we fast?

While we are required to fast, it is voluntary. We decide when, why, how long and what to abstain from. As our relationship with the Lord becomes deeper, there will be times when He’ll deposit the need to fast into our spirits. When this happens, let’s be diligent about obeying God’s prompt to seek Him on a higher level.

Fasting is a humbling act that must be done with the right motives. It’s not a self-centered act but a holy quest that requires us to put all of our attention on God. While we need a spiritual reason to fast, confessing and repenting of our sins are usually at the center of a fast. This is a time to be set apart and to be totally honest with our Maker about the thoughts conceived, words spoken and deeds performed that were contrary His Word. God already knows the sins we’ve committed. This is what being humbled is all about — revealing that we are aware of our shortcomings and that we need God to heal, deliver, repair and restore us.

What are some spiritual reasons to fast?

The following list is not an exhaustive list of spiritual reasons to fast but it is a starting point.

To return to the Lord (Joel 2:12)
To seek God’s direction (Acts 14:23)
To receive protection (Esther 4:16)
To confess and repent (1 Samuel 7:6)
To overcome temptation and dedicate yourself to God (Matthew 4:1-11)
To express worship to God (Luke 2:37)

There will be times when we will know exactly what our fast should be about and then there will be times when it will be necessary to ask God for the reason. In either situation, remember that fasting is a confidential matter. Let’s not be like the Pharisees and brag and boast to others that we are fasting to appear more spiritually mature than they are.

What are the benefits to fasting?

Although there are benefits to fasting, it should not be done for the sole purpose of receiving blessings from God. Keep in mind that fasting is a form of worship, which is all about God. Fasting produces the following benefits:

Enhances our prayer life and assists with cultivating a deeper relationship with God
Assists us in hearing from God and recognizing His voice
Receives answers to specific prayers
Disciplines us in becoming more Christ-like
Helps us to identify God’s purpose for our life
Strengthens our flesh
Bestows power from God
Breakthroughs take place in our lives
Helps us during spiritual warfare and reveals our enemies
Reveals our true character and matures us on several levels
Liberates us from addictions and the things that control us
Maintains balance in our lives
Renews our dedication and commitment to God
Helps us to forgive and reconcile ourselves with others
Gives us discernment

Which biblical characters fasted?

These are some of the people in the Bible who fast.

Esther – Esther 4:16

Daniel – Daniel 9:3; 10:2-3

David – Psalm 69:10

Jesus – Matthew 4:2

Moses – Deuteronomy 9:9

Paul – Acts 9:9

Getting started:

If you are a novice here are some instructions to assist you with fasting.

Define the spiritual reason for your fast as well as the period and length of time.
Decide on what to abstain from. You may want to abstain from drinking soda, coffee, alcohol, or from eating cakes, pies or from adding sugar to your food for a weekend or a week. Perhaps you want to stop cursing or watching TV. Remember, these are biblical and contemporary fasts respectively. Note: you can combine the two.
Research and list scriptures pertaining to your reason for fasting. Read these scriptures throughout your fasting journey. This will help keep you centered every day of your fast. Journaling what these scriptures mean to you will help reveal any messages or requirements from God. In addition, you may want to include these scriptures in your prayers.
Schedule alone time with God and pray daily and as often as possible — at home, on your way to work, while at work, etc.
Maintain a journal of lessons learned, revelations from God, aha! moments, successes and failures during your fast and anything else that may come out of your fast.

Yes fasting is more than abstaining from pleasures; it’s work.

TIPS:

Do not give up on yourself if you forget that you’re fasting and unintentionally break your fast. Be patient with yourself and keep moving forward. Also keep in mind that you may experience headaches or mood swings; this is normal. Journal these episodes and your full experience and continue fasting.

If you are seasoned at fasting:

Maybe it is time to challenge yourself by taking fasting to another level. Perhaps it is time to go without eating for 24-hours or give up a two meals a day for a month. You can augment your fast by combining it with contemporary fasting. Nevertheless, seek God for his direction.

CAUTION: Anyone with a health condition is encouraged to consult your medical physician prior to fasting.

After your fast, ask yourself, “In what way am I different? Have I experienced God? Am I a sucker or not?”