Written by staff at International House of Prayer in Kansas City
Link: http://www.ihopkc.org/blog/prayer/the-why-and-how-of-fasting/
The Why and How of Fasting
Fasting is both wonderful and mysterious. Believers throughout the ages have gone without food in order to receive more of God, achieving personal and national breakthroughs, yet so many questions remain: Is fasting for today? Is it for me? What if I’m weak, or break my fast early? Will God love me any less if I don’t fast? Will He love me any more if I do?
Whether you’re new to fasting, or just need encouragement to do it in a healthy, biblical way, these truths from Scripture can help ground us as we fast:
1. Fasting isn’t (only) about us.
We’re not called to work our way to God. This is what sets Christianity apart from other religions—God has come to us, invaded our time, space, and lives, and welcomed us into His family through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection (Eph. 2:1–10).
Salvation is accomplished through Christ’s work, and we respond by giving Him our lives. This means He is Lord over every area of our lives—including what we eat. Since fasting is to be a normal part of the Christian life (Jesus said “when you fast” in Matthew 6:16, not “if”), God is more than willing to help us walk it out, just as He helps us with prayer, worship, or anything else that we do to draw closer to Him.
Don’t hurry past this point—fasting that doesn’t rely on God is little more than dieting at best, and can lead to self-righteousness and pride at worst. We all need grace to fast, no matter how long we’ve been doing it, and our God is full of mercy if we will “ask, seek, and knock” (Mt. 7:7; Heb. 4:16).
2. Fasting works for us.
God gave fasting for our benefit. Jesus said that His followers would fast after He was taken away (Lk. 5:35). We are longing for Jesus, for His return, and for His power and beauty to be seen “on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10).
We seek spiritual breakthrough and direction, ask for mercy over our nation as well as our personal circumstances, and hunger for deeper revelation of God and His Word—all good gifts that our Father wants to give us. Sometimes fasting just speeds the release of His promises by taking away distractions so we can enter His presence more easily. Fasting clarifies our desires, shows us that the one thing we can’t live without is Jesus, and helps us find our true satisfaction in the Giver (God) more than the gift (although we still get both!).
Jesus said that the kingdom is worthy of our wholehearted pursuit (Mt. 13:44). God wants to give us the promised blessings, but sometimes we’ve got be hungry enough for them (literally). Joel 2:12–32 is a great picture of how God wants to use fasting and repentance to bring an outpouring of His Spirit “on all flesh.”
3. God honors small beginnings.
Since we’re not performing for God, and since He promises great rewards to those who seek Him (Mt. 6:18), why not put your faith into action? The Lord will honor even the smallest fast, even if it is just one meal, if it is done in faith.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).
Too many Christians think fasting only applies to long stretches of time—such as twenty-one or forty days—and so they are afraid to try (or tried and broke their fast early, thus creating a sense of failure). But setting aside one day a week to seek God through prayer and fasting—by abstaining from certain foods or drink—is something that can be done for a lifetime and that will result in great benefits and a closer relationship with God.
God will meet us through these short, regular fasts of one or two days per week as we try to build a healthy habit of it. And regular fasting can open the door for longer fasts as you get to know your spiritual and physical rhythms (think of training for a marathon—you wouldn’t try to run twenty-six miles on your first day!).
Start small, ask for grace, and see what the Lord does. And whether the blessings come quickly or take a while, they will come. So, as Jesus says, don’t lose heart!
“Men always ought to pray and not lose heart,” Luke 18:1.
Tips for Fasting
Now that you’ve heard about the grace of fasting—how it works for us, strengthens us in God, and fills us with more of Him—you may want to give it a try (or try it again). These simple guidelines can help you start:
1. Fast Quietly
Jesus told His followers to look “normal” when fasting, so that they would attract the attention of God, not men (Mt. 6:16–18). Part of fasting is to spend less time with food and more time with Him, so it can help to skip meal times and social gatherings, especially if you are new to fasting. Take a prayer walk or read your Bible during lunch—whatever keeps your mind on God and off food. When temptations come, or people invite you to eat, graciously decline and keep talking to the Father—the source of grace and strength to fast!
Fasting isn’t to make us miserable, but to help us delight in God, who loves to give good gifts to His children (Mt. 7:11).
2. Fast Regularly
Plan to fast regularly, one day per week if you can. Pick a day that fits your schedule, a day that won’t interfere with office parties or family gatherings, such as Sunday dinner. (If you’re called to a longer fast and need to miss an important social meal, talk it over with your family in advance; if the relational cost is too high, God may give you grace to eat lightly at the meal and then continue fasting once it’s done).
Some fast an entire day each week, such as Tuesdays; others do twenty-four hours, from dinner one day until dinner the next. Whichever way you choose, be sure to keep at it! Regular fasting builds devotion and will impact your heart over time, bringing a good harvest (see Gal. 6:7–9).
A note on breaking your fast: Even one-day fasts should be broken gently, by eating a small meal and stopping at the first sign of feeling full. Fasting is best done as a lifestyle, not something that’s one-and-done. Eating less sugar and processed foods during the week can lessen hunger pangs and cravings during your fast. Healthy eating habits are especially important if you want to fast more than one day per week or do longer fasts.
3. Feast on God and His Word (Mt. 4:4)
If we fast without taking in more of God, it’s little more than dieting! Fasting is a divine exchange, where we give up the pleasures of food for the superior pleasures of knowing and loving God more. Only He can satisfy our deepest longings, and He alone is our greatest need (Jn. 4:14; Lk. 10:42).
Fasting does make us look different—we eat less and spend more time in prayer, worship, and study—but we are strengthening our inner man, our spirit, while weakening our flesh (2 Cor. 4:16–18). Setting a vision for your fast—spiritual breakthrough, a renewed heart, or simply more of God—can help keep your focus on the Lord.
If possible, fast with a friend, so you can study and pray together and encourage one another. Use the time (and money, if you are led) that you would normally spend on food to give to God and His purposes (Isa. 58:6–12, for example).
Sometimes intercession, evangelism, and prophetic words flow more easily during a fast because our spirits are more alert and our flesh is weakened.
Two more tips: Ask God which type of fast to do (The Rewards of Fasting describes five types of fasting on pages 77–78; see the free ebook link below), and don’t give in to fear because “the fear of fasting is far worse than the fasting itself,” as Mike Bickle says.
How to overcome challenges in fasting:
Have you ever struggled while trying something new? You’re not alone!
Even if you’ve been at it for a while, fasting challenges the “normal” rhythm of life and society, so it requires constant dependence on God. Our flesh wars with our spirit, tempting us in different ways, but the Lord is more than able to keep us—even when we “mess up.” Here are three common struggles:
1. Talking about it
God is our reward for fasting, not the praise of men. Bragging or telling others that we’re fasting can limit God’s blessing, so keep your conversation with the Lord (Mt. 6:16).
If it helps, tell one or two trusted friends or mentors who can pray with you during the fast, but try not to go beyond that. What if someone offers you food? Simply say something like, “No, thank you,” or “I’m all set, thanks.” If they insist, explain that you’re not eating that day, and leave it at that.
Regard your devotion to God as holy, something set apart just for Him. We can share the rewards of fasting with others—knowledge, prophetic insight, and a fiery heart for Jesus—and invite others into it when our hearts are pure (Mt. 5:3–8).
A side note: Talking about fasting to exhort and encourage others is different than doing it to gain their attention or admiration. God knows our motives, and we will be held accountable to Him (Mt. 12:36).
2. Eating (or drinking) something
This is a big one. Sometimes we aim too high or set unrealistic expectations for ourselves. Maybe you started a “water only” fast but needed some juice to make it through the day. Or maybe that granola bar or snack just “jumped” into your mouth. What can we do?
The good news is God sees the reach in our hearts. He rewards everything we give to Him, whether it’s one meal, one day, or one week. He’s quick to forgive (Ex. 34:6-7) and wants us to press delete and restart quickly–we won’t exhaust His grace if we are seeking Him wholeheartedly.
If you’re continually breaking your fasts early, take a look at what’s tripping you up. Maybe a different day would work better, or try a juice fast instead of all water. It can help to ask a friend for accountability and encouragement—you don’t have to go it alone!
A note on “messing up”: Sometimes God allows our stumbling to expose weakness, prevent pride, and show us how unsatisfying food is compared to the pleasure of knowing Him more. A binge during or after a fast can leave us feeling worse than when we were hungry—something that can increase our zeal to stay faithful!
3. Ignoring God
This may be easier to do than you think (and harder to spot!). Fasting weakens us physically, removing the comfort we would get from food. Sometimes anger, fear, and hurt emotions rise to the surface, surprising even us! It can be tempting to suppress these feelings with entertainment, shopping, or Facebook, but this defeats the purpose. We must allow God to purify our souls, recognizing that these things came up for a reason, instead of masking the pain with other behaviors.
The bottom line is that God is jealous for you (Ex. 34:14)! He wants all of you, and fasting helps reveal things that are getting in the way, such as busyness, pain, or other loves.
This is another reason to fast weekly: some things take a while to be noticed, but God is fully committed to cleansing us if we will stay faithful to the process! So don’t quit. Even if it gets hard, the Lord loves to help in our weakness, and His grace is more than enough (2 Cor. 12:9).
Hopefully, these foundations will start you on an exciting journey of encountering God through fasting. As we keep our eyes on Him, He will do more than we could think, ask, or imagine (Eph. 3:20)!
Disclaimer: This is not intended as medical advice; please check with your doctor first if you have any health issues or concerns. Minors are discouraged from fasting food and should always ask their parents before doing any fasting.