Fast to The LORD
A Fast is Different From Dieting
These days when a person mentions the word “fast“ the easiest association is dieting. But the true meaning of fasting has nothing to do with dieting. Fasting is first spiritual because it promotes a bond with the Lord by prayer, sacrifice and self denial. However, fasting does has its social and physical benefits. The irony is many Believers will not fast for spiritual reasons but unbelievers fast frequently for personal motives like weight loss. Let us however, focus our attention on the spiritual perspective of Christian fasting.
What really would qualify, today, as a fast? Simply put, a fast is abstinence from an object or objects of your choice for a fixed duration. That object can be anything, for example, a person can fast from food and water for a day or longer. This is the traditional fast. This is the fast well known and popular among Believers. We know Moses fasted for forty days and forty nights before the Lord gave him the Old Covenant of Israel. We are also familiar with Jesus’ fast of forty days and forty nights.
A more non-traditional and recent phenomenon is a fast from anything except from food and drinks. For instance a fast from “evil speaking” or from “technology” and so on. Similarly, a person could fast lying, hate, malice and so on. In USA, it is a popular thing to fast from anything including egg yoke, red meats white flour, high calories and love.
This particular usage of fast is relatively new but the practices and principles of fasting are thousand of years old. Believers should be fasting from all unchristian like behaviours “naturally” during their everyday lives.
A Fast - Total Abstinence No Food and No Drinks
So what is the true meaning of Christian fasting? Let us examine how the Lord views fasting to arrive at our answer. When the Scriptures speak of a fast it means total abstinence from food and drinks (including water) for a predetermined time. This duration also include other activities like prayer, Bible reading and memorization of selected Scriptures and meditation on the Word of God. No food and no drinks. Later on, when we discuss extended fasts we will revisit this explanation.
Many religious and Christian groups have their own fasting practices. However, there is NO account of partial fasts in Scriptures. Daniel’s fast was not partial. He did a complete abstinence fast for twenty one days, (Daniel 10:2-3). There is no record of any fast – in the Bible – being anything other that total abstinence. Anything else, anyway, defeats the entire purpose of the fast.
According to (Isaiah 58:5) the true meaning of a fast is when the Lord sees it as “an acceptable day to Him.” If the Lord does not approve your fast what is the purpose of it? An acceptable day is one the Lord approves or accepts for us to spend time in His presence. Learn how to fast.
Fast to The LORD
God is a Spirit, (John 4:24), and is in every place at the same time (omnipresent) but He wants us to set aside regular fasting times to be in His presence.
Not eating for any length of time (by itself) does not qualify as an acceptable fast to God. It is not so much what we do that pleases God but why ,(Jeremiah 14:12). That is exactly why He rebuked Israel for their fasting in Isaiah 58:3.
Christ wants us to fast according to His standards. If we do not He will ask, “did you all fast unto me, even to me?”, (Zachariah 7:5).
In closing, our responsibilities are to fast according to what God accepts. Be concerned with obeying His Words because it will effect change internally. This way we need not worry about fasting from carnal things like technology and lying because a fast is temporary. When it is over we resort to our old way of living. However, let us be more concern about our fast being acceptable to God. An acceptable fast therefore is one the Lord has chosen, (Isaiah 58:5). His choice not ours. So in fasting, to really experience the true meaning of Christian fasting, let us afflict our souls according to the fast the Lord God has chosen.
QUESTION:- Do you fast? How often and why or why not?
Below you shall find a list of additional reading material on fasting from the Web:
- The Meaning of Fasting
- Fasting
- Fasting Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Juice Fast
- Personal Guide to Fasting
- Fasting
- Spiritual Benefits of Prolonged Scientific Fasting
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{ 16 comments }
A lot of what you assert happens to be astonishingly accurate and it makes me ponder the reason why I had not looked at this with this light before. This piece really did switch the light on for me as far as this particular topic goes. However there is actually one particular position I am not too cozy with and whilst I attempt to reconcile that with the main idea of your position, permit me see exactly what all the rest of the subscribers have to point out.Nicely done.
The Lord Jesus continues to bless you. Thank you for your comments. Hoping as you continue to read other articles your particular point of concern will become clearer. Much love:)
This article is not accurate. To say that a fast is not complete unless it includes not eating and not drinking is not biblical. The only biblical reference that I know of when someone did not eat or DRINK for an extended period of time is after the Lord appeared to Saul, later Paul, on the way to Damascus and blinded him, telling him he was persecuting the Lord by killing his people. Saul was so undone that he neither ate nor drank for three days. The other passages referenced only speak of a fast as being not eating, or, as in the Daniel passage, as abstaining from wine. For a person to go without drinking water for any length of time longer than a few days would be to invite physical disaster. A fast can be any length of time that a person has to seek God and deny himself in order to pray and seek God. Let’s not make fasting so impossible that no one will do it. It was meant to be accomplished, as Jesus said, after He had returned to heaven, and with the money we save not eating, we can give to the poor and accomplish the fast God requests in Isaiah, if the Lord so leads. Fasting should be more a part of our daily living than it is, and making excuses for not following what the early church did in Acts so often….pray and fast….is not really a spiritual way to view this command of our Lord’s.
Thanks Yvonne for your comments concerning the meaning of a fast. Fasting, is not for everyone because not everyone is a Believer in Jesus Christ. You remarked you “only” “know” of one person in the Bible that did abstinence fast.
However, I know of many, here are a few indicating fasting duration:
And there are more…..
Thanks again.
Well, of all those posts you just quoted, the only one that did a fast of three days and three nights with nothing to drink was in the case of Esther. The other references you gave I checked out, and they do not say anything about not drinking for long periods of time. As far as I can tell, the longest without water is three days. To think a person could fast 40 days and 40 nights with not even water to drink would imply a supernatural act of God, indeed. A normal body cannot live with no water for that long, especially not in the toxic world we live in where fasting begins a detoxification process in the body that can be very dangerous if not done very carefully. When I finished reading your post, I went to a post written by someone from Campus Crusade, which you might want to read, as I think it casts more light on the subject, gives some specific directions, and is more accurate. You can Google it, and will find it at the top of the list. Just don’t want some sincere Christian to try this and not live to tell the story.
Nevertheless, thanks for getting back to me.
Well Yvonne, I did not expect such prompt response. Thank you for your quick response. You said four of the references I gave you on fasting said nothing about “not drinking for a long time.”
The Bible never presents all its information on a subject in on place. To understand fasting as taught by the Bible one needs a comprehensive understanding of Jewish fast because the Bible is essentially a Jewish book.
Return to those references I gave (Job 2:13; 1 Kings 19:8; Deuteronomy 10:10; 1 Samuel 31:1-13 and 1 Chronicle 10:12) you and read the entire chapter you should have a different opinion at the end.
The article you read explains the meaning of fasting. The article you refer me to explains how to fast, two different things. I wrote an article, which explains how to do a short fast. There is another, how to conduct a long fast, any fast over three days. These writings are on fasting but a long fast is different from a short fast.
From your conversation, I deduce that you don’t fast. I have done many 7 days and 7 nights total abstinence fast and I’m still here. As I said before Biblical fasting is for Believers, therefore not everyone will fast. I encourage you to try a 24-hours abstinence fast then tell me about your experience.
A fast is not what we want it to be but it is what the Lord declares it to be, Isaiah 58.
Again thanks.
Well, I am a believer, a missionary to Mexico, and I do fast, but for shorter periods. I also find even though I fast for shorter periods, I do have toxic effects afterwards. In fact, I came off a fast just today and am experiencing considerable discomfort in two different parts of my mouth that apparently are trying to detoxify, as I have had health issues there before. I am glad to hear fasting doesn’t cause you such problems. Blessings.
Blessings Yvonne. The Lord Jesus blesses you as you embark on you fast.
I’m not sure where you are getting your information, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for fantastic information I was looking for this Fast | Meaning of Christian Fasting | Christian Fasting | What is a Fast? Blogging About The WORD for my mission.
Thank you Blee. Please read some more and believe in Jesus Christ as you read. Bless!
I am really inspired with your article on fasting as well as with your blog. Excellent high quality writing, it’s rare to see a great weblog like this one today..
Nice website are you on myspace?
Thank you Zahnke for your comments and kind words. I could not have done it without the Lord Jesus Christ. Thanks again.
Yes Angelina, I’m. Thank you!
so while im fasting is something suppose to happen i want to learn how to fast i want to change my life and want my father god and Jesus to love so i will do this i want to know the god way of fasting do i have to not eat or drink and i have to pray read the bible and not lie i really want to be close to the lord so i need help i want to know what to do…
Thanks for your comments Jeremy and I pray the Lord Jesus will assist you to accomplish your fasting goals. Now, armed with the knowledge of what a fast is about do a fast. However, first get more information of fasting. Here is another “post” which informs How to do a Christian Fast.
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