4 Tips for HOW to Fast

So you know how in anime TV shows you have those characters powering up? Well, fasting is kind of like that for a Christian. Fasting is essentially denying bodily desires so that you can place greater attention on growing the spirit inside of you, and this can result in greater power. The longest I've ever fasted from food has been seven days, and I'll tell you, to go that long without food was tough. But during this period of hunger, I felt this unusual hypersensitivity to the voice of God and

the leading of the spirit. And the reason why I'm telling you all of this isn't to boast, but to tell you that I speak from experience when I say this. Fasting is one way that you can draw even closer to God and it could even push you to greater heights in your walk with Him. However, there is a correct way to fast. So if you want to learn how, follow these four steps. Step number one, pick a purpose. Matthew 4.2 And when he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, afterward he was hungry. In this pass

age, before Jesus started His ministry and chose His disciples, we see that He fasted for 40 days and then He got hungry. So when you fast, you normally set aside a period of time to fast and then you fast for a particular reason. Jesus chose to fast for 40 days. So for you, you could fast for a single meal, a full 24-hour period of time, or longer. I should also tell you that it can be physically unsafe for certain people to fast from food for too long. So please check with your doctor if you p

lan to fast for extended periods of time, especially if you have any health conditions. Also note that Jesus chose to fast right before He began His ministry and before He chose His 12 disciples. So before you fast, pick a reason on why you're fasting. You can fast if you have to make an important decision, or have something important that you need to pray for, or if you want to grow in spiritual discipline. I should also mention that there's a certain power that comes with fasting, because acco

rding to Mark 9, verse 29, certain demons can only be cast out if someone is in a state of fasting. But please note that while you can have many reasons why you fast, the heart of fasting can be summed up in this sentence. We fast so that we can draw nearer to God. So once you pick a time and a reason to fast, proceed to step number two, which is to stop eating. And for this point, I will reread Matthew chapter four, verse two, and read verse three. And when he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights,

afterward he was hungry. Now when the tempter came to him, he said, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." In this passage, we see again that Jesus fasted, was hungry, and that the devil tempted him first with food. So please note that the result of Jesus's fast was physical hunger. So when it comes to fasting, biblically, you really just have to stop eating. In the past, I've heard some Christians say that you can also fast from social media, electronics, or from d

esserts or other types of food. But I would argue that those would be things that we can sacrifice or give to God. So I would not categorize those under fasting. And my main argument for that is because I cannot find a place in scripture where people fasted something other than food altogether. Some people may argue that in Daniel chapter 10, verses two to three, Daniel fasted different things, but that was a time of mourning, not fasting. Now all that to say, if you wanna give up social media o

r electronics to God, awesome, you can do that. And it would probably be healthy for you. Just note though, that that would be considered something that you give to God and could not be called fasting. And should you decide to fast, please note that it's difficult and that you'll want to eat and your body will think of excuses to not fast or your mind will try to justify you eating and try to get you to break your fast sooner than you planned. Fasting food gets especially tough once you hit dinn

er time or if you fast for a week, days two and three are incredibly tough, at least in my experience it was. So tip for when you fast, when it gets unbearable because it might for you, drink a big cup of water and pray and ask God for help. And then remember that fasting is the exercise of dying to yourself so that you can draw closer to God and to grow in the spirit. So again, if that's uncomfortable for you, that's normal. Step number three, keep it between you and God. Matthew chapter six ve

rses 16 to 18. Moreover, when you fast, don't be like the hypocrites with the sad countenance for they disfigure their faces so that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward, but you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your father who is in the secret place and your father who sees in secret will reward you openly. In this passage, Jesus teaches his followers to hide the fact that t

hey're fasting if they're fasting. And then he tells them to wash their face so that people don't know that they're fasting. So the main point here is to make your time of fasting something special between you and God alone. So don't go making it obvious that you're fasting. In the passage, Jesus was talking about how some people made it very clear that they were fasting and essentially they were communicating to others, ooh, look how holy we are, we're fasting. So for you, don't tell people you

're fasting if you decide to. In my experience, when people have asked me if I wanted to eat during a fast, I deflected with a, I'll eat later, thanks. However, for you, don't lie and say you're not hungry. It is okay to tell people you're fasting if they ask you. The main point of the passage was not to flaunt the fact that you're fasting like it's some spiritual badge of honor. And the reason why is because fasting is just us trying to get closer to God. So we should try to keep that matter be

tween us and him. And step number four, pair fasting with prayer. Matthew chapter 17, verse 21. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. Acts chapter 10, verse 30. So Cornelius said, four days ago, I was fasting until this hour and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house. Acts chapter 14, verse 23. So when they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. First Corinthians chapter seven, verse fiv

e. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer. Please notice the repetition in these passages and it's that fasting many times is accompanied with prayer. And this sums up one of the main focuses of fasting. Fasting isn't just abstaining from food, it's also drawing near to God during those times of hunger and death to self. So if you decide to fast for a meal or for a 24 hour period of time, pray and dive into God's word during t

he times that you would normally eat. If you think about it, a lot of our life revolves around food, thinking about it, getting it, preparing it, eating it, and then cleaning up after it. So utilize this time that you gained from fasting and think about why you're fasting and pray. Ask God questions, sit in silence, read his words, seek his will, and listen for his voice. And as the day passes and you get hungry, go back to God and grow in your private prayer life. And as you pray, learn to sit

quietly before God and don't rush it. English preacher Samuel Chadwick rightly says, "That hurry is the death of prayer." Okay? So if you ever decide to fast in the future, please follow these four steps. Pick a purpose, stop eating, keep it between you and God, and pair fasting with prayer. In the past, I fasted when I've needed direction in my life, before I moved forward in a romantic relationship, or when specific people needed protection because their life was in danger. And during my times

of hunger, I felt God draw nearer to me. I hope the same will be true with you and that you'll always remember, Jesus loves you.