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Principles of Fasting

Every Christian should fast. The New Testament and Christian history reveal that fasting is not only permissible but encouraged. Jesus fasted for 40 days before beginning His ministry. The apostles all fasted, as did most of the early church fathers. Protestant leaders like Martin Luther and John Wesley also fasted. Fasting was promoted during revivals in the 19th and 20thcenturies and into this new millennium.

Here are some basic principles on the discipline of fasting:

1. Fasting is doing without food to express our desire for God. Though people abstain from television, the Internet, or other things for spiritual reasons, such abstinence is not strictly fasting. Food is necessary for survival, so fasting expresses our dependence on God.

2. Fasting must be done God’s way to receive God’s blessing. Never fast so others will recognize, applaud, or feel sorry for you. If we fast for others to notice, we lose the greater benefit of God’s reward.

3. There are many kinds of fasts:

a. The water (or normal) fast involves drinking only water, with no nourishment from food or other drinks. Acts 13 and Ezra 8 seem to record this kind of fast.

b. The absolute (or emergency) fast means no food or liquid, not even water, is consumed. Esther and Saul fasted this way (Esther 4:15–16, Acts 9:9).

c. The extended fast is a fast of a long duration, usually beyond 10 days. It allows water and perhaps other liquids (at the end of Jesus’ 40-day fast, He was hungry, not thirsty; see Matthew 4:2).

d. The supernatural fast is done in God’s presence only through His provision. Moses and Elijah may have fasted this way (Deuteronomy 9:9, Exodus 34:28; 1 Kings 19:8).

e. The partial (or Daniel) fast is practiced by severely limiting food intake. It might mean abstaining from meat or only drinking juice. Daniel and three of his companions participated in this kind of fast (Daniel 1:12, 15).

4. Fasting must include prayer. Christians fast to draw closer to God and intercede for others. Whether we use the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13), the prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:9–10), or other methods, we seek to hear from God through the Spirit and Scripture. Accessing increased grace is a wonderful result of disciplining our life for Christ.