Fasting
Jesus said in Matthew 6 “when you pray” – his expectation is not if you pray but when. A few verses later Jesus says “when you fast”.
Fasting and prayer go together. Fasting is simply going without something in order to feast on God. Going without food for the day is a declaration to God that we are surrendered to Him – that we need him more than we need anything else. When you are not eating, pray.
If you’ve never fasted before, try fasting a meal. If you’ve done a meal before, try the day. Enjoy.
Tips on Fasting
Whether this your first fast, or your hundredth, here are some short tips that might help you when you fast:
- There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to fasting, so feel free to approach it however you feel led, but the aim is still the same: To create space for God in our lives, by removing something in order to feast on God.
- A simple way to fast is to replace your regular "meal times" with "prayer times" instead. Instead of sitting down with a knife and fork, take 10mins to sit somewhere quiet, read the bible and ask God to speak. You don't need to have a list of things to pray for, but allow Him to gently lead you as you listen. You might find that He gives you things to pray for as you go!
- If you would prefer to have a bit more structure to your time with God, please use the included devotion in the prayer booklet from an ancient tradition called The Daily Office.
- Rather than fasting food, some people choose to go with out more modern comforts such as TV, Social Media or the Internet instead of fasting food. This can be equally helpful in allowing us to focus on God, especially if we would like to reduce the amount of time we give to those things, but we would really encourage you to consider a food fast, as long as you are able to do so (see the important notes below).
- A fast is not a religious duty, and so please do not feel guilty if you need to end your fast earlier than you hoped. If you find yourself struggling, then thank God that He is always near to you, and eat! A fast is not an exercise in beating your body into submission, or a form of punishment, but rather a reflection of a hunger (literally!) to draw close to God. If you find that your motivation in fasting is becoming something different, then consider ending your fast.
- Some people choose to fast from all food and water, however it can be highly recommended to drink water regularly during your fast, especially if you chose to fast for more than 24hrs.
Important Notes on Fasting
- In order to help you fast in a healthy way, make sure that you set an end date and time for the fast. Fasting is at it’s most helpful when it is planned in advance, rather than started impulsively. Make sure that you feel comfortable completing the fast and are not doing it out of duty!
- Don't fast if you are diabetic, or feel concerned about your health. If you would like to fast items of food, but are concerned about the impact it might have on your health, please seek proper medical advice.
- If you feel faint, dizzy or find that you are rapidly losing weight during a fast, then you should immediately end the fast and seek medical advice.
