Important

 Fasting is sacrificing something that comforts you, or is important to you. If it doesn’t mean anything to you, it won’t mean anything to God.” (Matthew Hagee)

Fasting is a Christian discipline that I have known about since I was a teenager in the mid-1970s. The concept behind fasting is simple to begin. Traditional fasting involves abstaining from food for a set period of time in order to let God know that you are serious about a certain request by giving up food. Everytime you would snack (or eat meals); you pray for that request instead. No one should know you are fasting. It is to be done in secret. The process reminds me of the extra boost you get in gas mileage from your car when a fuel additive is added to a car’s gasoline tank.

Though fasting can last any period of time, today’s typical fast duration is three to five days. If you have an illness like diabetes, I don’t recommend because health issues that you do a traditional fast. A juice fast could be substituted, which involves only drinking juice during what would be regular food intake times (as you pray over your need).

Below are four verses on that verify fasting as a biblical concept:

Joel 2:12, Easy-to-Read Version- This is the Lord’s message: “Now come back to me with all your heart. Cry and mourn, and don’t eat anything. Show that you are sad for doing wrong.

 

Matthew 6:16, The Passion Translation-When you fast, don’t look like those who pretend to be spiritual. They want everyone to know they’re fasting, so they appear in public looking miserable, gloomy, and disheveled. Believe me; they’ve already received their reward in full.

 

Ezra 8:23, The Voice- We knew fasting and following our True God would ensure that He helped us travel safely to Jerusalem—and He did.

 

Matthew 4:2, The Passion Translation- And after fasting for forty days, Jesus was extremely weak and famished.

 

It is possible to fast from junk food or electronics, too. This Christian habit resembles somewhat the holiday period of Lent. Both have in common giving up something to God that is important to you. That being said, I have never excelled at fasting. During the times I should be praying, food intake is on my mind. Maybe that is a positive thing since I am diabetic. Medically, fasting can help with weight loss. It can also rid the body of harmful toxins. Is it time to put fasting into action I your life?