Fasting: How & Why

Fasting: What is it? Why do it?

(Notes by Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ)

Fasting is the most powerful of all the Christian spiritual disciplines.

Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life. Fasting and prayer can also work on a much grander scale. According to Scripture, personal experience and observation, I am convinced that when God’s people fast with a proper Biblical motive- with broken, repentant, and contrite spirit – God will hear from heaven and heal our lives, our churches, our communities, our nation and world.

Fasting and prayer bring about revival – a change in the direction of our nation, and the nations of earth and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

The awesome power can be released through you as you fast through the enabling of the Holy Spirit. Yet fasting is one of the most neglected spiritual admonitions. In fact, it has been ignored for so long that it is difficult to find information on the "how-to’s" of this life-changing experience.

The Power and Importance of Fasting:

Fasting was an expected discipline in both the Old and New Testament eras. For example, Moses fasted at least two recorded forty-day periods. Jesus fasted 40 days and reminded His followers to fast, "when you fast," not if you fast.

  • Fasting and prayer can restore the loss of the "first love" for your Lord and result in a more intimate relationship with Christ.
  • Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). King David said, "I humble myself through fasting."
  • Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life.
  • The Holy Spirit will quicken the Word of God in your heart and His truth will become more meaningful to you!
  • Fasting can transform your prayer life into a richer and more personal experience.
  • Fasting can result in a dynamic personal revival in your own life-and make you a channel of revival to others.
  • Fasting and prayer are the only disciplines that fulfill the requirements of II Chronicles 7:14: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." If you fast, you will find yourself being humbled as I did. You will discover more time to pray and seek God’s face. And as He leads you to recognize and repent of unconfessed sin, you will experience special blessings from God.

Types of Fasts

The Normal Fast:Drinking only water and juice (Luke 4:1,2)

The Partial Fast:The restriction of diet, such as Daniel eating only grains, fruits and vegetables and drinking only water (Daniel 1:15)

The Absolute Fast:Refraining from both food and water. This type of fast is not to exceed three days.

Specific Fast:The abstinence from something that brings pleasure such as media, a favorite food, beverage or recreation.

Congregational Fast:Joining together with your local body and/or small group to "tag team" on an extended fast (ie. one person fasts one day, the next the next day, etc…)

Practical Steps to Fasting

1. Set Your Objective

Ask God for a specific focus for your fast, to help you pray more purposefully

2. Make Your Commitment

Commit to which type and length of fast you will do.
Decide what physical or social activities you may restrict.
Set a daily amount of time you will devote to prayer

3. Prepare Yourself Spiritually

Confess every sin that the Holy Spirit brings to mind and resolve any disputes/ sin with others. Do not underestimate spiritual opposition – we are dangerous to Satan!

4. Prepare Yourself Physically

Start eating less before your fast, avoiding high fat and sugar foods. Eat raw fruits and vegetables two days prior to fasting. It is not unusual for there to be some symptoms of crankiness, dizziness and tiredness during the fast.

5. Exercise moderately

Avoid high aerobic activities.

6. End Your Fast Gradually

Break your fast with fruit such as watermelon. While continuing to drink fruit or vegetable juices, slowly reintroduce fresh foods with several small snacks over the first several days, avoiding anything processed.

7. Expect Results

God has promised to move when his children humble themselves and wholeheartedly seek His face.

Additional Resources:

  • Spiritual Disciplines For the Christian Life, Donald S. Whitney, NavPress, c.1991
  • The Spirit of the Disciplines, Dallas Willard, Harper & Row, Publishers, c.1988
  • Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster, Harper & Row, Publishers, c.1978
  • 7 Steps to Successful Fasting and Prayer, Bill Bright, Campus Crusade for Christ, c. 2000

More information on fasting from www.billbright.com including:

  • How to fast safely?
  • How long and what type of fast is right for you?
  • How to prepare yourself spiritually and physically?
  • How to manage your schedule while fasting?
  • How to deal with the responses of friends and loved ones?
  • How to make your spiritual experience the best it can be?
  • How to maintain nutritional balance and health from beginning to end (including specific juice and broth recipes)?
  • What physical benefits to expect?
  • How to finish your fast and return to your normal schedule in a Healthy way?

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