Top ten tips for fasting
Jesus did it. The disciples did it. Thousands of Christians do it. In this highly practical article, Roy Todd gives his top ten tips about how to make the most of a fast.
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Lots of Christians engage in periods of abstinence from food. It’s not only naturally beneficial – but has huge spiritual benefits too. It’s something that should never be approached legalistically – but rather as an act of love for God. Here are my top ten tips for you to bear in mind when approaching a fast:
1. Remember that fasting doesn’t score points with God. As far as He’s concerned, you’re a number one already. In fact, you can’t make God love you any more than He already does. So fasting is not some form of penance – rather an expression of personal devotion to “the one who loved you and gave himself for you.”
2. Fasting should not be entered into without proper preparation beforehand. For example, check your diary and see what your schedule is like well in advance. During fasting, there is nothing more demoralising than having to call friends and colleagues to cancel lunch and dinner appointments – especially when you feel hungry enough to eat everything on the restaurant menu in one go – and then some more!
3. A fast is definitely not a good way of losing weight. Of course your weight will undoubtedly drop off very quickly during it. However when the fast comes to an end, it will pile on twice as fast! So if your real motivation for fasting is to slim down – take my advice and try weight watchers instead!
4. True fasting involves abstinence from food. Some people talk about fasting from T.V., newspapers or even just chocolate. However this really does miss the whole point of a fast. Food is a basic necessity of life that we can’t go long without. We can live our whole lives perfectly well without most other things. So occasional fasting from food reaffirms our complete dependence on God – the one who is our eternal source of life.
5. Fasting does not involve abstinence from liquids. In fact, it’s highly important to drink lots of water during a fast. This will of course mean visiting the bathroom a lot more regularly! However, in my experience, keeping well hydrated during fasting has helped me avoid horrible headaches.
6. During a fast, set aside specific periods for prayer and bible reading. For example, these might be the times when you would normally eat. This discipline will not only break the monotony of not eating – but will help you focus on the reason why you’re fasting and will also help keep you going for the length of time you have intended to fast for.
7. Be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions during your fast. You’ll experience bursts of incredible energy and alertness contrasted by times when you feel completely lethargic, lonely and even melancholic. Remember that part of the purpose of a fast is learning to make God your fulfilment in whatever emotion you’re experiencing.
8. When fasting for more than one day, it is inevitable that you will feel tempted to eat again – especially in the first six days. However, when temptation strikes, don’t get daunted by looking too far ahead. Instead, take each day at a time. Ask God to help you get through that day. You’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel the following morning! If you do happen to break your fast prematurely, don’t put yourself on a guilt trip and wallow in disappointment. This really isn’t helpful to you. Instead, just take some time out and have a good meal. Then when you feel you’re ready, start again. Remember, God loves you anyway.
9. You should never fast for more than 40 days. After this point, the body begins to dangerously feed off its vital organs. If you feel its right for you to fast for this length of time, make sure you seek medical advice beforehand. At the end of a 40 day fast, coming off it requires just as much (if not more) discipline as the actual fast itself. When you finish, the immediate temptation is to celebrate your achievement by getting back to eating chips, burgers and chocolate again! However, this really is incredibly dangerous as your organs will have shrunk substantially and will be unable to handle solid foods. You should start with soups and only introduce solid foods very slowly into your diet. It is very wise to seek medical advice on how best to end your fast. Bear in mind that fasting for 40 days is something only a small minority of Christians will do – and is likely to be a once in a life-time experience for them. After all, Jesus himself only did it once.
10. Expect God to speak to you during your fast – however long you do it for. You may come out of it with a clearer sense of direction about your life – or perhaps even a greater revelation of your involvement in Gods purpose. Often, people come out of a fast with a deeper conviction of just how much God values them. One thing is clear – if you will take time to listen, you will hear God speak to you.
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© Roy Todd, 2008.
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