Let’s explore the concept of fasting and how it’s an important tool God has given us to strengthen our spiritual walks. As we mentioned in the last module, fasting regularly may involve short half-day fasts, 24-hour fasts, two or three-day fasts, or even longer. When properly applied, fasting helps to strengthen us. It supports us in overcoming, seeking answers to prayer, increasing our faith, humbling ourselves and bringing our body and mind into subjection, and improving our sensitivity to God’s Word through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 5:35, “But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.”
Mark 9:29, “And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”

Traditionally, fasting involves abstaining from food and only drinking water for a certain time. Still, we may choose to juice fast (drinking only fresh vegetable/fruit juices, water, and herbal teas, for example) in the beginning “training” stages. The idea of fasting is to turn our attention from something that is normally a major focus in our lives (eating) to the things of the Lord, which has enormous spiritual benefit. For some, food – especially pleasing their taste buds and satisfying cravings – can become an idol that distracts them from walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever heard of the man-made term “full of beef and unbelief”? Being driven by the pull of appetite instead of focusing on nourishing our body (the temple of the Holy Spirit), we can unwittingly dampen our faith and connection with the Word of God. Fasting regularly is one of the best things we can do to guard against this.

By the way, fasting regularly is actually extremely healthy for our bodies, and for those interested in extended fasts, here’s some reassurance: The hunger pangs that are initially experienced usually abate within two to three days (especially when you use natural products to clean and flush the bowels – see J.E.W.E.L. Journey for specifics).

Fasting is a deeply personal sacrifice unto the Lord. It’s not a matter of how long we fast; rather, our mindset during the fast is what’s important. Fasting out of obligation or with a negative attitude will not yield the same effects as a truly voluntary, dedicated fast.

It’s important to remember that fasting is a time of prayer and fasting, whereby the time we would normally spend preparing food (and eating it) is replaced with activities directed toward the Lord, such as studying the Bible and praying. If we make the effort to do this rather than trying to distract our mind and body with work and worldly entertainment, we will derive far greater spiritual benefit from the fast.

As with praying and studying Scripture, fasting is a wonderful way to seek the Lord together as a family. Even if our children have not yet received the Holy Spirit, they can join in. It will certainly help to prepare their hearts toward humility and repentance, hopefully leading to their own born-again experience. Very young ones might simply begin by limiting their meals to fresh whole foods and sacrificing treats and other “extras” for the fasting period.

A note to those who struggle with fasting:
Unlike the days of Jesus, when people ate a clean diet relative to today, fasting can be very difficult for some people. However, if we’re dedicated to using this tool then we will do what it takes to train our bodies to cope well with the process, such as doing a series of short fasts within a brief span of time (with a view of building up to longer fasts), and “cleaning up” our daily diet to include lots of fresh, whole, natural foods.

Most of the discomfort and unpleasant symptoms experienced by beginner fasters are due to their bodies being polluted and weakened by years of unhealthy eating and unhealthy lifestyle habits (such as minimal exercise). So, if fasting is too much of a challenge for you, you can help detoxify (cleanse) your body and strengthen its ability to fast by 1) exercising regularly and 2) transitioning to a diet that focuses (for the most part) on the following:

Uncooked (or lightly cooked) fresh vegetables, especially greens
Vegetable fruits (such as tomato, cucumber, and bell peppers)
Freshly juiced vegetables (sweetened with some freshly juiced fruits)
Fresh sprouts of any kind
Fresh fruits (and some dried, sulphur-free fruits)
Raw (unroasted) nuts and seeds
Legumes (such as lentils, chickpeas, beans, etc.) Note: Sprouting legumes before cooking makes them more digestible and causes their nutrients to be more bio-available.
Whole grains (such as buckwheat groats, millet, spelt, quinoa, wild rice, etc.)
Healthy fats (such as fresh avocado, avocado oil, extra virgin coconut oil, flaxseed oil, hemp seed oil, and extra virgin olive oil)
Herbal teas (non-caffeinated) instead of coffee

Fasting Is a Tool