Fasting Basics

Fasting Basics​

Simply stated, biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose.

Simply stated, biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose.
According to the Bible, there are three duties of every Christian: give, pray and fast. Biblical fasting takes a lot of discipline and strength—strength which you can only receive from God. 

Your private discipline will bring you rewards in Heaven, according to Matthew 6.
When you give God your first through fasting, prayer and giving at the beginning of the year, you set the course for the entire year.

 

BIBLICAL FASTING FOCUS: 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

 

ROMANS 12:1

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.”

 

MATTHEW 6:33

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.”

 

ISAIAH 58:6

“[Is] not this the fast that I have chosen to loosethe bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”

We want to encourage you to target your prayers during the fast. Two specific areas we will be focusing on together are leadership and finances. 

 The Bible instructs us to continually pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2). When we lift up our leaders, here in the United States and around the world, we can expect God’s peace in our lives and in our nation.

Another great promise, from the book of Isaiah, proclaims that the chosen fast will “undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free.”

 We are living in tough economic times and we know that so many people are under a financial burden.

 As we come together to fast and pray, we believe that your burdens will be lifted and that financial blessings will be released into your life!

We encourage you to seek the Lord in prayer and let your decisions about your biblical fasting come from Him. 

Ask the Lord to show you areas to target during your time of fasting and prayer. We believe that, as we pray and seek God and give Him our best at the first of the year, He will bless our ENTIRE year (Matthew 6:33)!

If you have health issues,please be sure to contact your health professional for advice before committing to any fast including the Daniel Fast. 

 If you would like a list of the foods included and excluded in the Daniel Fast to show your doctor, just copy the contents of the fast on this page.
Once you have decided what you are abstaining from you will be able to plan accordingly. 

If you are fasting from caffeine, then plan ahead so there is no caffeine in the house. 

Giving it away may be sacrifice enough! If you are abstaining from TV, then pull the plug out of the wall and put a cloth over the screen. You must get serious, even if only for a brief, occasional fast.

If you are doing a short water-only fast, don’t presume that it will be easy.

 Some people are shocked when they first abstain from food. Your blood sugar level may drop and your instinct will be to rush for a chocolate bar. 

 But then you will remember that you are supposed to be fasting, though I have known people who have impulsively eaten before realizing what they were doing.

 Such an outcome can be discouraging; but do not despair; things will change once you get into the rhythm of fasting. Another temptation is to binge during the meal before or after a fast. Both are equally unacceptable!

Please make sure to READ THE LABEL when purchasing packaged, canned or bottled foods. They should be sugar-free and chemical-free for Daniel Fast. Keep this in mind as you review this list of acceptable foods.