​​

​

​

TYPES OF FASTS

​

Biblical fasting almost always concerns food. Since the purpose of fasting, as we saw earlier, is to focus on God, to humble ourselves and to remind ourselves that we are sustained by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, then the task in fasting is connecting our “going without” to “hungering for God.” This takes time, focus and prayer in itself. Please do not expect to be an “expert” at fasting right away. Fasting is a discipline that can take a very long time to understand well but don’t let this deter you or intimidate you.

 

TYPES OF FASTS:​

​

Absolute Fast

The difference here between the ‘supernatural absolute’ and the ‘absolute’ is not just it’s length of time but the ability for the fast to be sustained. For anyone to fast for 40 days, it must be a supernatural (miraculous) experience. However, people can fast with no food or drink for a few days such as the Apostle Paul who went on an absolute fast for three days following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:9).

 

Complete Fast

In this type of fast, you don’t eat solids and drink only liquids, typically water with light juices and broths as an option. It is assumed that Jesus fasted this way after his baptism where he ‘ate’ nothing for 40 days in the wilderness (Luke 4).

​

Selective Fast

This type of fast involves removing certain elements from your diet. One example of a selective fast is the Daniel Fast (Daniel 10:3), during which you remove meat, sweets, and bread from your diet and consume water and juice for fluids and fruits and vegetables for food.

​

Partial Fast

This fast is sometimes called the “Jewish Fast” and involves abstaining from eating any type of food in the morning and afternoon. This can either correlate to specific times of the day, such as 6:00 am to 3:00 pm, or from sunup to sundown. For many it might be a fast from such things as coffee or alcohol…or dare I say…chocolate?!

​

Soul Fast

This fast is a great option if you do not have much experience fasting food, have health issues that prevent you from fasting food, or if you wish to refocus certain areas of your life that are out of balance. For example, you might choose to stop using social media or watching television for the duration of the fast and then carefully bring that element back into your life in healthy doses at the conclusion of the fast.

 

A word of caution…

 

Once again, if you are doing any kind of food fast I urge you to take every precaution possible and begin slowly.

If you have any medical conditions or are taking any medication, please consult your GP before taking a fast and be wise to follow their recommendation.

 

If you do participate in a solid food fast, then I also strongly advise you to drink plenty of liquids. Obviously, if God leads you to undertake an ‘absolute’ fast, you should obey. If so, be certain, without doubt, that God is leading you. Do not do anything to try and ‘prove’ your devotion to God.

When it comes to making your final decision about what type of fast is right for you, the best advice I can give you is to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. He will guide your heart and mind as to what is best for you. Remember, the most important consideration in fasting is your motive. Why are you fasting? To seek something personally from God’s hand or to seek His face in worship, praise and thanksgiving?

 

‘Water-only’ fasts (such as Complete fast, Selective Fast etc.) that last for more than several days need to be undertaken with complete rest and under medical supervision because of the extreme danger of over-toxification, breakdown of vital body tissues, and loss of electrolytes. If you have any known medical conditions, please speak to your GP before you begin.

​

If you have never fasted before then I personally recommend the ‘selective or complete fast’, where you deny yourself solid food. During these fasts you are still able to consume liquids such as water, juices and broths. This type of fasting will provide you with more energy than absolute or water-only fasts and still lead you into the humbling experience of denying your desire for solid food that you can chew.

​

We eagerly wait on what the Lord will do for us, in us and through us during these very special seven days.

​

​