At Legacy Church, we begin each year in fasting and prayer. We give seven days in prayer and fasting as a church. We also give the first 3 days of each remaining month. By doing this we are giving 40 days a year to fasting (a little more than a tithe).
Fasting is often the least enjoyed and participated in Christian discipline. This is not shocking news, because we are talking about depriving ourselves of something that our body not only wants, but needs. If you don’t eat, you don’t live, so our bodies naturally resist every part of this experience.
People often ask, “What does fasting do for me?”
In short, it breaks down the carnal nature by humbling the flesh, and allows the spirit to become strong.
Each time we make decisions based upon spiritual principles, we cause our spirit to dominate the flesh. By repeating this process often, we keep our flesh in submission and allow our spirit the liberty to become close to God.
Fasting will:
Cleanse you physically & spiritually
Toxins will leave your body. Fasting without prayer is simply starvation, but increased prayer will detoxify you spiritually.
Will create hunger physically & spiritually
As your body develops physical hunger your spirit will cry out in spiritual hunger. Your will, will make the choice as to whom to listen to.
Will develop sensitivity physically & spiritually
Your sense of smell, taste, and in some cases even sight have intensified as the body becomes more sensitive. Your spirit will become more sensitive to the moving of the Spirit of God
Types of Fasts
The most well known type of fasting is participated in by simply not eating. This is a solid, difficult, but very rewarding type of fast. Your body is deprived quickly and by midday on the first day…you know you are fasting. This type of fast is not for those who are working physical jobs, taking certain types of medication, or must be completely alert on their jobs. Remember that when Jesus fasted, He removed Himself from the rest of the world as the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. He was separated and could focus upon the Spirit completely. If you are unable to function in your duties while not eating…don’t do a complete fast.
This type of fasting has become more popular over the past few years. There is no restriction on how much you can eat on a Daniel fast, but the restriction is on what is eaten. Only fruits and vegetables (no meat) can be eaten, only water for a beverage, and the further restriction is in the area of sweeteners and breads. This is great for those who desire the benefits of fasting, but still need to function alertly. The website ‘The Daniel Fast’ is a great resource.
There are times when you need/want/or are called into fasting, but neither types of fasts will work in your situation. Ultimately, fasting is about giving something up to God and denying the flesh. Some people fast entertainment, TV, movies, going out to eat, reading fiction, and any number of other pleasurable things. Any and all of these ideas are great ideas for fasts.
The Why & When of Fasting
Where things are placed in scripture has importance. It was not by accident that Jesus taught his Sermon on the Mount when He did.
Consider for a moment what Jesus had just endured.
In chapter 4 of Matthew He had spent 40+ days in the wilderness in fasting and prayer, time being tempted of the devil, time teaching His body self control.
In our lives, the battle for influence is never ending. Just as Jesus brought His flesh under subjection, so must we.
Listen below to Pastor Micah’s teaching on these topics in “The Why and When of Fasting”, and be blessed!
Pastor Micah Sutton’s 8 Practical Points on Fasting
There are a few things that you may want to consider when building your own fast. The following points are made relying upon personal experience and the experiences of those I know to be veterans of fasting.
1Set a time frame which you are personally unhappy with, but yet is actually doable.
Fasting television for two minutes is not going to cause you much difficulty. Fasting television for a month is doable, but is probably not something you want to do. You want to be uncomfortable with the time frame, and you want to force yourself to fulfill your vow of fasting.
2Be realistic.
If you set a time frame of one month and your fast is talking on the phone…the police may come knocking at your door. Someone will report you missing and you will cause much concern.
3Let people know what you are fasting.
I know the scripture tells us not to put ashes on our heads and cry out that we are fasting all day long, but that has more to do with your attitude of fasting than it does with letting people know about what you are doing. Letting people know is both polite and right.
I have invited folks to dinner, gone to a restaurant, sat down with them and they order water. When I asked them what else they would like they squirmed, said they weren’t hungry (which was a lie) and tried to make all kinds of silly excuses. I finally get it out of them that they were fasting. Once, someone invited me to lunch during our fasting week. I said, “I am honored to be asked and would love to attend. I will be fasting that week so do you mind if I join you in conversation and coffee, but not in eating the meal?” The answer was, “That would be great,” and all strangeness was removed from the situation.
4If you are going on an extended complete fast, eat smaller helpings when preparing to fast.
This will cause you to become ‘accustomed’ to the feelings of hunger and prepares your body. You should know that nothing I have ever done including drinking nutritional mixes and blending ice cream into liquid has ever caused me to cease to be hungry.
5Accept that hunger (either for food or anything else you are fasting) is a natural part of the process.
Sometimes people seem shocked that they got hungry when they stopped eating. Accept that you will be hungry, but as you get distracted by your daily activities, use the moments you find yourself reminded of your discomfort to pray. This is not always easy, but neither was hanging on the cross.
6Understand that whatever the thing is that you are fasting will present itself in unique ways and unique opportunities.
One morning I felt impressed to spend that day fasting, but I forgot to tell Kristy. That was the day that she decided to make me a full blown breakfast. She understood what I was doing, but was understandably upset when I would not enjoy the breakfast with her. I promise that the moment you decide to submit yourself to fasting every invitation that you could ever hope for will be given to you. The enemy does not want you to get control of your carnal nature and will fight against the fast.
7Utilize your time.
People will often not fill the time they would normally spend enjoying the benefits of whatever they are fasting. They end up with free time, and the enemy utilizes that opportunity. A person may find themselves fasting to be closer to God, but battling anger the entire time because they are missing what they like. Their minds wander into areas of difficulty in life. The mixture of self denial and a mind full of the issues of life is an explosive combination. I have counseled some people to stop fasting because they were simply making themselves and all those around them irritated. God received no glory and their carnality was not being limited, but was simply finding another outlet. Spend time with God in prayer and in the reading of His Word. I find great pleasure and wisdom in simply spending quiet time listening for whatever He may say to me.
8Last, but maybe most important, remember fasting is about you.
It doesn’t do anything for God or anybody else. It is about breaking down your flesh and building up your spirit. If you cheat, lie, fudge, finagle, or in anyway violate the terms of your fast…you are only dealing with yourself.
