You can catch up on our series, 31 Days of Fasting in January here!

During the first month of the year, we hear of people fasting quite often. As we have stated in the last week, it is a time of renewal, refreshing and reviving of our spirit and denying our flesh. Kind of a fresh start to a new year. Naturally, The Daniel Fast has taken the Christian world by storm and there are plenty of helps out there if that is the fast you have chosen. Yes, I even have a book on the subject and yes, I share it here on Hope in the Healing. It isn’t required, it is available.

But, along with anything so popular, there must surely be something that is wrong with it, right?

No. There is never anything wrong with a fast unless it is done to be seen by others or you think you are getting extra credit points with God. The Bible talks clearly about that, they already have their reward! Being seen of others is sadly all the reward they will ever have.

 Luke 18:9-14. “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in
                     themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up
                     into the temple to pray. . . The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,
                     God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are . . . I fast twice in the week,
                     I give tithes . . . And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much
                     as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to
                     me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to this house justified rather than
                     the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that
                      humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

When you fast, don’t walk around with a long face and a plastered grimace that tells the world you are about to fall in the floor because you are so weak from fasting. This draws attention to YOU and it isn’t about you. Fasting is denying your flesh things that it would normally enjoy, and when you do without, then you will have more time to focus on HIM, on Jesus Christ and His will for your life!

Fasting isn’t a magic pill, forcing God to move;

it’s an act of humility and submission to His will!

I grew up thinking that if anyone knew I was fasting that I had failed and it was all in vain. Where did we get that? There are many times that you and a friend may fast together or you and your spouse might go on an extended fast for a particular purpose. That is called UNITY; you aren’t putting on a show for others, you are binding together with another child of God in one mind, one accord.

Did they do that in the Bible? Did they have what we call today, Corporate Fasts?

Yes!

Here are just a few examples:

• Esther called for the Jews to fast for her for three days and nights before she went in to petition the King in Esther 4.

• Church elders fasted and prayed before sending Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journey in Acts 13.

• The people of Nineveh called for a fast after Jonah preached to them in Jonah 3.

• Samuel and the people of Israel fasted after bringing the ark of the covenant to the house of Abinadab in 1 Samuel 7.

• In the Book of Judges, the people fasted in relation to a certain battle they were about to fight. They needed direction from God so they all fasted together.

• Ezra called a fast! “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods….So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.” Ezra 8

There are many more examples, do a study on it and get excited about the prayers that God answered when His people humbled themselves, prayed AND fasted, together or in private!

God cares about the motive behind the fast;

if it’s just to be seen by others it is all in vain!

Back to The Daniel Fast: Yes, it has gained popularity in recent years and some criticize the fast as just a vegetarian diet. If that is someone’s purpose, just to go vegan for a week or two (or three!) then yes, they have it all wrong. But fasting is denying yourself things you would normally enjoy. I think most of us enjoy sweets, treats and meats.

The Daniel Fast is a great introduction to fasting for those that haven’t been on many longer fasts. It gives them confidence, for lack of a better word, that they could try a complete one-day fast, drinking only water. Then, maybe they could work up to a three day fast or try a longer juice fast.

We have repeated many times here on Hope in the Healing that The Daniel Fast isn’t a time to become a gourmet cook and fix elaborate meals every day. It is also not a time to pretend you are a contestant on The Food Network, have only been handed vegetables, and must make all the ingredients taste like pancakes and bacon.

You should prepare simple meals and not overeat, just normal portions. Some even have a light snack in the afternoon or mid-morning, there aren’t any RULES, but pray about what God would have you to do. The point is to DENY yourself things that you love. Maybe give up the Starbucks for the fast and resist the desserts and loaded potatoes. Eat simply and light and don’t spend all of your time trying to recreate all of your favorite dishes.

The bottom line is this:

Just because you fast with only water doesn’t mean it doesn’t count with God when someone else chooses a vegetable and water fast.  Let us be thankful that The Church is returning to fasting and that even what some would call an easy fast does count with God when done with a right spirit.

If we are spending all of our time finding fault with the way someone else is fasting maybe we need to look inward at our own selves and our motives.

Fast unto the Lord! Whatever you choose, combine it with prayer and make it a priority to spend more time with Jesus, listening for His voice. You will find Him there, you will gain strength through His Word and be able to hear Him more clearly when you are denying the flesh of things that it loves.

Be blessed in your fasting, whatever you choose and give grace to your brother and sister, praying God would bless them abundantly for their sacrifice.

Do you have your copy of my easy-to-read Fasting Devotional? Don’t let the title fool you! It is a 21 day devotion for ANY FAST. Each day is an example of someone in the Bible who fasted, some for the wrong reason as well, and what we can glean from them. There are also Daniel Fast recipes and instructions for following that fast as well. Available at Amazon.com in Kindle or paperback!