There are basically three types of fasts. A Normal Fast is abstaining from all food, solid or liquid, but not from water. A Partial Fast (sometimes known as a Daniel Fast) is abstaining from certain types of foods. Daniel did not eat the “king’s food.” He had only water and vegetables. Some may drink fruit and vegetable juices. An Absolute Fast is abstaining from water and food for one to three days. A person can go about forty days without food but only about three days (unless God intervenes) without water (Esther 4:16).] “…our light shall break forth as the morning, and our health shall spring forth speedily: and our righteousness shall go before us; the glory of the LORD shall be our rear guard. Then shall we call, and the LORD shall answer; we shall cry, and He shall say, Here I am…then shall our light rise in darkness, and our darkness be as the noon day: And the LORD shall guide us continually, and satisfy our soul in drought, and make fat our bones: and we shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. ” (Isaiah 58:8-14) Fasting enlightens us about the things that control us. We camouflage what is inside of us with food and other good things. When these securities are removed and our attention is focused on God, the junk in our life will surface and we can deal with all those unwanted items. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with PRAYER AND FASTING, COMMITTED THEM TO THE LORD, in whom they had put their trust.” (Acts 14:22-23) When Jesus confronted the father of a demon possessed child (who the disciples unsuccessfully tried to cast out), He said to the father: “How long is it ago since this came unto him? And the father said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” (Mark 9:21-22) Jesus taught the father and His disciples a great lesson: “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; HELP MY UNBELIEF. And when He was come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And He said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by PRAYER AND FASTING.” (Mark 9:24, 28-29) It is unfortunate that most people do not fast because it’s to “uncomfortable” for them, but as we OUGHT TO CLEARLY SEE fasting should be a normal part of a Christian’s life!
WILL, COMMIT YOUR LIFE TO THE LORD WITH PRAYER AND FASTING…
-Bill Stockham