Hello Ashley, My name is Nia. I would like some advice in regards to fasting. I would like to do a serious fast and try grow closer to God and understand what His desire for me is. It is difficult to begin now with all of the holiday treats and good food LOL, but it is something serious that I still would like to do. How do you recommend that I approach this without compromising my health? I am a college student who is often on the move so I get hungry easily.
Hey Nia! Please forgive me for not responding sooner. Been crazy busy! But thank you so much for messaging me! I am glad that you want to draw closer to the Lord and prayer and fasting is one of the best and fastest ways to do that! I am just going to share with you what the Lord has led me to do when it comes to fasting, especially while in college. I am going to be honest with you, regardless of what kind of fast that you do, hunger is going to be evident and something that is unavoidable; especially in the beginning when you are just starting out. However, the spiritual benefits of fasting are so BEYOND worth it! I can definitely pass up on some food any day if it means having more of the power of the Holy Spirit lol! But in all seriousness, I am going to share with you the biblical way to fast.
The examples in the Word that we see in regards to fasting are numerous (Matthew 4:1-11, Matthew 6:16-18, Esther 4:16, Luke 2:37, Nehemiah 1:4, 1 Samuel 14:24-30). The examples that our Lord Jesus set, the prophets set, the apostles, and the early Christians set were to not eat or drink anything while fasting. Our Lord did this for 40 days and 40 nights. Some only did it for several days or weeks at a time. Some people may think this is too drastic to fast in this manner, however that is the example that is set in the Word of God, which means we are to follow it as well, and there are wonderful spiritual blessings that come when fasting in this manner. We fast in this manner to kill/deny our flesh and so that the Holy Spirit is able to increase on the inside of us, IF we are also praying and studying our bible as we are fasting. He can’t increase in us if we are not putting anything in! We have to give Him something to work with.
If you have health issues, like you stated above, definitely use wisdom and be led by God in what to do. Since this is new for you and you have health concerns, it may be wise to start out fasting once a week for either half the day or for several hours at a time; drinking just water and/or juice. Then, if the Lord leads, maybe once a week; fasting for the whole day, but drinking only water and eating nothing. Maybe the next week fasting once or twice and for several hours a day with no food and no water. And let the Lord lead you on how to go on from there. That is simply a suggestion for you; not something you have to do, but I thought that may help give you an idea on where to begin.
When I first started out, I fasted one day a week and I only drank water, then I increased it to several times a week and decreased the amount of water I drank until I could handle not having anything. However I am not saying you have to do that. That’s just how the Lord led me.
I also suggest that whatever day you choose, it is probably best that you do it on a day when you are not busy and are able to stay at home for the majority of the day. I only share this as an example, but I usually choose Sundays or a day I don’t have to go to work or school, because that way I have plenty of time to spend time with God and study the Word. It is vital that you spend time in the bible reading and studying for the majority of the time that you are fasting. The reason being is because the Word of God is our spiritual food (Matthew 4:4). It is what we feast on and rely on during fasting instead of natural food. Being in His Word will help you to not focus on the hunger so much.
I also suggest consecrating yourself as well. It is hard to hear God speak to you (and He will speak to you so clearly when you fast and pray!) when you have distractions all around you. When fasting it is best to turn the entertainment off (tv, movies, music (unless worship music), social media, games, etc.) and let go of any other things that may hinder you from hearing Him. I’m not trying to be legalistic, but simply sharing that because if you want to actually hear the Lord speak to you, you have to let go of anything worldly that may hinder that from happening. Our Lord is a Holy God and He desires for His children to approach Him in that manner.
Definitely do not be intimidated by the hunger you may feel because eventually you will be able to get to a place in your walk with the Lord where the Spirit of God will keep you so secure that you won’t even notice that you are hungry at all. That takes time, but it does eventually happen after making a lifestyle out of fasting. Keep pushing through with the fasting and watch your fire for God burn even hotter and relationship with Him get stronger and stronger! Hope this info helps you love! I will be praying that God will lead you as you are fasting and that you will see amazing spiritual growth like never before in this year! I am excited for you! <3