Fasting

Fasting is a duty of every Christian. Fasting is depriving yourself of something in a time of dedication to reflecting, repenting of sins, reading the Bible, praying, and growing spiritually.

When we study the Word of God, we see that it differentiates five ways of fasting or types of fasting we can practice. Let’s see.

1) Esther’s fasting or total fasting - No food is ingested in this type of fast, no drink is ingested either.

• " Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16 NIV)

• "Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. " (Exodus 34:28 NIV)

2) fasting with water or Jesus’ fasting - No food is ingested, only water is ingested.

• " Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry." (Luke 4:1-2 NIV)

3) Daniel's partial fasting or partial fasting - In this type of fasting a certain type of food is removed.

• "At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over." (Daniel10:2-3 NIV)

4) Fasting of intimate activity - In this type of fast there are no intimate conjugal relationships.

• "Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." (1 Corinthians 7:5 NIV)

5) Fasting of delights - In this type of fast the person deprives himself of something that he likes very much: makeup, a hobby, use of social platforms online, television, treats, etc. In the biblical example below, Daniel deprived himself of the use of perfume (emphasis provided).

• "At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over." (Daniel 10:2-3 NIV)

The Bible not only distinguishes between fasting types, but it also teaches us that fasting just for fasting, or for underlying reasons (to look good to others, to lose weight, etc.) is not what pleases the Lord. Fasting is between the Lord and us, to spend time with God.

" But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. " (Matthew 6:17-18 NIV)

Similarly, the Word tells us that if we fast, but our daily behavior is contrary to the works of God's love, then fasting will not be to the Lord's liking.

" ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. 4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?

6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness[a] will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." (Isaiah 58: 3-12NIV)

Fasting is not easy, but it is a necessary and important duty. Fasting disciplines us not to depend on anything external but on God alone. “[…] “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God " (Matthew 4:4 NIV)