Three Ways to Fast

A friend told me that in the midst of a family trauma, she began to pray desperately. She said, “Lord, I really want to see You work; I really want to see You move in this situation.”

With her praying she began to fast. It was hard for her to fast, and she had a real battle, but God helped her.

According to John Wesley, there are three ways to fast. We can practice total abstinence (eating no food but drinking water), a half-fast (omitting some foods), or a fast from pleasant food (omitting desserts or something we especially like). If a person has physical problems and can’t fast, God understands and there are other ways to deny self.

When we fast and wait on God, it doesn’t mean we quit our normal living and become irritable and unsociable. During that time we should display and radiate the love of Jesus. “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men 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 6:16-18). That’s a promise.

Often during our time of prayer and fasting, God will open His Word to us in a special way and give guidance.

This friend fasted as the Spirit led her. God began to open doors that had been closed in their difficult situation. He made a wall fall that had been built.

Thank You, Lord, that when You answer prayer, something totally impossible with man takes place.

“I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions...So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer” (Ezra 8:21, 23).