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Christian fasting involves voluntarily abstaining from food and drink in order to draw closer to God. When we fast, we must spend as much time as possible in the fellowship and presence of God as we abstain from food.
Whenever you fast under the guidance of God, it is very important to have a purpose or objective for it and the guidance of the Holy Spirit because if you read the Bible carefully, you will find that all the people in the Bible who fasted, there was a reason or objective for their fasting, like in verse 16 of Samuel 12, we see the fast of Joel who fasted to save his son and in verses 2 and 3 of Chronicles 20, we see that along with fasting, there is a search for Jehovah. Queen Star also preached fasting so that the Jewish people could be saved. People fasted so that they could know the justice of God
Many people fast but they fail to spend as much time as they should in prayer and reading the Word. If you are fasting and not reading the Bible and praying, then your fast is useless because fasting means going into the presence of God. You cannot say that you are fasting by not eating and praying throughout the day. This is not your fasting, this is your dieting because it is very important to spend time with God during fasting. Rooted in the teachings of the Bible, fasting has been a part of the Christian tradition since the time of Christ and holds vital importance in the spiritual lives of believers.
Biblical Foundation of Fasting
In all the examples of fasting in the Bible, you will find that there was some purpose behind their fasting. There was a reason for their fasting, so whenever you fast, it is very important that you should have a reason or objective for your fasting. Do not fast by eating or imitating someone else, if the Spirit of God leads you, then only you should fast, whether you keep it for 40 days, 21 days, 7 days or Keep it for three or one day but it is very important to have a purpose of your fast. You can fast for many such things like finding the Lord, getting spiritual blessings for yourself, healing from any disease, repenting of your sins, etc.
Purpose of Christian fasting
Spiritual renewal: Fasting allows the person to focus on the divine words of God by diverting attention from his physical needs for some time. This fast makes you mentally strong for prayer, meditation and introspection, which helps us Christians to know and understand the will of God in our hearts. And you become spiritually perfect.
Repentance and humility: Through fasting, we Christians feel God very close to us and repent for the sins we have committed. We give place to God in our hearts with humility. Because we commit many sins that affect our relationship with God, we should fast to improve our relationship with God.
Guidance and Clarity: Many Christians fast when they are looking for direction in life, whether for personal decisions, ministry, or challenges faced by the community. Fasting is often accompanied by sincere prayer for divine wisdom.
Intercession: Whenever we pray to God, fasting is a very powerful medium between us and God. It is very important for us to fast and pray because fasting and prayer give us spiritual strength and with that spiritual strength we can face and defeat the forces of the devil and this victory is the power we get from fasting and prayer.
Types of Fasting
Christian fasting can take different forms.
Complete Fasting
Complete fasting means you should abstain from both food and water in your fast. We find the rules of this type of fasting in the Bible. As you know, Moses fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before God on Mount Sinai.
Water Fasting
In water fasting, you abstain from all kinds of foods but can still drink water. In the case of water fasting, the Bible specifies that one fasts from water. This way you fast from food but can still drink water.
Partial Fasting
The Bible tells fasting people to allow them to eat only vegetables and water. Christian fasting is an invitation to seek God sincerely and to embrace His purpose with renewed faith and devotion.
Dear Bible Jesus Christ taught us that when we fast, we are not to hang our heads or do anything that would make us try to show people that we are fasting.