THE LIGHTS OF LIFE

Fasting is the voluntary abstinence from food, or other comforts, for a set time to draw closer to God, seek his guidance, or express worship, repentance, and dependence on him.

Fasting is a powerful way to connect more deeply with God. Start by choosing a purpose for your fast, whether it’s for guidance, spiritual growth, or simply to express your longing for God’s presence. Keep it simple; this is a personal journey between you and God. Use the time you would spend eating or on other activities to pray, read scripture, or simply be still in God’s presence. Trust that through fasting, God will see your heart and reward your commitment to draw closer to him.

1. Set Specific Times for Prayer and Reflection: Schedule dedicated moments throughout the day to pray, read Scripture, or meditate on the purpose of your fast. Even just 5-10 minutes at regular intervals can help keep your purpose fresh in your mind.

2. Write Down Your Purpose and Keep It Visible: Write your purpose on a piece of paper, note card, or digital device and place it somewhere you’ll see often. This can serve as a gentle reminder whenever you feel distracted or tempted to give up.

3. Journal Your Thoughts and Prayers: Each day, write a few thoughts or prayers related to the entry of that day. Journaling can help you track your progress, reflect on what God is showing you, and stay connected to the purpose you set at the beginning.

4. Replace Eating Times with Spiritual Activities: If you’re fasting from meals, use that time to read Scripture, listen to worship music, or engage in a devotional focused on your chosen purpose. This way, you’re actively filling the gap with something meaningful.

5. Reflect on Progress Regularly: At the end of each day or week, spend a few moments reflecting on how the fast is impacting you and whether you’re growing closer to your purpose. Adjust as needed, and give yourself grace as you go.

Here are five simple ways to fast. Choose the one that best fits you. Remember, the best fast is the one you can do. This is not a contest, but a journey with God.

1. Abstain from all food. This is called a full fast. It is difficult to do a full fast for an extended period of time. This might be a good fit if you have experienced fasting for extended periods of time (a week or more).

2. Eat sparingly or only certain kinds of food. This is a great way to fast if you are still very active at work or other activities and desire to participate in an extended fasting and prayer time. Decide in advance what you are going to do for the duration of the fast. You should pick the least amount of food to be consumed (i.e., only small meal at lunch or dinner). Remember that sugar products and sweets should always be excluded in a fast.

3. Abstain entirely from a specific food. This is a good choice if you are choosing to abstain from certain foods during the fast, like meat, desserts, or bread.

4. Abstain from media outlets. Fasting from television, movies, and other forms of entertainment will allow you to focus with greater intensity on the things of God.

5. Abstain from all media. A powerful option for the mature believer is to fast from all media—including movies, TV shows, sporting events, entertainment apps, video games, etc., while coupling it with the food-fast of your choice.

Natural hunger will subside after about three days. Drink plenty of water. Your body needs water to flush out toxins during the fast. As your fasting and prayer continues, your body will sleep less, but you will wake up refreshed and energized.

In conjunction with the journal, you should also pray and ponder on your own. Write any notes or inspirational ideas God gives you. Be open to the Lord. Pray every day as often as you are able. It is amazing how much time you regain when you are not preparing, eating or cleaning up after a meal. Spend that time with the Lord. When we communicate with God our lives are elevated.

Read the Word. Meditate on it. Pray for wisdom and direction. Commit to living a lifestyle that is harmonious to God’s Word. It is essential if you are going to live in the victory Jesus has provided for you. Your trip into his presence will be fruitful and effective when you fast, pray and study.