Practical Considerations for Fasting

  1. Fasting is a form of training for whole self: body, mind, and heart. We should ease into the practice of fasting.

  2. There are options and degrees. Skipping one meal on a meal, then two, then eventually three, and then multiple days. Start small and build. A time-tested method for fasting is “sundown to sundown.”

  3. You can practice just a water fast; a water and juice; a bread and water. Whatever you do, drink lots of water!

  4. Some of you who are nursing mothers or who have other health conditions might not be able to do a total fast, but maybe you could find another way of denying yourself in food, drink, or something else.

  5. Use the skipped meal times for prayer, used the skipped food and financial resources to fulfill the needs of others (Isaiah 58:7)

  6. Read Matthew 6:16-18. Don’t call attention to yourself. Don’t be irritable (Is. 58:4)

  7. Read this basic introduction to fasting from Richard Foster or listen to this sermon from Pastor Joel.