10 Thoughts on fasting

Aaron Leatherdale - Rapper
Follow Aaron on Twitter: aleatherdale
Website & personal blog: aaronleatherdale.org
Aaron grew up in Prince George, BC, Canada and moved to IHOP in May 2007. His passion and desire is to serve the Lord through prayer and fasting and to preach the love of Christ to the nations of the earth.
 

1. If you are going to do an extended fast, purpose in your heart exactly what you are going to abstain from (i.e. no meat, no sweets, juice only, etc.) before the fast begins.  Also set a clear length of time you will fast (3 days, 7, 10, 21, etc.).  In the middle of the fast when you are tempted to eat, it will be easier to stick with it because you already set clear guidelines.

2. It’s not a failure if you break your fast early or eat a snack during your fast in a moment of weakness.  Every single meal that you fast has value.  If you are doing a long fast, you don’t have to complete the fast perfectly in order to be successful.  Ideally we want to complete the length of time that we purposed before the Lord but if you do eat just “push delete” and keep on fasting.

3. Remember Daniel 10: An angel appeared to Daniel while he was doing a 21 day fast and told him, “From the first day you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.”  In the middle of your fast when you feel nothing and you want to quit because you don’t think anything is happening, remember; your words have been heard in the courts of heaven and angels are already moving on your behalf.  Pray consistently while you are fasting.

4. Galatians 6: “He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life”.  As we fast we are sowing in the Spirit.  The farmer who sows expects a harvest.  We should also expect the Lord to break through as we stay with it.

5. There is no life in the disciplines themselves. Fasting is not an end in itself.  The disciplines are merely onramps into the heart of God. The Pharisees did the disciplines but Jesus rebuked them because they didn’t come to Jesus that they might have life (John 5:40). 

6. We don’t earn anything from God by fasting.  We posture our hearts in humility and weakness to receive more from Him.  He doesn’t love us more if we fast but our capacity to feel and receive His love increases as our hearts are sensitized through fasting.

7. Limit media while fasting.  Fasting sensitizes are hearts to the spiritual realm, even the dark side of it.  I try to avoid movies during a fast.  Demonic religions of the world fast because they understand it can sensitize them to spiritual things.  We want light flooding into our spirits during a fast, not darkness, so feast on the Word.

8. Don’t think, “What do I have to give up?”  Think, “What do I get?”  John the Baptist lived an extreme lifestyle of fasting but the trade-off was well worth it.  His joy was full as he exchanged the lesser pleasures (food, comfort, etc.) for clarity in hearing the Bridegroom’s voice.  See John 3.

9. It’s better to fast consistently (1 or 2 days a week) for years than to do a long fast but then never fast again.  Like physical exercise, it is always better to workout consistently, even if only a light workout, then to exercise intensely for a month then quit for a year.

10. Be mindful of your health.  Be aware of what you are eating on “eating days”.  I want to be fasting when I’m 80 years old like Daniel was so it’s important to take care of our bodies.  It’s a lot easier to fast if you don’t have a million toxins coming out from what you ate the day before.

Go to: http://www.ccci.org/training-and-growth/devotional-life/personal-guide-to-fasting/index.htm.  Good info about fasting by Bill Bright. 

© 2011 Aaron Leatherdale