Fasting

Q

My question is about fasting. I know that there are examples in the New Testament of people fasting, but I’ve never had a pastor ever teach about it. How should we fast? When? For how long? How often? How does it work? What is it’s purpose? Please teach me about this subject and how I should incorporate it into my own life and walk with God. Thank you, as always, for all of your hard work.

A

Believers fast when they want to show that an issue has great urgency or importance to them. It could be for healing, direction, intercession or other significant matter. The length and type of fast depends on the person, and could be a partial fast, like foregoing only certain foods, or a complete fast. The important thing is that you do what you commit to and keep it secret.

Matt. 6:17-18 says, “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.”

Since the Lord didn’t say “If you fast” but “When you fast” it seems that fasting should be a regular part of our prayer life.