KEY SCRIPTURE: 2Co 11:27 KJV In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Fasting is an abstinence from food, so one can focus on God and His word. Some have fruit fast, that is they take fruit during the course of the fast. They may take it at certain intervals of the day or when they break their fast in the evening. Most people fast till evening and break at 6 pm or 5 pm. Note that fasting in itself is a prayer. It is normally a desire for something that drives people into fasting. Prayer is also an expression of your desire. Fasting is a way of strengthening your desire. The intensity of your fast influences the intensity of your desire that also lays hold on the answer.

One may decide to fast, or it may be inspired by the Holy Ghost. Joel 2:15 KJV Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, and call a solemn assembly:( Fasting does not change God, yet it changes us to relate well towards God to receive from Him.) There is group fasting which is mostly an act or decision from the Spirit or from the leader of the group. Note this, fasting overnight for days intensifies one’s desire for answers than daily fasts that are broken in the evenings. A fast is made useless if one fast for strife (Isaiah 58:4). This is the kind of fast one does in competition with another individual. It is not unto God, so it is a useless one. When abstaining from food becomes the project rather than the desire to see a change or transformation of some kind, then that fast is a fleshly pursuit that has no benefit. Fasting is a means to see a change, not an act, to justify one’s abilities.

In our previous study, we saw that most servants of God who were mightily used by God went through long fasting without eating for days.

Let’s consider the science of undergoing a longer fast to help us alleviate our fears of going on such a long fast.

When fasting for several days, understand you will be feeling weak in your body for the first four days. You may be feeling hungry. Please note that the feeling of hunger is not real hunger, but it is just a release of hunger hormones doing their usual job when you are eating. The moment the fast persists after four days, the body ceases to release those hormones because the body does not respond to eating. The weakness will also stop, and you may be feeling very energetic. As the fast progresses, the body’s weakness may come back yet do not yield to it. The body feeds on stored carbohydrates (glycogen) for the first 24 hours and resorts to feeding on the fat stored in the body. (It is this process of the consumption of body fat that makes fasting correct certain ailments like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, preventing stroke and other degenerative diseases), Real hunger comes after the body fat has been depleted, which normally occurs after so many days, depending on the amount of stored body fat. Most people’s body fat may be depleted after 40 days. This means several people can go on a long fast without food for many days, yet take water. It is most advisable to seek a doctor’s advice if you are underweight. ( people with kidney diseases may not go on a long fast) During your fast your urine colour will change to almost brown: please don’t be worried about it. The body at this stage is only giving out lots of toxins stored in it over a long period. You must not exert yourself during the period of the fast, although you can get engaged in your normal office activities, even teaching, if your work is to teach. It is not advisable to exert yourself by playing football or a high-energy-consuming task.

The important aspect of your fast as a Christian is to give attention to Bible reading, prayer, and meditation. Don’t get yourself involved in unscriptural activities, like watching certain films, chats, etc. You may listen to the preaching of God’s word. The next thing to consider is how to break your fast. Do not rush to break a long fast with strong or solid food. Don’t break your fast with processed products or foods. You may go for soft fruits like pawpaw, etc. Avoid soup with pepper on the first day of breaking the fast. You may continue this way on the second day, after which you can take some cooked stuff, but not so strong stuff. By the fourth day, you are ready to take most meals.

PRAYER

I pray heavenly Father and receive strength to fast for various changes to take place in the lives of others and my life as well. I have received strength to rule over my flesh to do as I want to God’s glory. Thank you, Father, for the great outpouring of your power to revive many lives. In Jesus’ name, I’ve prayed.

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 109:24 KJV My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh faileth of fatness.

Matthew 4:2 KJV” And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterwards hungered”.