Have you ever fasted? Not a blood-test type of fast, but a spiritual kind of fast. One where you abstain from food or drink and let your body and mind heal.
I’ll admit, growing up Catholic, I’ve never fasted, not even on Good Friday. It’s not good, I know, but I need to be truthful and transparent. As a born-again Christian, I’m learning the value of fasting.
Biblical History of Fasting
In both the Old Testament and New Testament, fasting is abstaining from food or drink to focus on prayer and seeking God, connecting and affirming strength through Him. Below are just a few great scriptures on fasting and prayer.
Matthew 6:16-18 – “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Joel 2:12 – “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
Daniel 10:3 – “I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.”
Ezra 8:23 – So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.
Isaiah 58:6 – Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
Acts 13:2 – While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Psalm 69:10 – When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.
Acts 14:23 – And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Exodus 34:28 – So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.
Nehemiah 1:4 – As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Again, these are just a few scriptures. I encourage you to do more research about fasting in the Bible.
The reason for talking about fasting is that my husband and I decided to do a liquid fast the other day. We only drink water, coffee, and broth during a twenty-four hour period. Since this was my first time, I wanted to ease into it as I’m prone to migraines if I don’t eat.
Our Process
We started the morning with hot water and lemon and then black coffee. For lunch, we had beef bone broth and a glass of Apple Cider juice. For dinner, we had beef bone broth mixed with leftover cabbage soup that I had blended into a liquid. The rest of the day we drank Alkaline water mixed with Electrolytes.
What I Learned
I had started the night before, not eating anything past 7 pm, just water. The next day, I was good all morning and through the early afternoon after I had a cup of bone broth. I felt a bit light-headed around four o’clock in the afternoon, but I was okay.
The day moved slowly. I felt paused, not in a bad way, but rather at peace, like I was on vacation. I kept myself busy doing chores, going to the grocery stores, preparing snacks for my kids after school, etc. I read the Bible. I prayed in my secret place and took time to sit quietly.
By evening, I felt more attuned to my body. I had some hunger gurgling and my stomach felt empty. I didn’t keep a countdown of time. The whole fast lasted 36 hours. The next morning when the fast was over, I had half of a banana and hot water with lemon, and then I made scrambled eggs. I ate slowly, and enjoyed my breakfast, appreciating the taste. My senses were heightened and I felt a peace over my body. Jesus was right. One shouldn’t live on bread alone.
For Next Time
My husband and I are considering doing this once or twice a month. Spiritually, I feel alive, connected to the Lord, and grateful to be healthy. This experience has helped me to reflect, look inward, and connect with God.
References
Photo by Tara Winstead: https://www.pexels.com/photo/red-round-plate-with-blue-and-white-fork-and-knife-7123097/
https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-fasting/
