I don't want to go without saying that fasting with someone is wonderful, but you don't have to do it. Fasting in seclusion with the father is truly commanded in Matthew 6:18. We are not to boast about our fasting or wear a mournful expression to make others feel sorry for us. So, if you're fasting with a group or just one other person, keep it hidden and only think of God.
Before You Continue...
Do you know what is your soul number? Take this quick quiz to find out! Get a personalized numerology report, and discover how you can unlock your fullest spiritual potential. Start the quiz now!
Decide what Type of Fast you Want to Do
The various sorts of fasts have been explored previously. To summarize, there is a;
- Material Fasting entails avoiding material possessions or activities such as television, social media, and habits.
- A supernatural fast is one that can only be observed when under God's supernatural presence. Consider Moses, who went without sustenance for 40 days and nights.
When it comes to choosing a type of fast, there is no right or wrong answer. If you're new to fasting, I recommend starting modest. Cut out a meal and then fast for the rest of the day the next time. Then progress to three days, then a week. You must begin small and work your way up to strengthen your spiritual muscles.
However, the correct response boils down to one thing. What are you being led to do by the Holy Spirit? When people fasted in the Bible, the number of days they fasted wasn't the most significant factor. They concentrated on the reason for their actions and did what they believed God wanted them to do. So, what are your intentions and what do you feel compelled to do? That is what you should do.
Plan your Meals
For obvious reasons, you can skip this section if you're undertaking a complete or ordinary fast. However, if you're undertaking a partial fast, meal planning is critical to staying on track. Until I went on a fast without a plan, I didn't think it was that significant. You will be hungry and most likely experience little discomfort while fasting. There's nothing worse than getting to mealtime and realizing you don't have anything to eat since you can't just grab something as you normally would. That's a recipe for a hangry person.
Make a meal plan and a grocery list at least a few days before your fast. Get your meals ready ahead of time and out of the way. Fasting is all about focusing your attention on God. So don't let last-minute grocery shopping and dinner preparation consume all of your time. It will simply frustrate you and take you out of the mental condition you were in before to starting the fast.
What can I drink during spiritual fasting?
If the fruit is acidic, dilute it with 50 percent distilled water. Fruits such as oranges, apples, pears, grapefruit, papaya, grapes, peaches, and other fruits are delicious. In three equal parts, lettuce, celery, and carrots are used to make vegetable juice. Tea with herbs and a smidgeon of honey.
How long do you fast for spiritual fasting?
It's unsafe to go more than three days without eating or drinking. Fasting in a supernatural way: There have been times when God has helped people to fast in ways they couldn't do on their own. Fasting is described in the Bible as Moses abstaining from food and water for 40 days (Deuteronomy 9:9).
Can you drink water during spiritual fasting?
Fasting on a regular basis Solid foods lead your body to enter the fed state, which lasts for several hours as your body breaks down and digests your food ( 1 ). Water, on the other hand, has no effect on blood sugar or insulin levels. As a result, you can safely consume it when fasting intermittently.
How do you do a Daniel fast?
The Daniel Fast is a partial fast based on the Bible that is usually done for 21 days (though 10 day and 40 day fasts are also common). The purpose of the fast is to become closer to God rather than to become healthier or lose weight. It's intended to be a cleanse to improve spiritual health by simplifying your diet.
Daniel Fast recipes are a whole food plant-based diet (WFPB) that excludes bread and sweets. The diet is defined in two chapters (Daniel 1:12 and Daniel 10:12-13):
Important: The Daniel Fast does not have to follow exact guidelines; there are some ambiguous situations (see below). Stick to your fasting guidelines after you've decided on them.
What do you eat on a spiritual fast?
- Barley, brown rice, buckwheat, farro, grits, millet, oats, popcorn, quinoa, rice cakes, rye, sorghum, spelt, whole wheat, whole-wheat pasta, and wild rice are all examples of whole grains.
- Black beans, black-eyed peas, cannellini beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), great northern beans, kidney beans, lentils, peanuts, pinto beans, and split peas are among the beans and legumes available.
- Almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, pistachios, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, soy nuts, sunflower seeds, and walnuts are among the nuts and seeds available.
- Fruits: Any fruit, whether fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, or canned (as long as it is sugar-free).
- Whole grain breads manufactured without yeast, sweeteners, or additives are known as unleavened bread.
- Natural, 100-percent fruit juice is permitted, but should be consumed in moderation.
Can you have coffee while spiritual fasting?
It's crucial to think about a few aspects while considering whether or not coffee will help you break your fast:
Unfortunately, this complicates the subject of whether or not drinking coffee breaks your fast, and the responses are various.
Coffee and Religious Fasting
Fasting for religious reasons is the most popular sort; nonetheless, each religion has its own set of laws. Catholicism or Christianity is the most coffee-friendly of the three Abrahamic faiths. While it was once customary to abstain from meat on Fridays as well as during Lent (the forty days preceding Easter), most Christians now only fast during Lent.
For the most part, coffee is permitted in Judaism. The kosher diet is the most significant aspect of this faith, and coffee alone is deemed kosher. There are just two exceptions to this rule. Decaf coffee is not considered kosher during Passover due to the decaffeination procedure.
Yom Kipper and Tisha B'Av are two Jewish holidays during which “Tzom Kal,” or “having an easy fast,” must be maintained. This fast lasts for 25 hours and does not allow you to eat or drink anything. To make the fast more comfortable and avoid caffeine withdrawal headaches, it is strongly recommended that the observer cut back on coffee or any caffeinated drinks before these two fasts.
Islam is a much tougher religion. During Ramadan, the practitioner is supposed to fast for 29-30 days from sunrise to sunset. This fast forbids the consumption of any food or liquid, including water. Because the regulations are stark and white, coffee is not permitted.
Coffee and Fasting for Bloodwork
Doctors will encourage their patients to fast for 8-12 hours before having bloodwork done. Except for water, this fast demands abstaining from all foods and beverages. While some may mistakenly believe that pure black coffee without milk or sugar is nothing more than water, this is not the case.
Caffeine in coffee is absorbed by the body and may skew the results by disrupting the body's fluid and electrolyte balance. Coffee drinking can also influence the liver, causing hormones to be released into the bloodstream. In fact, coffee can last up to six hours in your system!
It is important to drink water before any blood testing to return the body to its natural state. It is, nevertheless, advisable to follow your doctor's directions with any form of medical testing.
Effects of Coffee and Caffeine on Your Fast
Once you've decided whether or not your fast allows coffee, there's one drawback to consider if it does. You may experience frequent diarrhea as a result of not eating as much and drinking more water and coffee. Coffee should be consumed in moderation to minimize this discomfort.
There is a good influence as well. The effects of caffeine appear to be stronger. The reason for this is that the stomach is empty. As the caffeine works its way through your system, you will feel more alert and energized.
How long should I fast for God?
Fasting duration is also determined by personal inclination and ability. Fasting for long periods of time is not possible for certain people due to health issues. Others may fast for several days at a time. Remember, the purpose of fasting is to strengthen your relationship with God. It is not a question of how many days or how long one can fast. Fasting is a very personal experience with the Lord. As a result, there's no need to compare how long you've been fasting to how long others have been fasting.
Before you start fasting, I urge that you pray and ask the Lord how long you should fast for. If you're new to fasting, I recommend beginning with one meal or one day. You can continue for extended lengths of time after you are more conscious of and familiar with the topic. You may decide after the first day that you want to continue for a longer period of time. Keep track of how your body feels if this is the case. You may feel lightheaded and weak if your body isn't used to fasting. Once your body has become accustomed to fasting, you will be able to fast for extended periods of time without experiencing these symptoms.
The length of your fast is also determined by what you're fasting from. You should not fast for longer than two or three days if you are fasting both food and drink. Furthermore, if you are only fasting from food, you can fast for extended periods of time. Some people will abstain from eating and drinking, but will sip juice to stay energized.
Types of Fasting
Abstaining from social media, entertainment, sex, sweet meals, or a variety of other things is another type of fasting. You can fast for substantially longer lengths of time if you choose to fast from the following items. This is due to the fact that these fasts have no negative impact on your health. In fact, they may help you live a healthier life. Fasting from these foods for prolonged lengths of time is something I suggest.
If you're married, make sure you have an agreement on sex abstinence with your partner. “Do not deprive each other except by mutual permission and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer,” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 7:5. Then get back together so Satan can't tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”