There is a season to fast each year. Whether it’s for preparation for a new journey, practicing self control, and for true repentance, here’s a list of 6 amazing biblical fasts that would be great to do.
The 21-Day Daniel Fast
“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.” Daniel 10: 2-3
Daniel was in a time of mourning and distress for his people and wanting to be free. This fast only required fruits, vegetables, nuts, and water. I’d recommend reading allrecipes.com:https://www.allrecipes.com/article/what-is-the-daniel-fast/#:~:text=How%20Long%20Is%20the%20Daniel,he%20sought%20God%20in%20prayer. To prepare for your dietary restrictions since the fast consists of no sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and no meat. The goal of this fast is for God to notice their grief, for God to intercede, and for the people to have inner peace.
The 3-Day fast
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16
“For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.” Acts 9:9
For the first scripture Queen Esther advised Mordecai and his fellow Jews to fast for her as she was preparing to request the king, her husband, to not harm her people.
The second scripture describes Saul’s fast after he was blinded by Jesus for persecuting Christians. The three day fast is for wisdom, discernment, protection, preparation, and guidance from God. This fast requires you to not eat or drink anything for 3 days, night and day.
7 Day Fast
“Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.” 1 Samuel 31:13
This was the mourning of Saul done by his soldiers during his reign as king. Saul and his sons died in the battle versus the Philistines. Though this was intended by God to happen, the soldiers mourned the death of their leader and fellow soldiers by fasting for seven days without food or water. This fast is used for wisdom, grief, and protection. (I would advise checking in with a medical professional before partaking in this fast.)
10 Day Fast
“Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.” Daniel 1:12
Daniel was trying to gain favor, strength, wisdom and discernment. Thus, for fasting they only drank water and ate vegetables for 10 days, you can too!
14 Day Fast
“Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” Acts 27:33-34
Paul and his crew mates were journeying where they fasted for wisdom and protection. As they reached the last day, Paul let them know of their reward for protection and food. During this 14-Days, it’ll be great to drink water/ electrolytes. (Id discuss with a medical professional for more of the beverages you can consume. )
The 40 Day Fast
There are three occasions in the Bible where a 40 day fast needed to take place. As I describe these fasts I would advise to prepare before diving in. These fasts take much preparation because it’s a longer length without substances in which your body needs to survive. In addition, it may lead to intense dietary shift that your body may not be comfortable with. Well, here they are!
1. “Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.”
Exodus 34:28
“When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the Lord had made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water.”
Deuteronomy 9:9 NIV
“Then once again I fell prostrate before the Lord for forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water, because of all the sin you had committed, doing what was evil in the Lord’s sight and so arousing his anger.”
Deuteronomy 9:18 NIV
During Moses’ 40 day fast he did not eat and drink. It was for preparation of a new journey, mourning the sins of the people, and for preparing to guide the people.
2. “So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.”
1 Kings 19:8
Elijah wanted God to take his life before he did this fast. An angel told him to get up and eat twice. The first is for him to have food and drink to know that God is with him. The next is to prepare for the next journey. Elijah continued on the journey for 40 days without food and water. This was because of God’s strength.
3.“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Matthew 4:1-4
Jesus was led by the spirit after his baptism to be tempted by the devil. This was a testing of his faith even though he is God in the flesh. He did not eat or drink for 40 days and 40 nights. He was preparing for ministry.
How to Stay Dedicated to the Fast Towards the End
-Jesus was hungry, but was not thirsty.
This is key to know because it sets the tone that your natural need for food and/or drink is going to happen. So here are some helpful tips to stay dedicated.
- Prayer
”Watch and pray so you do not fall into temptation the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”
prayer is the best way to combat your need and desire for food and drink. When you feel like the urge to break the fast is happening try to run and pray privately.
2. Your surroundings
Change your surroundings don’t go to areas/places that draw you near to whatever your fasting from.
3. Gods word
Satan is going to tempt you to fail. Have Gods word on your heart and keep pushing.
4. Prepare yourself beforehand
If you want to do the 40 day fast, you may have the desire to go dive right into it. I’d say to take the Elijah approach. Eat and drink for weeks a time and the decrease. So at the start of a month, your preparation month, eat and drink for 1 week and then the following week do not eat nor drink. The third week eat and drink. The last week don’t. So when the start of the next month comes, you eat and drink, but going into the fast the second week of the second month And ending it the month after on the second week. Again, this is what I would do. Pray about it, talk to many advisors before deciding.
And that is all, God bless ladies and may the Lord be with you!