FASTING
QUESTION: Is there a maximum
fasting period?
ANSWER:
The New Testament does not give much instruction on fasting for believers other than that we are to fast and pray on a regular
basis. The Bible mentions only two people who fasted eating nothing for 40 days: Moses and Jesus.
Both were led by the Spirit of God into this lengthy fast. As New Testament believers, it is not how long we fast, but
how we fast that matters. We are to live a fasted life - a life that is not with gluttony or overly indulgent in anything.
It is advisable in the proper care of our bodies, which are the temple of the Holy Spirit, not to fast completely from food
for more than 3 days at a time. For longer periods of time in seeking the Lord, one of the best kinds of fasts is the
"Daniel Fast" referenced in Daniel 10.2-3. This kind of fast is a "no pleasant foods" fast.
This is a time to lay aside foods that are appealing to our flesh or activities of entertainment or pleasure, in order to
focus on God and seek Him. Daniel fasted in this way for three full weeks (21 days), eating only vegetables without
seasoning. (Some commentaries suggest he ate the vegetables prepared as soup. Many people have found this to be
a very beneficial way to fast, especially for extended periods of time. In either kind of fast, the important thing
is that we turn down (silence) that voice of our flesh in order to turn up the voice of the Spirit of God inside us and listen
to Him.
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