The word “fast” literally means to shut the mouth so as to abstain from food. When you have “breakfast” you partake of food after you have abstained from food throughout the evening and the night. Though in its simplest definition fasting means to abstain from food for spiritual purposes, if you think fasting is only not partaking of food then you would be doing a great injustice to yourself, to God, and to fasting. There are many benefits to fasting in the natural. Fasting¹:

• Helps to reduce the toxic side effects of chemotherapy on normal cells
• Provides relief to those suffering from epilepsy
• Aids and maintaining a healthy heart
• Useful in treating acute pancreatitis
• Useful remedy for combatting obesity
• Helps to increase the secretion of growth hormones
• Fasting followed by a vegetarian diet gives relief from rheumatoid arthritis

In addition to the natural benefits of fasting, the are biblical benefits of fasting as well (see the link below). In order to take advantage of the biblical benefits, you must understand the role of biblical fasting. The biblical role of fasting is to:

• Bring you to a place where you deny yourself for the sake of Jesus and His kingdom.
• Facilitate a deep level of commitment and sacrifice.
• Require that you withdraw from your normal life in any and all aspects to create time to devote yourself more fully and exclusively to fellowship with God and to intercede for others.

There are several reasons people do not fast, besides not eating. I believe one of them is because they don’t understand the power of fasting in their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual life. You can read each section or click on the subject that interests you. God Bless!
(Some of the information used was taken from Getting Fit For the Fight “Living the Fasted Life”, Corporate prayer & Fasting guide. Apostle Carlos L. Malone, Sr. )

• Table of Contents
  • At God’s Door Quarterly Fast
  • Benefits of Fasting
  • Types of Fasts
    • Total Fast
    • Non-Total
    • Systematic
    • Supernatural
  • What is Your Fasting Life Like
  • Prepare For Your Fast
    • Plan Your Success
    • Plan the Enemy’s Defeat
  • Conclusion

Benefits of Fasting

1. Fasting humbles you before God and turns you towards Him.
2. Fasting engages God for a spiritual, mental, physical, financial, ministerial, relational, municipal, and personal breakthrough.
3. When you fast, you entreat God for divine intervention.
4. Fasting connects you to God so you will aloe Him to make what seems impossible to you become possible.
5. Fashion makes a demand upon the supply of the Holy Spirit.
6. Fasting shows God, you are not relying upon your own hand, but His hand to remove the attack, damage, and oppression of Satan from your life.
7. When you fast, you submit your body as an altar to connect with God for spiritual and physical transactions.
8. Fasting induces labor to give birth to your destiny: it identifies and delays opposition and allows God to break it.
9. Fasting crucifies your flesh so you will align yourself with the will of God.

Types OF Fasts

No matter what type of fast you choose, please know that you should break the fast gradually. Remember, the longer you fast, the more days you will have to take to break your fast.  As a general rule, for every four days you fast, you’ll take one day to break the fast.  For example, if you had juice fasted for 40 days, you will need about 10 days to gradually break your fast.  Always listen to how your body responds to the food and the amount of food you consume.

THE TOTAL FAST

The total fast is abstaining from all food and just drinking water. On this fast, you will not eat food, but do drink plenty of water. It flushes your system. This fast has great physical benefits as well as great spiritual ones. If you have never fasted, do not go on this fast for an extended length of time at first. Start out for a short period and then increase your fasting time. A suggestion would be to try it first for one day. Then increase the time periods as you are led to do so. It might be better to try the Systematic Fast or the non-Total Fast before trying this one. Of course, as we have previously stated, be Spirit-led.
This fast has to be broken slowly. When you come off the fast, do not eat a full meal; this could invite trouble. Liquids such as fruit juice or broth should be taken the first day or so and then light fruit or soup the next few days. Gradually get into eating heavier and normal meals. We cannot stress this enough because if this fast is not broken correctly, it can cause serious trouble and we do not want that to happen.

Please Note: This fast may cause some weakness because there is no nutrition entering the body. Water is essential, but it contains no nutrition or calories. Headaches are also a normal occurrence when you are fasting. Please pray and make sure you are being led by God before beginning this fast.

NON-TOTAL FAST

The Non-Total fast is abstaining from or not eating any food, but drinking water and fruit juices.

Fruit juices are naturally sweet. Squeezing your own will reduce the calories and increase the nutritional value of what you find in store-purchased juices. When you choose to make your own juice, you have more control over what goes into it. However, there are some downsides as well. For one, if you do decide to make your own juice, then you will need to invest time into preparing it. You may also find that making your own juice requires more effort compared to buying bottled juice from the supermarket. You don’t need any barriers to start and complete your fast. Moreover, you have to drink homemade juice as soon as you make it. Homemade juices aren’t pasteurized, so they could contain harmful bacteria if they sit for too long.

There are juices that are say 100% juice on the label. Please read past the front label and make sure there is not an overabundance of sugar and protein added.
You probably will not experience as much weakness on this fast because the body will be getting some nutrients and you will have more strength to pray effectively as well as battle the enemy successfully. When you drink your juices, drink small amounts at a time. Stretch it out over the course of the day. You should not drink milk as a part of this fast.

THE SYSTEMATIC FAST

On the systematic fast, also referred to as intermittent fasting, you will fast for a designated amount of hours each day not eating food until a given hour. Only water is permitted during the times of fasting. Allow the Lord to lead you as to the hours you will eat. Also, you should be Spirit-led as to how long you can go. Each individual is different and each circumstance is different. Do not try to fast like someone else. If you are prayerful, the Lord will tell you how long you should fast and which type of fast is the one He is calling you to. While on this fast, do not be gluttonous and eat heavy meals every day during your periods of eating. Do not overstuff yourself. You don’t want to be a spiritual yo-yo. If you do, you will defeat the purpose of fasting.

THE SUPERNATURAL FAST

The Supernatural Fast has that name because of the experience. This fast is without food or drink of any kind. From a medical standpoint, one cannot go for long periods of time without water and food. You can go long periods without food, but not without water. Your body loses water through evaporation and when this water is not replenished, you become dehydrated.
This fast should not be attempted unless you are divinely directed by the Lord to do so. Again, this is not a normal way of fasting. The only way you will be able to complete this fast is if you know the Lord has spoken/instructed you to do it. Be sure you have heard from God.

• Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights (Matthew 4:1-2) immediately following His baptism (Matthew 3:13), which inaugurated His public ministry.
• Moses went on a supernatural fast. On Mount Sinai, Moses was in the intense presence of almighty God. He was caught up in the Spirit of the Lord. Moses saw the unveiled glory of God. Exodus 34:28 (KJV) And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

What is your fasting life like?

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. (KJV)

Is it hard for you to fast? Do you sometimes decide you’re going to fast and then you become overwhelmed with intense hunger? You are not alone. Fasting is not comfortable, which is why it seems as if you can’t do it. It is just as much mental as it is physical. The enemy will attack you just as he did Jesus.

There is nothing the devil hates more than when you do what is necessary to build your relationship with God and grow in your faith. When Jesus was about to begin His public ministry, the devil attacked Him during His time of fasting. However, the devil did not deter Jesus. When you begin your fast, the devil will attempt to sabotage and distract you. He does not want you to grow closer to God nor to expand the mission of Christ. You have done your reconnaissance. You know what devices he will use. There are two things you need to do.

Prepare For Your Fast

PLAN YOUR SUCCESS

Fasting isn’t merely an act of self-deprivation, but a spiritual discipline for seeking more of God’s fullness. This means we should have a plan for what positive pursuit to undertake in the time it normally takes to eat.

Luke 14:31 “Have you ever heard of a commander who goes out to war without first sitting down with strategic planning to determine the strength of his army to win the war against a stronger opponent?” (TPT)

Step 1: Set a Purpose for Your Fast.
Why are you fasting? Is it for spiritual renewal, guidance, healing, to resolve problems, for special grace to handle a difficult situation? Ask the Holy Spirit to clarify what He wants you to take away from this time. This will enable you to pray more specifically and strategically.

Step 2: Commit to Your Fast.
Pray about these questions:

• How long will you fast, one meal, one day, a week, several weeks, forty days? (Start slowly and build up to longer fasts.)
• What type of fast is God calling you to, such as water only, water and juices, withdrawing from certain foods, social activities, and/or physical activities?
• How much time each day you will devote to prayer and God’s Word.

Step 3: Prepare Yourself Spiritually.
The foundation of fasting and prayer is repentance. Unconfessed sin will hinder your prayers. Here are several things you can do to prepare your heart:

• Confess your sins, ask God to cover those you know about and those you don’t know about and accept God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
• Seek forgiveness from anyone you have offended and forgive anyone who has hurt you (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3-4).
• Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master and refuse to obey your worldly nature (Romans 12:1-2).
• Begin your time of fasting and prayer with an expectant heart (Hebrews 11:6).
• Do not underestimate spiritual opposition. The devil sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit (Galatians 5:16-17).

Step 4: Prepare Yourself Physically.
Fasting requires reasonable precautions. Ask God first and consult your physician, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic ailment. God will not lead you where His grace will not keep you.

Step 5: Create a Schedule.
For maximum spiritual benefit, set aside ample time to be alone with the Lord. Listen for His leading. The more time you spend with Him, the more meaningful your fast will be.

PLAN THE ENEMY’S DEFEAT

Prepare for his attack and do not let him defeat you. You are a triune being. He will attack your mind, body, and spirit.

• Mind -He whispers lies into your spiritual ears to get you to quit the fast. Telling you how hard it is and how fasting is not really necessary.
• 1 Peter 1:13 So then, prepare your hearts and minds for action! Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on the marvelous grace that is coming to you. For when Jesus Christ is unveiled, a greater measure of grace will be released to you. (TPT

• Body – He attacks your body with discomfort and challenges, causing you to want to stop following the fasting guidelines. Your head begins to hurt, your blood pressure goes up, and/or your sugar levels go down.
• Galatians 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires. (AMPC)

• Spirit – He will push those buttons he knows will cause you discouragement. You won’t “feel” as if fasting is working. You have not noticed the spiritual change you were expecting.
• Joshua 1:9 This is My command: be strong and courageous. Never be afraid or discouraged because I am your God, the Eternal One, and I will remain with you wherever you go. (TVT)

Conclusion

The benefits of fasting far outweigh the sacrifice. Fasting crucifies the flesh, releases you from the control of the enemy, eases the heavy burdens you carry in this warfare, removes the oppression inflicted by the devil, and breaks every yoke. It is through fasting you can hear what God is saying to you clearly. It doesn’t inspire or provoke God to do what you want Him to do. It inspires and provokes you to do what God wants. This is the life Jesus led, and this is the life God is calling you to lead.

Footnotes: 11 Impressive Benefits of Fasting | Organic Facts