Smart Fasting

Matthew 6:16-18  "Moreover when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, 
                     of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear 
                     unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, 
                     when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear 
                     not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret ..."

Many Christians don’t fast or have ever experienced fasting. Fasting is a powerful tool; however some people take it to extremes. If you haven’t fasted before or haven’t fasted in a while, don’t think you can do a 7-day fast-I say this to those who haven’t been told by the Holy Spirit to do so.

Another point is that everyone has their own idea of what fasting entails: some say fasting means to give up something that they like to do or eat, some say to give up eating a meal or two, others say it means not eating anything all day or the more extreme which is not to eat anything, drink only water, no television, computer and phones. Everyone is different, not everyone has to shut themselves away from everything in order to have breakthrough, but something still has to give.

You have to give up something in order for it to be considered a fast. Fasting is something that takes practice, you can’t do the fast that everyone else in the congregation does, especially if you have any illness, such as diabetes or something temporary like the flu. You still have to be smart and listen to your body if you are feeling ill, you will feel hungry, but drinking juice helps fill that immediate void of substance.

Pray about it before you enter a fast and if you are doing a corporate fast make sure you are all on the same page as far as the type of fast and the purpose.