Fasting is a sacred time when Christians abstain from food, or other pleasures, and take time to focus on God. If you want to focus your life around God, feed like the poor, deepen your faith - keep reading and find out how!
For a non-religious fast, see How to Fast.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Before Fasting
Step 1. Keep the right reasons
Keep in mind that fasting like a Christian means being humble before God. It is a way to glorify the Lord. Keep these things in mind as you fast. Try to keep all other reasons out, like weight loss, etc.. just focus on Jesus.
Step 2. Pray before fasting
Pray, confessing all your sins, and inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your life. Let Jesus know that you want to know him personally. Recognize that He died on the cross for the sins of men and resurrected after three days, that he frees us from sins, and that He gives us His gift of eternal life. Ask for forgiveness for all those who have done wrong; ask God for forgiveness. Forgive those who have hurt you. You don't want to start fasting by carrying a grudge, anger, or offense. Evil will try to use those motives to distract you from your fast.
Step 3. Meditate on the Gospel and the Lord's Holiness
Among the various reflections you can include His ability to forgive, His strength and wisdom, His peace, the ability to love unconditionally, etc… praise Him for these qualities! Give up your life and thank him for all he has done for you!
Step 4. Decide the length of your fasting experience, whether it is for 1 meal, 1 day, 3 days or a week (Jesus and Moses fasted for a period of 40 days, but that doesn't mean everyone else has to do it)
You could try a shorter fast, and start slowly at first if you have never fasted before. You can also pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you how long you should fast.
Step 5. Observe the type of fast you have been invited to do
You may feel that the Holy Spirit is calling you to a specific type of fast. Partial fasting can mean giving up only certain types of foods. Fasting solid foods takes away the pleasure of chewing any type of solid food, but fruit and vegetable juices are allowed.
Step 6. Drink enough water to support yourself, as it is not a food, observing this absolute precaution:
In an absolute fast one abstains from solid and liquid "foods"; for example, fruit juices are foods, but water is essential for life, otherwise you could go into a daze, then into a coma to death after only 4 or 5 days of dehydration.
Method 2 of 3: While Fasting
Step 1. Maintain the worship in the morning
Worship and praise Him for His qualities. Read God's Word, and ponder that God gives you His wisdom, let His Word into your life, and receive His full understanding. Pray for God's will to be done, and for the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Ask God to guide you in spreading His glory in the world we live in.
Step 2. Walk in prayer
Walk in the open air, in direct contact with nature, while observing the wonderful creation of God. Thank him for all he has created, when you walk. Ask him to give you a spirit of gratitude and appreciation.
Step 3. Pray for the welfare of others
Pray that the leaders of the Church will know how to preach His Word as God wills, that your friends and family will be closer to Him or accept Him in their life; pray for the heads of government to come close to him and do his will.
Method 3 of 3: Break (after) Fasting
This is one of the recommended ways to return to a regular diet after fasting.
Step 1. Gradually insert a raw salad on the first day you break the fast
Step 2. On day 2, add a baked potato, avoiding the fat or salt on the potato
Step 3. On day 3, add a steamed vegetable
Then, progressively incorporate more foods into your diet. Do this to avoid gorging yourself.
Advice
- You could try spending a week or so on eating small meals and abstaining from foods rich in sugar and caffeine to prepare for a total fast. The two days before starting the actual fast, you should eat only fruits and vegetables, and drink only water. This prepares your (physical) appetite and mind to give up your favorite foods.
- Make time for personal prayer. Give all your attention to Him. Remember to pray for everything and not worry about anything.
- If you eat something by mistake, repent and go back to fasting. This can happen because we eat out of habit.
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For those who drink juice while fasting: Fresh watermelon, grapes, apples, kale, beets, carrots, celery, or green leafy vegetables are the healthiest for the stomach. Avoid citrus fruits and other acidic juices.
- Wake up in the morning with a glass of non-acidic fruit juice.
- Around noon, drink a cup of fresh vegetable juice.
- Around 3pm have a glass of herbal tea, making sure there is no caffeine.
- In the evening, heat some carrots and mixed vegetables in boiling water. Do not add salt or oil. Drink the vegetable broth, but let someone else eat the vegetables.
Warnings
- Fasting should not be used as a weight control method.
- Don't brag when you fast. Matthew 06:17: “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that it does not appear to men that you are fasting, but to your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you”.
- Make sure you get plenty of rest.
- Avoid overeating or even gorging yourself when you finish your fast.
- Watch out for loss of muscle tissue and electrolytes. Take heed of your doctor's advice and be careful during your fasting experience.
- You may feel dizzy while fasting if you are fasting from solid foods.
- Those suffering from eating disorders of any kind should not fast.
