Mensa Otabil - Guidelines for Fasting
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Well, it’s one more day until 40 days of power, and tomorrow we start our 40 days of prayer and fasting. I want to talk about some practical guides to help us in this season. Matthew chapter 6, verses 17 and 18: «But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.» Jesus, talking to his disciples, is giving them practical guides on how to go on a fast. As we said yesterday, Jesus expected his disciples to fast, and now he’s telling them what to do when they fast. I want to follow the spirit of what he’s saying and provide some practical guides we can observe during a fast, especially a long fast like a 40-day fast.
The first is that we fast in faith; we don’t fast in doubt, anxiety, or worry, and we definitely don’t fast to showcase our actions to others. Every act of fasting must be done in faith. Secondly, when we fast, we start slowly. By «slowly,» I mean don’t attempt a fast that does not include water. You may not go without food and water for a very long time, so start with a daily fast. That’s what we’re beginning with-a 24-hour fast that you break every day, and then you continue the next day.
We start from that point. Over time, you can decide that, apart from a 24-hour fast, within the 40 days, you might try a 48-hour fast, which means two days without food, and then you continue. You need to maintain a good rhythm. Third, drink lots of water. No matter what you do, you have to drink plenty of water during the fast. In the Bible, there are only a few instances where people fast without food and without water, and that lasts a maximum of three days. However, if you’re doing a long fast, like a 40-day fast, you must drink a lot of water. Consume as much water as you need; it will not break your fast-it is part of your fast.
Number four: Don’t be legalistic. I know sometimes people wonder, «What if I do this? Have I broken my fast?» If I brush my teeth, have I broken my fast? If I take my medication or cough syrup, have I broken my fast? Don’t be overly legalistic about these things; God looks at your heart. There are necessary things you must do. Sometimes you have to take medication or something just to keep your body in good condition. Please don’t be too strict about it.
Also, sometimes when you’re fasting, you might forget yourself, and before you realize it, you have food in your mouth. My advice is to stick with what’s in your mouth, swallow it, and then continue your fast. So don’t say, «Oh, I’ve broken my fast; it’s nine o’clock in the morning; I just took this. I’ve broken my fast.» You haven’t broken it; you’re continuing. Just finish what’s in your mouth, don’t add more, and continue with the fast.
Don’t be legalistic about it; God understands your heart; he understands our human weaknesses, and you can still continue the fast if you make a little mistake like that. When you are fasting, expect results from God. We don’t just fast for the sake of fasting, just to feel hungry. We expect God to hear us, see us, and answer our prayers. When you fast, spend time in prayer, spend time in the word of God, and spend time before God.
If you need to break a fast in the evening, make sure you don’t eat all the food you have stored up throughout the day. Eat something very light to help you continue the fast the next day. Don’t consume heavy carbohydrates, as your body will find it difficult to digest them throughout the night. So eat something light, something easy on your stomach, so that the next morning, your body is aware that you are fasting. Otherwise, your body will have to start all over again each day, and then the fast becomes very hard.These are some practical tips. Tomorrow we start, and I pray that God gives us all the strength to begin tomorrow and successfully complete the 40-day fast. Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, help me to stay on course as I draw close to you. Let each day be a spiritual journey with you. In Jesus' name, amen.»
Well, tomorrow I’ll catch you, and by the time I speak to you, we will be beginning our fast. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.