Mensa Otabil - How to Fast (11/03/2025)
Well, we are almost there. Today is the last day before our 40 Days of Power, and we prepare our hearts and minds to start tomorrow to pray and fast for the next 40 days.
So today I’m just going to focus on giving some instructions and practical steps if you want to do a fast of this nature. I’m going to share guidelines, and my reading is from Matthew chapter 6, verses 17 to 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.» These are practical guidelines that Jesus gave to His disciples on how to fast. There is a spiritual aspect involved, but He is telling them practically what to do-how to be hygienic and how to keep their faith, and so on. I’m going to talk a bit about that as we prepare for a long fast of 40 days.
There are some practical things that we have to do. First of all, we have to fast in faith. A fast is done as an expression of faith unto the Lord. We don’t fast out of compulsion, we don’t fast out of legalism, and we don’t fast trying to please people. It’s done in faith towards God, and we want to do things that take us away from the physical into the spiritual, so we fast in faith. Secondly, we start slowly. If you’ve never fasted before, you should start a bit slowly. You may not be able to do a very complete fast for a long time, so please take it easy. We have 40 days; you will build up your momentum. By the time we reach the 20th day, you’ll find your stride and can go for longer periods in prayer and fasting. Just give your body the chance to respond and to grow in the experience, but start well and grow with it.
For some of you, you may just miss a meal or two meals, and then you take it from there and build your strength. Drink lots of water; the Bible does not reference a total fast — no food, no water-that goes more than three days. If you’re going to do no food and no water, you have to probably do it just for a day, then break every day and continue the next day. Otherwise, just take in a lot of water. Water is a purifier; it helps to flush out all kinds of toxins from your body, and it helps your body to be sustained. So please take in a lot of water and fluids and strengthen yourself.
Third, don’t be too legalistic. You know, when I started to fast when I was younger, we were too legalistic. Sometimes, in a fast, you forget yourself; before you realize it, you’ve put some food in your mouth, and you wonder, «Have I broken the fast?» I would say you haven’t broken the fast; you just miscalculated something. If you have something in your mouth, don’t add another one-just swallow it and continue with your fast. Some people want an excuse to stop the fast and say, «Oh, I broke my fast because I put some food in my mouth.» Don’t be legalistic about that; eat what’s in your mouth and continue. Remember, it’s your heart, and God watches your heart. God watches your motive; He sees what you’re trying to do, and He rewards you according to the condition of your heart.
Of course, your physical action also reflects the condition of your heart. When you have to break your fast, do it carefully. Sometimes, people feel very hungry and rush to the food, attacking it. They eat at a pace that disturbs their body. Take it easy. If you’re breaking in the evening, please break very slowly with some fluids, probably a couple of juices, then you can take some very easy-to-digest meals. Then you can continue the next day because if you overcompensate, your body doesn’t learn the routine of a fast. You have to do it in such a way that the body learns how to adapt to the fast, and by the seventh day, you’ll find it so easy to fast. You’ll actually find it more difficult to eat than to fast.
So just some tidbits there: expect results. God will answer you because the Lord will respond to our fast. Tomorrow is a great day; we start! 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 and amen.»