This write up is an answer to that person’s question who asked me about Christian fasting. “Aap logo mein toh fasting nahi hota na?” Interestingly, this person is not the only one asking questions about Christian fasting. Long time back, when Jesus Christ still walked on the earth with His disciples, there were people raising questions about their fasting -- “Why are we and the Pharisees fasting much, and your disciples are not fasting?” (Mathew 9:14)
Well, let me begin by saying that fasting is the most powerful spiritual discipline of all the Christian disciplines. Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit transforms the life of a Christian. Fasting for Christians is “denying something physical” to glorify God and go deeper with Him in the Spirit. Fact is, fasting is the most recommended lifestyle for spiritual growth.
Though God does not require or demand it of Christians, at the same time, the Bible presents fasting as something that is “good, profitable, and beneficial”. For all those who don’t know, fasting is a common practice in Christianity. When Jesus talked with His disciples He always taught them about fasting. Fasting is a sacred time in which Christians abstain from food, or other pleasures, and take the time to focus on God. In fact, there has been a resurgence of fasting in recent decades, as the Church calls her people to regular fasting as part of a normal Christian lifestyle.
Many of us believe that fasting as a spiritual duty to God and not just depriving ourselves of food and drink for a period of time in order to prove our love for Him. Early Christians weren't required to fast, but there's nothing in the Bible forbidding it. New Testament believers regularly observed prayer and fasting. Jesus fasted for 40 days to begin His public ministry (Mt 4:2). The church of Antioch fasted to begin the first missionary journey (Acts 13:2).
Yes, Christians fast not so much but fasting from food is not the only kind of fasting – it can be done in a variety of ways – so abstaining from food alone doesn't constitute a Christian fast. For this, I urge you to visit http://thevinecommunitychurch.com/fasting-recommendations/
The most common form of Christian fasting is the normal, private, occasional fast. Jesus' instructions on fasting (Matthew 6:16-18 – Matthew 9:14-15) include: “keep your fasting private” so that “God will reward your fasting”.
The Bible records that great men of faith such as Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Paul and Jesus Himself fasted so that they might draw closer to God. In fact, after being baptized, Jesus fasted for forty days and nights in the Judean Desert. Jesus' disciples fasted and prayed after the Resurrection. Please note here that for Christians fasting can bring them closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Christians fast and pray for special blessings as fasting needs to be accompanied by prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
So, for Christians, fasting and prayer are linked together and whenever Christians fast, they are admonished to pray, which facilitates their spiritual growth and so, normal Christian fasting means “privately” and “occasionally” because Jesus told His followers: "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: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly" (Matthew 6:16-18).
Again, Christians just don’t have simple fasting – it is not only accompanied with prayer but alms-giving as well. Since Jesus fasted, His true followers also fast, if they indeed follow His teachings. He said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed" (John 8:31). So, all you know, fasting is the most powerful and potent weapons that Christians have.
In fact, there’s something called Eucharist Fast as well wherein believers are required to fast one full hour before receiving the Holy Communion.
Finally, I recommend everyone to check out these fasting tips on http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/10-fasting-tips-a-christian-guide/
It’s truly amazing…
Last but definitely not the least, fasting, prayer and alms-giving are the greatest weapons for Christians as they are the key to humility and enable them to hear God speak to them.
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