WHICH FAST TO CHOOSE
The kind of fast you will choose will depend on your spiritual pilgrimage. You will learn how to use the tool of Prayer and fasting for different times in your life, but prayer is the vital component to any fast. We have chosen to expound on 3 types of fasts but there are numerous types. You can add to the list.
- One-meal-a-day-Fast
- Full Fast
- Daniel’s Fast
- 6am-6pm Fast
Daniel’s Fast or 6am – 6pm
Abstaining partially from food
The book of Daniel gives the wonderful story of Daniel who after realizing that eat- ing the King’s food would defile him and His friends requests a special diet that was different than the others who were in confinement under the King’s order. Daniel requested from his captor that he and his friends receive vegetables and water and abstain from the King’s delicacies and wine. Daniel requested 10 days for a testing period and after the ten days Daniel and his companion’s features appeared healthier and better than the young men who ate the King’s delicacies.
Daniel (Daniel 9:3) also set himself apart to understand more concerning His people and the fulfillment of their return from exile. He “set His Face (act of his will) toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplication with FASTING, sackcloth, and ashes”. We find that the angel Gabriel (messenger angel) breaks through to give him the Word of God.
Daniel (Daniel 10) set himself apart and mourns for 3 full weeks and “ATE NO PLEASANT FOOD, NO MEAT OR WINE “ and fought a spiritual battle that brought even the archangel Michael into the battle. Daniel participated in Spiritual Warfare and prevailed for his people.
A Daniel’s Fast is the restraining of one’s appetite – especially rich foods, alcoholic beverages, etc. To abstain involves moderate or sparing in one’s eating or drinking. Many choose this type of fasting and some call this kind a “Daniel’s Fast.” (DAN. 1:8-20)
Full Fast
Abstaining from all food
The true form of fasting is a pure water fast. However, many have chosen juice fast- ing over water fasting. It is considered a very effective form of cleansing the body of wastes, building physical stamina and resistance of diseases. The world wide web has more information on this area so we encourage you to do your own research.
The only difference between the two is that one feels less fatigued with a juice fast. (There are many other rewards to a Juice Fast besides this) Rapid elimination of dead cells stimulates the building and growth of new healthy cells. My wife and I have found that fresh raw fruit and vegetable juices help with the digestive system which gives more time for expedition of detoxification and purification, without a great feel- ing of fatigue. A “just water” fast can really make you feel fatigued and tired.
One Meal a Day
Many have chosen because of the daily activity and pressures of their jobs to partici- pate in a one meal per day fast or a hybrid of each type of fast. For example, an indi- vidual will fast (water or juice only on their days off) and eat one meal a day during their most active days and have a Daniel’s fast on other days.
Remember to use wisdom and ask advice when you are not disciplined in breaking a fast. Your digestive system will thank you for it! If you need more insight and wisdom concerning your planned fast and you are a healthy individual, seek the advice of your leadership and research answers for yourself. As we have said before, if you have any medical problems, you need to check with your medical professional concerning fasting.