The fundamentals of fasting for Christians are going to be covered in this post. The spiritual practice of fasting is a form of self-discipline that is frequently undervalued as a tool for developing a closer relationship with God. People frequently conceive of it as a way for those who are afflicted with illness or going through a difficult moment to seek the face of God in order to obtain solace and healing from him.
Fasting is a technique that Christians can use to better obey God, add more self-control, and strengthen their devotion. While it is true that Christians should fast during times of sickness, we can also utilize this tool to better obey God.
What To Do When Fasting As A Christian?
1. Pray
As you fast, pray for yourself, family and friends. Pray for your church, local leaders and the world. Pray for the sick, the poor and the needy. Pray for the government as well as your enemies.
While you are abstaining from food, pray for yourself, your loved ones, and your friends.
Pray for the people in your church, the people in your community, and the globe.
Pray for those who are ill, for the impoverished, and for those who have a need.
Pray not only for yourself but also for those who oppose you.
2. Don’t Make Your Fast Known to Others (humble Yourself)
You should not make your fasting known to others, except when you are fasting with the hypocrites. Then they will fast only to be seen by men, but they do not abase themselves in their hearts before God. They have no regard for God’s commandments nor the true way of life. They abhor Christ and His word, but they pretend to be pious with lengthy prayers (Matthew 6:16-18).
In Matthew 6:17 Jesus says that when we fast, we should not “be seen by men.” In other words, it isn’t something that you want people to see or know about. You shouldn’t tell everyone that you’re fasting because this would be a sign of pride and arrogance on your part—and it’s also wrong according to Scripture! If a person was truly humble while fasting they wouldn’t even want anyone else knowing about their actions because then those actions wouldn’t have been done out of love for God but merely as a show off type thing which is exactly what Jesus warns against here!
3. Ask for Forgiveness
The most important thing is to stop and ask for forgiveness. We all sin, and we can’t expect God to be forgiving if we don’t forgive ourselves.
So take a moment and look back on your week of fasting. What have you done or said that needs forgiveness? Confess it to God in prayer, then forgive yourself and others who may have sinned against you during this time of self-reflection. Don’t be too hard on yourself—after all, you can always do better next time!
4. Read the Bible
As you’re fasting and praying, it’s also important to read the Bible. Reading the word of God is food for your soul! It will help you grow closer to God and understand His word better.
If you’re new to reading the Bible or don’t know where to start, here are some good places:
- The Gospel According To Matthew: This book contains teachings from Jesus’ disciple Matthew, who was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles. It tells about how Jesus came down from heaven as a man on earth in order to save us from our sins by dying on the cross and rising again three days later (Revelation 12). It also explains why we should follow Christ—because He showed us what true love looks like when He died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).
5. Have a No-Judgmental Day (be Kind, Loving and Patient)
So how can you do this?
Well, first of all, don’t judge others. The Bible says in Matthew 7:1-5 that “do not judge, so that you may not be judged.” If you think someone is doing wrong or is sinning or they aren’t following God’s word as closely as they should be then it’s important that we lead by example and love them just like Jesus did. We all have weaknesses and struggles and we need to remember that everyone has their own life story which led them here today. So instead of choosing sides and criticizing others for what they’re going through try loving your neighbor instead!
What else should I do? Be kind, patient and loving towards those around you who might be fasting even if they aren’t familiar with what fasting means (or how long it lasts). They may feel uncomfortable expressing themselves because we tend to look at people who are fasting in a negative way but this shouldn’t stop us from speaking kindly about it no matter how hard it might seem at first glance…
6. Enjoy Spiritual Food Such as Worship Songs, Sermons, Anointing Oil, Christian Movies, Etc.
In addition to fasting, there are other spiritual disciplines that you can use to help you grow spiritually. These include:
- Worship songs
- Sermons
- Anointing oil
- Christian movies (no horror, please)
Fasting can help you be closer to God.
Fasting can help you be closer to God.
In the Bible, we see fasting being done by Jesus Christ, the disciples and even Paul the Apostle. The first time we see Jesus fasting is in Matthew 4:1-11 where he was tempted by Satan for 40 days and 40 nights in a wilderness before he began his public ministry. After this time of testing, Jesus emerged victorious and was filled with power from on high (Luke 4:14) which enabled him to do great signs and wonders that would lead many people to believe in him (the gospel).
But why did he fast? Well, it’s clear that as people follow Christ they need to be strengthened spiritually as well as physically – after all not everyone has access to spiritual food such as bread or water every day so fasting helps fill this need too!
Conclusion
These are just a few suggestions for fasting as a Christian. Keep in mind that the best way to fast is to make it feel like your own choice and to do it in the way that makes sense for you. Many people who fast find it helpful to have someone nearby who can support them during their time without food, but if that’s not an option, be sure you have other ways of keeping yourself occupied so fasting doesn’t get too intense.