5 Essential Tips For Fasting

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1. Plan Your Fast
The Bible has examples of one-day, three-day, seven-day and forty-day fasts (Judges 20:26, Esther 4:16, 1 Samuel 31:13 and Matthew 4 respectively).

You should enter your fast with prayer and aPrayer is the language specific plan for how long you will fast.

There are various types of fasts as well. Some people fast with only water for short periods, while others maintain multi-week fasts with juice and broth maintaining a strict liquid diet. Both are valid.

You simply need to decide what is right for your body and your purposes.

Part of planning your fast should be to educate yourself on different types of fasts and reasons to fast.

It is also important to know how to break your fast properly. This becomes more critical the longer your fast last.

2. Consider Your Schedule
While a fast, by nature, is inconvenient, it should be an inconvenience to you—not to those around you.

You should not obligate your family to skip Christmas dinner because of your fast.

This takes away the personal nature of fasting.
3. Tell Only the People You Must
Your spouse will need to know you are fasting.
Beyond that, you would be better off not telling many people that you are fasting. Most won’t understand.

Fasting can also become a source of pride and boasting as you spread the news to more and more people.

Telling your pastor can be a help both to you and to him. It will be an encouragement for him to pray more specifically for you during this time. And you will know that someone is praying for your spiritual and physical well being.

4. Wean Yourself Off Caffeine
Several days before your fast begins, you should start weaning yourself off caffeine.

Some people experience unbearable headaches 2 to 3 days after ceasing to drink caffeinated products.

During your fast you will already be acutely aware of your stomach.

There is no need to add a second discomfort if it can be avoided.

5. Avoid Media
Disconnecting from TV, radio, newspapers and the Internet can help you stay focused on your purpose for fasting.

You will be less tempted by the constant bombardment of advertising as you become physically and emotionally challenged.

Avoiding media will give you more time to focus on the Lord and His Word.