What is a FAST?

Hey everyone! It’s your girl Julie, back with another post for “Salty & Lit!” In today’s post, we’ll be talking about fasting.

In my experience, I didn’t really grow up fasting except for that one time when I had a Sunday School teacher encourage us to give something up for Lent, but other than that experience, fasting was foreign to me.

However, lately, I’ve been in a season of fasting, and y’all, it’s different. It pushes you to see how dependent we really are on God, but fasting comes with a cost.

The cost is giving up pleasure to seek God more.

Before I begin, I want to define a fast.

From my gathering, a fast is a set apart time where we give something in exchange to spend more time with God.

Fasting shows us that we are willing to lay everything down to enter into the presence of God, as well as shift our focus from ourselves and recognize our need for God. Fasting looks different for everyone, but I want to share three things that I think are important when it comes to fasting.

In Esther 4, we learn that Esther has decided to call a fast to prepare for when she has to speak with the King of Persia. You see, the King of Persia summons his wife (Esther), so her going in front of him without being called is low-key setting herself up. However, she recognizes that she needs to do this because souls and lives were on the line if she didn’t do something.

Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14, NIV)

In the previous paragraphs, Esther was the one who called the fast, and the first question I want to answer is, “Who gets to call a fast?” Short answer… ANYONE. As long as they are recognizing they are entering into a fast and not just starving themselves, then they are fasting. There are times, however, when Holy Spirit tells someone to go on a fast. Jesus, in Matthew 4:1-2, was led in the wilderness to fast. Therefore, we know that anyone can call a fast for someone. Now, that we’ve gotten it settled of who gets to call a fast; one might ask what a fast entails, and Esther again gives us some good qualities for a fast.

What are the guidelines for a fast? Using the passage from Esther, we see there’s a start and end date, people (group) participating in the fast, stipulation for the fast, and goal of the fast. Esther, the Jews, and Esther’s attendants (who) fasted by abstaining from food (stipulation) for three days and three nights (length) to prepare (goal) for Esther’s speaking with the king (Esther 4:16).

Esther’s s̶t̶o̶r̶y̶, no reality, allows us to see what happens when fasting takes place. Read the story of Esther to find out what happens ;)

However, some might be wondering about whether they should fast or not. Why do I have to fast?

Fasting, like I said earlier, can push you to total dependency on God; it’s a way for you to deny your flesh and recognize that you are willing to sacrifice some things for God’s Presence.

Fasting doesn’t bring condemnation, so if you don’t feel you fasted right, ask the Holy Spirit for guidance to do it in a way that honors God.

If you end a fast early, don’t beat yourself. There are situations when you have to end early. For example, I fasted and was completely dehydrated; I didn’t want to eat or drink because of the fast, and it got to the point where I passed out. When I woke up, I immediately felt guilty because I wanted to eat, and I lost sight of the fast by focusing on eating rather than focusing on the fact that this was a way for me to draw closer to God.

I share my story to encourage you in fasting; you may not get it right the first time or the 100th time, but your obedience to fast will be honored.

To end this post, I want to end off with a prayer:

Father, we thank You so much for fasting to show us how we can draw closer to You. I pray that we recognize fasting itself doesn’t draw us closer to You, but it’s the things we do while we’re fasting. Holy Spirit, draw us closer to You each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.