How Will Fasting Affect My Normal Activities?

Fasting is something you do while carrying on your everyday activities.  Jesus depicts this in: Matthew 6:16-18 while Christians are going about their normal duties; 1 Samuel 14:24, soldiers are in the activity of warfare; and Acts 27:33, while sailors are on the ship with Paul.  While in your daily activities, fasting becomes a constant prayer to the Lord.  When experiencing hunger, you are reminded to quickly pray for the specific things about which you are fasting.

What Physical Effects Can I Expect While Fasting?

  • You will be hungry. (Be aware that you may become frustrated with the people around you simply because of your hunger.)
  • When you make a drastic change in what you eat, your body will respond in different ways. You can expect it to be difficult.
  • You may experience headaches, but they usually disappear once your body gets used to the fast or you come off of the fast.
  • You may experience sluggishness as the fast progresses.
  • Be sure to consult a doctor before beginning a fast if you have any medical concerns. 


How Do I Approach My Fast?

  • Examine your heart to make sure all is right between you and Him.
  • Have a time of confession on the front end of your fasting, spending the necessary time to purify and consecrate yourself before Him     (Psalm 66:18).
  • We do not fast to obtain merit with God or to get rid of sin.  However, fasting will begin to bring to the surface any area of compromise in your life and make you more aware of any sin in your own life, so you can repent, and truly enter into His presence.
  • We don’t fast to lose weight; though it can be a side effect. 


The Enemy Will Be Against You

  • When you seek the Lord as you will be for these 21 days, you can expect that the enemy will be working against you.
  • Read Ephesians 6:10-18 and ask the Lord to wrap you in His armor and protect you from anything that the enemy may try to use to distract you from seeking Him.

How Can I Get the Most from My Fast?

  • If it doesn’t mean anything to you, it won’t mean anything to God.  Without being combined with prayer and the Word, fasting is little more than dieting.
  • Fasting is a continual prayer before God.  There may be days when your energy is sapped and you just cannot seem to focus in prayer at all.  Don’t condemn yourself, remember, God sees your sacrifice.
  • Avoid watching the TV food commercials; stay away from being tempted.
  • Don’t gorge yourself when ending a fast; when the fast is over don’t have a big, heavy meal.
  • It is possible to fast and not hear from God (Isa. 58:4).  In other words humble yourself and be repentant, then you will hear from heaven. 
  • Satan does not like it when you fast.  He knows that you’re serious about meeting God and meeting Him for a purpose.  Don’t walk in fear, just beware of it; after all, God is bigger.  God desires for you to meet Him and wants to give you His blessings.
  • Spend some time praising Him every time you meet with Him.