Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 3/3/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Elder Greg! Is it true that prayers are more likely to be answered favorably if one fasts? If so, why is it the case? Also, if something is meant to be given to someone, then even if he doesn't sacrifice to fast, then wouldn't it be given just the same? I am a little confused. What is the proper way to fast?

ANSWER: Carlie,

Thank you for your questions, and for the opportunity to help.

No,prayers are not more likely to be answered favorably if one fasts. Fasting does not some how "twist the arm of God" to get Him to answer our prayers. Nor does fasting somehow "entice" God. Our prayer are not improved by fasting. However, fasting does help us pray because of what fasting is designed to do.

You see Carlie, the key of fasting has nearly been lost to the modern church. It is also one that some say was only for early day Christians. Looking closely at the Word of God, we find that the Lord never did away with the principle of fasting, but it has been man who has attempted to make it obsolete. Fasting is still a valid key that can be used today to bring us into kingdom living. What is fasting? It is another means by which we can suffer for the Lord, through the voluntary abstinence from eating. Biblical fasting is done to bring spiritual results and is not simply for physical purposes. While we are not meant to nail ourselves on the cross and re-live the suffering by Jesus at Calvary, yet we are asked by God to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. Fasting, from many years even before Christ, was a symbol of a person humbling him or her self to show God that he or she is sincere in seeking Gods blessings. Fasting is serious business, but it can be approached with the wrong motives.

The Lord tells us in Matthew 6:16-18 that when we fast, we are to do it unto the Lord. He doesn't say if we fast.

"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."

We can see that our motives in fasting must be pure. We are not to do it in order to broadcast it, but we are to do it as quietly and simply as possible so as not to attract attention to ourselves. We are to appear to others as though we are not fasting. There are exceptions, such as when we are fasting as a group for a specific thing. Then it must be announced so that others can take part.

We find this in Joel 1:14, "Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord."

The main thing the Lord desires is that it be done unto Him and not as a show unto men. Our heart attitude must be right to produce spiritual results.

the different kinds of fasts:

(1.) Normal Fast - No food, water only.

(2.) Absolute Fast - Absolutely no food or water (Caution: Should not be undertaken over 3 days and only then if you have a clear directive from the Lord and are in good health).

(3.) Partial Fast - Abstinence from certain kinds of foods (i.e.: No meat or sweets, soup only, fruit and vegetables only, etc. In Daniel 10:3, Daniel ate no pleasant bread).

(4.) Juice Fast - Fruit and vegetable juices only.

(5.) Corporate Fast - A church or group of people who feel God has called them to fast together for a certain period of time.

(6.) Chain Fast - A church or group of people who commit to fasting for a long period of time and each individual commits to fast for a day or longer and signs up for so many days so that the entire period is covered for the designated fasting period. (Our church did this for an entire year at one time.)

(7.) Jewish Fasting Period - The Jewish fast began at 6:00 P.M. in the evening and ended the next day at 6:00 P.M. (Some people follow this time period to begin and end fasts.)

(8.) Fasting Plus Prayer -- Remember, fasting should be combined with prayer. God called us to fast and pray, not fast and preach, nor fast and work. God did not call us to fast and do hard physical work. Although some work and certain responsibilities cannot be avoided while fasting, accounts in the Bible reveal that they arranged times to fast and pray when they did not have to work so they could make seeking God the focal point during the fast, especially when the fasts exceeded 3 days. Giving up our free weekends and vacations to fast, is one way we can sacrifice to the Lord.

(9.) Fasting and Abstinence  -- Although the word "fast" is used as abstaining from food in the Bible and does not refer to giving up other things, during a fast one can practice abstinence from other pleasures as well, such as entertainment, T.V, hobbies and sex, as spoken about in 1 Corinthians 7:1-5.

Carlie, please let me know if this helps, or if you have any further questions.

Elder Greg Madden


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Oh, okay. So fasting is mainly a means of sacrifice, and that we should do it when the Spirit leads us to?

Answer
Carlie,

Sacrifice, yes. But not as a means to course God into doing something for us. Fasting is a means of discipline. It helps us to bring our flesh into subjection to God's will, and not our own. And yes, fasting is to be done as the Holy Spirit leads. However, we can also fast as a corporate body (a church) when a fast is called upon by church leadership. This should be done with a proper attitude, and not under some sort of pressure. In other words, if your church ask's it folks to fast and pray for a certain season, if one of it's members does not sense the leading of the Spirit to do so, then they should not feel obligated. Does that make sense?

Hope this helps.

Elder Greg Madden