If you're reading this, you're at least interested in what it means to fast and what the benefits might actually be. In the Jewish culture, fasting was a part of their tradition and actually rules of Jewish law that were expected to be followed. Just like so many other rules and laws, Jesus came to fulfill all of them. We are free in Jesus and not under rules or law. However, there are so many benefits that God set up for the Jewish people before Jesus made his appearance as a man that we can glean from today, and I personally have found fasting to be one of them.
In all of my 53 years on earth, I was never once encouraged to fast. I wasn't familiar with it other than reading it in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, but I just assumed it didn't apply to me since I had never learned about it in any of my Bible classes or sermons that were preached. Not once. In 2021 that changed. An entire church had committed to do this together as they prayed specifically for things in their community, their families and individually. I found this inspiring and intriguing as, again, I'd never even considered doing this.
Fasting is an immediate way to point yourself to Jesus. We all know the pang of hunger in some form or fashion. The idea of fasting is to push through that pang and look to Jesus, asking Him to fill you instead of rushing to the fridge, pantry or nearest drive-thru. It's definitely not what we're used to here in America.
If you've made it this far, you may be truly considering it. I'm so so impressed with you! Fasting is an individual decision. However, you must commit to it BEFORE you start, or you will be tempted to change it and rationalize that change as you move forward. Here is what I have done for the last 3 years, and it is what I will do for 21 days starting January 1 of 2025:
Week 1
4 glasses of juice per day. I'm not a juice-girl, so this was already a challenge for me. I bought quite a few small bottles in the produce section at the grocery store the first year and narrowed it to what I can actually get down. Some people also substitute one or two of these glasses per day with broth. That was a line too far in the sand for me. I also drink water all day long.
Read one chapter of the book of John each day. Get to know Jesus by his own words and actions as an adult man. Learn how he interacted with his disciples, his enemies and how he treated those around him. His goal was (and is) to lead us to the Father. Read in His own words how He does that. There are 21 chapters. Kinda perfect.
Watch at least one episode of The Chosen. Start from the beginning. It's on Amazon Prime, but it also has its own app which is FREE to download and watch on any of your devices. Watch it alone the first time if you have not yet started. It's so very personal, and you don't want to miss even a moment of each episode, so don't have your phone nearby. Unplug from everything and everyone for that hour each day and soak in the visual images and audio elements of what Jesus could have been like in real flesh.
Pray. Pray specifically for what God has in store for you over the next few days, weeks, months, year. Watch. Listen.
Week 2
4 glasses of juice per day + a dinner meal of strictly vegetables. Get creative. You can start chewing this week, ha! Water all day long.
Keep reading one chapter of John.
Keep watching at least one episode of The Chosen. (When you get to Season 2, Episode 1, go back and read John 1:1-18 again. You will be moved to tears at how personal Jesus is for you. I can't wait to hear about this from everyone!)
Pray. Pray specifically for what God has in store for you over the next few days, weeks, months, year. Watch. Listen.
Week 3
4 glasses of juice per day, a dinner meal of strictly vegetables, a protein drink at lunchtime. Water all day long.
Keep reading one chapter of John.
Keep watching at least one episode of The Chosen.
Pray. Pray specifically for what God has in store for you over the next few days, weeks, months, year. Watch. Listen.
This is my personal journey. Choose one that is right for you.
One note I'd like to address: Biblical fasting is restricted to food. Others may "fast" from social media, hobbies, alcohol, etc. God set up fasting to include food. If you'd like to "abstain" from those other things, that sounds fantastic, but it's not a fast. Fasting is difficult at best and causes some days of physical suffering, but you will be SHOCKED at how God will pull you along. Some days, and this may sound crazy, you might not even feel hungry, and you will have to remember to go drink that glass of juice.
Days 2 and 5 are usually the hardest for me at first. It's like my body is saying, "ok, i know you probably forgot yesterday, but let's get back to this eating thing..." You'll have a couple of days when you don't think you can do it. YOU CAN WITH GOD! Cry out to Him. Once completed, you will have accomplished something you may have never thought you could. Your body will feel great, your soul will feel refreshed, and your relationship with Jesus will become closer than you ever expected.
ALSO, please comment on this blog each day or any day you feel encouraged or discouraged. Let's share together what verse hit you directly or how God revealed something to you. Some days will be harder while some days will be easier. Let's encourage each other. This is your personal fasting group! Welcome!
Get ready to fall in Love with Jesus in 21 days!
Comments
Dezy :
Day 20- almost done! Good job guys, I know we’ve been making God smile 😊 Full disclosure so far in this fast I’ve had 4 weak moments ( all involving caffeine) but I decided after reading the word that God wants full obedience and that’s what I want to give him. Everything got much better after that. I’m very thankful for you guys and will continue praying long after this ends! 🩵 Last night at home church all we had to drink was sweet tea and soda. Lemme tell you, it was hard to have coconut water to drink instead. Ha! I told my husband this doesn’t hit the spot lol 😂 lastly, the bad dreams have stopped. Praise God!
Jan 20, 2025
Tina :
Thank you sweet sisters for your prayers. Day 6 for me. I dreamed about eating food last night and woke up feeling guilty having to remind myself it was just a dream. Yesterday was hard. I stayed in my bible almost all day. I love reading everyone’s post daily. Please keep sharing. It helps. The devil keeps getting in my head telling me that I am doing this for nothing. I just say Jesus over and over until the thoughts pass. I just hate that devil. He stays on me like white on rice. I pray all these intrusive thoughts would just go away. They are constant. I couldn’t even focus in church yesterday. I just keep saying that I can do this and Jesus don’t leave me.
Jan 20, 2025
Diane:
The fast has been a challenge and a reminder to focus on God. Praying for the many prayer requests above 🙏. God is good and in control. No matter what happens remember He will never leave you nor forsake you . Humans are weak but He is strong . Trust Him, he loves you! ❤️🙏
Jan 20, 2025
Amy Warner:
Day 19 for me, This morning I watch The Passion of Christ movie from 2004. It depicts the final 12 hours and f Jesus’, very closely following the book of John. I found myself holding my breath several times at different moments.
I am praying for all of you beautiful women, as we seek to draw nearer to Jesus. At supper time (vegetables) I find myself wanting to eat as much as I can, bahaha. Almost like I want to store reserves. Goodness gracious!!
Seek Jesus, asking for His fullness to sustain us.
Jan 19, 2025
Dezy:
Tina- check out the sheepfold.org
Praying for you sister girl 🩵
Amy- what a comfort it is that the father already knows our needs, the Holy Spirit prays for us with groans and Jesus himself intercedes on our behalf! Just spending time in prayer even if you ask God to be your voice or repeat the Lord’s Prayer is wonderful! 🩷
Day 18- this will not be the only time that I’ll fast I think. I’ve experienced spiritual highs and spiritual warfare .Self- control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that I’ve been praying for more of and this has helped! 😊
Jan 19, 2025
Kimberly:
Day 18: My beautiful sisters. I have not posted in a few days. Tonight after arguing with my husband, I decided to come and see (get it?) your comments. Boy, am I glad I did. It’s been a weird couple of days and I’m actually encouraged because it seems like the spiritual warfare has increased with most of you, too. I’m feeling off and a little flat, if that makes sense. I’ve not had a decent night’s sleep since we started this fast. I’ve been very uneasy and anxious at night which is uncommon for me, and I’m having anxious dreams that I can’t remember. Howeverrrrrr…..I do not regret it and I will not stop, I will continue through the power of Jesus.
Tina – That’s alot to handle, but I commend you for coming back to the feet of your Saviour. I will be praying over your home, your children, your husband, and you, sweetheart. Do not let the enemy keep you from doing this fast. You cry out to Jesus everytime you feel like breaking, and He will get you through it. You need this, girl.
Dezy- I’m glad you got that Kickstart fix handled! Haha!
Melissa O – Yes, the spiritual warfare is intensifying it seems. I’ll be praying for you. Please do the same for me! I snapped my husband’s head off earlier for nothing and that got out of hand. I let my guard down. Now I have to go apologize which is…ugh. Fine. Lol
Toni – I hope you get better soon, honey! Also, I’m adding your husband to my little list of non believers I keep in my prayer book. (Whats his name?) I know that you are doing the Lord’s work with him. It takes a strong woman. Never give up!
I am so thankful for all of you.
I hope and pray you all have a great at Sunday. God bless.
Jan 19, 2025
Amy Warner:
Melissa- thank you for the homemade protein drink recipe. The ones I have bought hurt my stomach, so I was going to revert back to juice and broth. I will give this a try!
The past few days have been an absolute war against my faith. I, like a few of you, have felt so many attacks and have cried out to Jesus for help., speaking his name and commanding the enemy to flee. I have even felt myself just giving up on my own prayers and instead praying “The Lord’s Prayer”. I wrestle between is this good (I don’t know what to pray for but Gods will be done), or have I just gotten lazy asking the Holy Spirit to search my heart and soul and intercede for me because I am throwing my hands in the air and don’t know what to pray for anymore. I can’t decide if this is good or bad?? I am no longer coming with specific prayers and requests…is this the evil one?
Praying for ALL, as these days are hard ones to read in the Word. Simon Peter’s denial, what they did to our Savior, the evil in their hearts that they excused to “religion”, how we also are guilty of denying that Jesus is Lord in vital areas of our lives.
Jan 18, 2025
Tina :
I am only on my 4th day. I saw this post too late and then prayed about it for a few days. I have a binge eating addiction so I am praying I can do this and that He also breaks those chains during this fast. I had a hard time figuring out what I should really be fasting for but He keeps saying it’s for my marriage. I have been married to the same man for 23 years and we have 5 boys and 2 grandchildren. The ups and down have been throughout our marriage, but in 2014 I found out he had a porn addiction. I can’t forgive and he can’t stop. I was drinking to cope but I saw it was affecting me be a mother so I stopped and went back to church in September. Deep down I feel like he will never change and I want to leave. But we have 3 that have ASD and 2 are level 2/3 autistic. Our home is made safe for them and it would be too hard for them to leave their home. I need a breakthrough in our marriage. For my children’s sake. I can’t keep living like this. We don’t even sleep in the same room. Zero affection. He lies alot. He is a compulsive spender. There’s just a lot really. I need a serious breakthrough. I’ve never felt the pain I have felt recently. I pray HE has this! Keep on keeping on sisters!
Jan 18, 2025
Kristina:
Good Morning, friends! I have been thinking about this group of ladies for the past few days. We are on a trip with our seed dealer, so out of the country until Monday. Praying for you all!
Kristina
Jan 18, 2025
Dezy :
Day 17- wow, almost done with the fast! I’ve been feeling Gods presence more strongly the last two prayer nites 🩵 John 17 is filled with so much love!!! I love that Jesus prays for us. That the father chose us. That the Holy Spirit helps us. My body has been craving healthier food and that’s an answer to prayer. Ha! Jumex nectar drinks have been my kickstart replacement and it’s a yummy healthier one fo sho. Praying for y’all as I see your comments.
Jan 18, 2025
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