How can you start fasting?
At DLCC, we see fasting as essential to the spiritual life of the believer.
The word “fast” is derived from a Greek word “nestho”, which means to abstain from all food, solid and liquid.
For thousands of years, biblical fasting has been the practice of abstaining from food for spiritual purposes.
The act of fasting expresses humility, self-denial, and submission to God. In times of distress and oppression, God’s people fasted to seek His help, restoration, or to repent of and atone for their wrongdoings.
- Jesus fasted before beginning His public ministry (Luke 4:1,2)
- Esther, Mordecai, and the Jews fasted to ask God to intervene in a sinister plot to exterminate the Jews. (Esther 4:15-17)
Here is a non-exhaustive list of the benefits of fasting:
- Fasting subdues the flesh and enables one to triumph over fleshly desires.
- It eliminates unbelief and doubt, and helps to build up faith and spiritual life in God
- Fasting helps individuals and leaders determine the absolute will of God for His people.
There are different kinds of fasting. Here are 3 main ways
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Normal Fasting
Which is totally refraining from food either solid or liquid except water and within certain hours as 12.01am (midnight) to the evening 6.00 pm of the day.
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Partial Fasting
Which is abstaining from certain foods like meat, desserts etc. The duration varies according to the need of the individual and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
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Absolute Fasting
Which is a total fast with no food and no water. Esther and Paul performed this type of fasting for three days. At the instruction of the Lord, Moses and Elijah fasted for 40 days.
(Should you choose to fast in this manner, do proceed with extreme caution as you are not eating or drinking anything. It is not recommended that you abstain from liquids for longer than 3 days. We would especially not recommend this for people with medical conditions.)
The Lord also wants us to fast in the following areas:
- Anger and hatred to eliminate them.
- Judging others mercilessly without grace and room for consideration.
- Discouragement.
- Resentment and bitterness.
- Extravagant living.
- Complaining and murmuring.
Fasting is thus an essential and important activity. It is a way of life and vital to the spiritual health of the believer.
We are concerned that fasting is being neglected in the Church today.
Any believer or church that wants to be on fire for the Lord must not stop at prayer, but also be serious about fasting. Hence we urge all Christ followers to rediscover the joy of this biblical spiritual practice.
There are 2 ways you may partake in fasting at DLCC:
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Weekly Corporate Fast
As disciples of Jesus, DLCC members fast and pray as a corporate body every Wednesday to uphold various corporate and personal needs.
All DLCC members are encouraged to join in this weekly fast, which begins at 12.01am midnight and ends at 6pm evening on the same day.
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Annual 40-day Corporate Fast
Every year from 1st April to 10th May, the entire church will go on a 40-day Corporate fast.
This is a time where we humble ourselves as a body of Christ and to present ourselves into the presence of the Lord. Forsaking food, we unite in prayer to stand in the gap for the Church and needs in the world.
Every day for 40 days, we begin fasting at 12.01am midnight, and end at 6pm in the evening on the same day.