by Tim Huff
(Originally printed in March-April 2001 Light & Life)
Like many Americans, I grew up hearing my parents chide, “Eat all the food on your plate — children are starving in India.” But in our home it went a little further my father had very strict rules against wasting food, but I didn’t actually realize what that little catch phrase meant to him until one day I came home and said, “What’s for dinner? I’m starving!” He stopped what he was doing in the kitchen, got my full attention, and told me, “Don’t ever say that. You don’t know anything about starvation. You may be hungry, but you’ve never known hunger, and it’s not something to joke about.”
I never forgot those words, but they’ve become much more meaningful to me in the last year. Nine months ago I was called by the Lord to a 40-day fast. That was a time of spiritual blessing beyond anything I could have asked for and was more rewarding than any equivalent period in my 13 years of ministry. But in addition to the spiritual growth aspect, the physical side of fasting was very real as well.
Shortly after I began my fast, I looked up fasting on the Web. The glossiest site I perused suggested very clearly that fasting never refers to going without food, but means selecting a specific diet, or even giving up a favorite television program. I don’t fault sacrifices made to honor the Lord, however unusual or trivial they may seem at first. I believe they can and do honor God. But I also strongly object to a perspective so narrow that it defines away the biblical record. It is irresponsible to suggest that Jesus’ 40-day fast mentioned in Matthew 4 was merely the avoidance of creamed dates or a special cut of meat.
I determined that during my fast I would not consume any solid food whatsoever, drink milk, or eat soup or broth of any kind. Hot chocolate was definitely out. I left open the door to take vitamin supplements if I needed them (I did not), and I drank plenty of water. I drank juice daily, often mixing some Sprite with my orange juice, and I frequently drank hot herb tea. In some illogical way; I felt I could not add sugar to my tea because that would be too much like food. But I was OK with the natural sugar in the juices and sugar in the soda. I know there may not be a chemical difference, but somehow to me the lines were clear. With no clear guidelines either from the Word or from individual churches, people must decide for themselves exactly what a fast is.
Not that fasting is for everybody. My wife is very devout. She faithfully seeks the Lord through prayer, Bible study, ministry and godly living. But she never fasts. She gets sick when she doesn’t eat, and although we both believe God would protect her if He called her to a definite fast; she has never felt such a call. I have no criticism for her or for any other Christian who does not fast. The decision to fast is deeply personal, and fasting is virtually useless unless it can be done joyfully.
In fact, fasting can be dangerous. A nurse friend of mine has had experience dealing with dietary disorders and was very concerned when she heard of my fast. She said that the body is severely traumatized by lack of food and warned me to be prepared for ill effects over an extended period of time after the fast. I even canceled a trip that was to immediately follow my fast for fear I would not be fit to travel. But I knew I was being called to fast regardless of the cost. I committed to God that if I stayed healthy enough to continue working, I would be faithful to fast for 40 days.
I’ve often heard that after a few days of a long fast, you’re not hungry anymore. I don’t know who originally said that, but I know it is not a universal truth. I became hungrier as the fast progressed, up until the last few days. Maybe it was because I drank fruit juice, or maybe because I continued strenuous activity throughout the fast. But for whatever reason, not more than a few minutes would go by without a strong desire to get something to eat, and every night I dreamed of food, frequently waking up trying to spit out the dream food that had broken my fast.
I experienced other physical effects as well. I’ve always been hot-blooded — I only feel cold in extreme circumstances — but by the fourth day of my fast, autumn weather had chilled me to the bone, and I was cold almost constantly for the remaining weeks. Several people have told me I just didn’t have any fuel on the fire. I don’t understand the physical reasons for that coldness, but it was almost as bad as the gnawing in my stomach.
Even more noticeable was my lack of recuperative powers. A high-school boy inadvertently kicked my shin, causing a pain that normally would have lasted only a few minutes. I was in pain for several days, and that spot was tender for well over a week. Also, after carrying a heavy load, m arms would remain fatigued for hours or days rather than minutes, and I got winded much more easily than normal. While I continued to fulfill my obligations at work, I had no energy at all for the ball court.
My wife went through a difficult time as well. First Corinthians 7:5 played a significant role in my fast, and the separation was ‘at least as difficult as the lack of food in the first several weeks. Prayer times were more special, but the deprivation was real.
Toward the end of the fast, my body began to change. I didn’t have the strength I was accustomed to, I sometimes felt faint, and climbing the stairs to my apartment every night was a chore. My muscles ached, and the sounds my insides were making weren’t fit for respectable company. At the very end even drinking was a challenge.
In short, I was beginning to starve, and I thought of my father’s talk of children wasting away with no hope — dying. I thought of fathers standing by unable to do anything, of shallow graves and unshed tears. And I knew I had gone through none of the bitterness of spirit he spoke of. I had made a choice, and I had found a blessing. I had faced the beginnings of starvation, and I was very hungry but I had never known hunger.
After 40 days of fasting, I was on a spiritual high. I had always thought the temptation of Jesus came after a 40-day fast so it would hit Him at His weakest moment. But now I am not so sure. As the last few days of my fast wound up, I was physically weak but spiritually strong. I at least have to consider the possibility that Jesus as at His best spiritually after 40 days in the desert. But I don’t feel competent to answer my own questions on this subject.
When the time came to break the fast, my senses were heightened. I could smell perhaps more acutely than ever before. My walk to the chapel with a loaf of homemade bread and a pitcher of chicken bouillon was exhilarating. The air was as fresh as any I had ever known. The soft sounds of my footsteps seemed to echo off the mountains. Everything seemed so alive.
In my whole life I don’t remember eating any food without first thanking God, but that morning I thanked Him more earnestly than ever before. And though I have had the privilege of sampling some fine cuisine — and have frequently been referred to as a connoisseur — the food I ate that morning was the best I’ve ever tasted. God added a further blessing, as I returned to a normal physical condition almost immediately. I suffered no ill effects other than a voracious hunger for the next couple of days. I ate and savored everything, from oranges to jalapeños, from All-Bran to steak. It was a joyful celebration of all the tastes the Lord and man have devised. It lasted for days and days. And I still appreciate food more than I did before the fast.
My experience certainly isn’t for everyone. But it is a valid option that seems to have almost disappeared from the church. I want to encourage others whom God may call to a fast, or to anything else for that matter. He made us and understands us far better than we do ourselves. And His ways are good.
A Call to Action
If this article has convicted you about fasting, and you want to give this spiritual discipline a try, you might want to use the following checklist to guide you in preparation, perseverance and praise.
Clarify your goals —wisdom, guidance, renewal, etc.
Define your fast—from what, for how long, etc.
Start small— maybe only 24 hours at first.
Plan alternative activities — prayer, exercise, etc. –
Be accountable to someone.
Keep records — of God’s faithfulness, and yours.
Evaluate — as you go and when you’re finished.
Give praise to God — consider sharing what He’s taught you.
The Point Is
When Jesus mentioned fasting in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:16- 18), He encouraged those who were fasting to remember the focus of their fasts: God, not men. Physical effects are to be expected, but never showcased.
More Light on the Issue
All major religions endorse fasting for spiritual, therapeutic or political purposes. For Christians, fasting has a solid biblical basis and a long history of practical application —from Moses to Paul to John Wesley and others. You’ll find 40-day fasts in these Bible passages: Exodus 24:18, 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:9, 18; Matthew 4:1-2; and Luke 4:1-2.
Several types of fasts (all involving food) are recorded in Scripture:
- Normal Fast: total abstinence from food (Jesus — Luke 4:2)
- Absolute Fast: no food or drink (Moses — Exodus 34:28; Ezra — Ezra 10:6; Esther — Esther 4:16; Paul—Acts 9:9)
- Partial Fast restriction of diet rather than complete abstinence (Daniel — Daniel 10:3)
The Wesleyan Church sponsors a Lenten program that includes sermon- and worship-planning helps for a seven- week emphasis on prayer and fasting. Materials, available for purchase at (800) 493-7539, include a daily prayer calendar and a Forty Days Spiritual Journal. Both the National Association of Evangelicals and the FMCNA have used these materials in the past.
If you are married and are considering a fast, take time to prayerfully read and discuss 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 with your spouse. Do not take lightly the instructions Paul gives in verse 5 (see Ephesians 4:27).
Take some time to read about Jesus 40-day fast (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13). How do you think the Lord’s spiritual strength is revealed in these verses? Do you agree with the author’s conclusions? Why or why not?
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