There are several types of fasts in the Bible. The purpose of fasting is not to punish yourself, but rather to gain spiritual strength.
There are many types of fasts in the Bible.
Some types include:
-A Nazirite fast, which is a very specific type of fast that involves not cutting hair or drinking wine for a designated period of time (Numbers 6:1-21).
-The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), when all the Jews fasted on the 10th day of Tishrei, observed in September or October (Leviticus 16:29-34). This was to commemorate the day when God forgave the Jews for their sins and allowed them back into his presence after they had been banished from it for 250 years as punishment for sinning.
Churchgists will give you all you ask on what is partial fasting in the bible, what fasts are in the bible and so much more.
Types Of Fasting In The Bible And Their Meaning
Fasting was an expected spiritual discipline in both the Old and New Testament. In fact, we see examples of fasting in the Bible from several significant biblical figures. Moses, for example, fasted at least two recorded 40-days periods (Deuteronomy 9:18-19, Exodus 34:28). Jesus also fasted for 40 days and nights (Matthew 4:2).
If 40 days seems like an impossible amount of time to survive without sustenance, that’s because without divine intervention, it is. (Humans can only last about three days without water.) But biblical fasting didn’t usually mean going without food or drink 24/7. The Jewish custom was to fast during the day but eat and drink as soon as it was dark.
Jesus encouraged in his followers an intentional approach to fasting as a spiritual tool, not a biblical law. When a Pharisee questioned Jesus about why his disciples weren’t fasting like the Pharisees, he offered his own guidance on the role of fasting. Comparing his disciples to guests at a wedding, Jesus said, “The wedding guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast” (Matthew 9:14-16). This guidance can still apply to us today. When we feel far from God, fasting can help us mourn our distance from God and draw closer once again.
10 Types Of Fasting In The Bible
10 Different Types of Fasts in the Bible
- The Disciples’ Fast (Matthew 17:21) – For deliverance from sin, addiction,
bondage. If we fast, we can break the power of sins and addictions that limit our
freedom in Christ. - The Ezra Fast (Ezra 8:21-23) – For God’s help in solving problems and for
protection from Satan. Ezra said that they prayed and fasted and God answered
their request. - The Samuel Fast (1 Samuel 7:6) – For revival. The people were bound by idol
worship and needed deliverance. Samuel called them to seek God and to bring the
Ark back to Jerusalem. If we fast and pray for revival, God will pour Himself out
on His people. - The Elijah Fast (1 Kings 19:4-8) – Mental freedom from emotional problems or
habits. Through fasting, God will show us how to overcome emotional problems
and destructive habits. - The Widow’s Fast (1 Kings 17:9-16) – Fasting to provide for the needy. The
widow went without food to meet the physical needs of someone else. Because
she sacrificed her food, God made sure that she had more than enough food. - Paul Fast (Acts 9:9) – For physical healing and to get direction from God. If we
fast and submit our will to God, He will reveal His will to us. - The John the Baptist Fast (Luke 1:15) – To enhance our walk with God and
witness. If we fast for the influence of our testimonies to reach others for Christ,
God will use us. - The Esther Fast (Esther 4:16, 5:2) – For protection from the evil one. If we fast
for protection, God will deliver us from evil. - The Jesus Fast (Matthew 4:1-2) – For spiritual power and victory over
temptation, the flesh and the devil. - The Daniel Fast (Daniel 1: 5-21; 10:3) – Fasting for health and to seek God’s
favor, purpose and vision for life.
Ways to Fast
• Normal Fast – No food, water only.
• 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).
THE FOUR BASIC TYPES OF FASTS
- Full Fast: Drink only water.
- Liquid Fast: Drink only fruit juice or broth.
- The Daniel Fast: Eat no meat, no sweets and no bread. Drink water and juice. Eat fruits and vegetables. See Daniel 10:2-3 (See more extensive information).
- Partial Fasts:
what is partial fasting in the bible
Partial Fasting
A Partial Fasting is when you refrain from eating sun up to sundown. You can also do this from a certain time of day, for example, from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Before fasting, you need to decide what time you will not be eating. After sun-down or whatever time you have decided to end fasting, you may eat.
This fast is one of the more flexible types of fasting. You can decide what fast you would pair with your partial fast: a complete fast or Daniel fast. With a complete fast, you would not eat solid foods. Daniel fast consists of eating fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Or you may decide for your first time to simply cut out one food group during your fasting hours. Whatever you decide, remember the point is to deny your body what it longs for.
We fast because we have tasted and seen the goodness of God and are desperately hungry for for more of Him.
• Partial Fast – This could mean fasting certain meals of the day or abstaining 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).
• Juice Fast – Fruit and vegetable juices only.
• Corporate Fast – A church or group of people who feel God has called them to
fast together for a certain period of time.
• 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.)
• Fasting Plus Prayer — Remember, fasting should be combined with prayer. God
called us to fast and pray. If you are fasting a certain meal of the day, use the time
you would normally be eating to pray. The combination of prayer and fasting is a
powerful way to focus on seeking God for breakthroughs and answers to prayer.
• 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, TV,
hobbies and sex, as spoken about in 1 Corinthians 7:1-5.
Fasting and Prayer Guide
Fasting is a powerful spiritual discipline. Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life. And the practice of fasting has strong roots in the Bible. Jesus himself spent time in fasting and prayer during his life on earth, and he expected his followers to fast as well. Most commonly, fasting is when you abstain from food or a certain type of food for a period of time. However, there are multiple ways to fast, all with the potential to help you grow spiritually.
It’s important to ensure you’re listening to both the Holy Spirit and your own body in the way you fast. Instead of abstaining from food altogether, you may fast from a particular type of food or even something other than food, such as social media. You might decide to fast until a certain time in the day or skip a certain meal. There are many ways to ensure you’re getting the physical nourishment you need while still enjoying the spiritual nourishment fasting and prayer offer.
Fasting and prayer can also bring about more than just personal transformation. When God’s people practice biblical fasting and prayer, God hears from heaven and can heal our lives, our churches, our communities, our nations, and our world. Fasting and prayer can bring about revival—a change in direction.
Fasting in the Bible
Fasting was an expected spiritual discipline in both the Old and New Testament. In fact, we see examples of fasting in the Bible from several significant biblical figures. Moses, for example, fasted at least two recorded 40-days periods (Deuteronomy 9:18-19, Exodus 34:28). Jesus also fasted for 40 days and nights (Matthew 4:2).
If 40 days seems like an impossible amount of time to survive without sustenance, that’s because without divine intervention, it is. (Humans can only last about three days without water.) But biblical fasting didn’t usually mean going without food or drink 24/7. The Jewish custom was to fast during the day but eat and drink as soon as it was dark.
Jesus encouraged in his followers an intentional approach to fasting as a spiritual tool, not a biblical law. When a Pharisee questioned Jesus about why his disciples weren’t fasting like the Pharisees, he offered his own guidance on the role of fasting. Comparing his disciples to guests at a wedding, Jesus said, “The wedding guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast” (Matthew 9:14-16). This guidance can still apply to us today. When we feel far from God, fasting can help us mourn our distance from God and draw closer once again.
Why should you fast?
According to Dr. Bill Bright, who produced a guide to fasting for cru.org, there are a number of reasons why the practice of fasting can be spiritually beneficial.
Fasting is biblical. We see examples of biblical fasting in the lives of figures like Moses, Jesus, and King David.
Fasting and prayer can restore or strengthen your intimacy with God. Many longtime Christians find that fasting helps them rediscover their “first love” for God again.
Fasting is a way to humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). King David said, “I humbled my soul with fasting” (Psalm 69:10). You may find yourself relying on God more fully for strength when you fast.
Fasting and prayer can help us hear God more clearly. To listen to God as you fast, consider combining a time of fasting with a practice of listening prayer. Together, fasting and prayer can transform your prayer life into a richer and more personal experience of God.
Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition. When you see your own brokenness more clearly, you’re able to move toward repentance.
When you experience revival in your own life through fasting, the grace and love of God can shine through you into the lives of others.
Types of fasting
According to pastor and author Sam Storms, there are several different types of fasting from food or drink you can try.
Regular fast: A regular fast is when you abstain from all food and drink except for water (Matthew 4:2).
Partial fast: This is a type of fasting that involves abstaining from a particular type of food. Daniel’s diet while he was in Babylon is an example (Daniel 10:3). One popular type of partial fast is a liquid fast, removing certain types of drinks from your diet. This might include alcohol, caffeine, or soda. Another form of partial fast is abstaining from one particular meal each day.
Absolute fast: An absolute fast is when you abstain from food and drink of any kind. You should only do this for a short period of time. Going longer than three days without eating or drinking can be dangerous.
Supernatural fast: There have been instances when God enabled someone to fast in ways that they could not do on their own. Moses abstaining from food and water for 40 days (Deuteronomy 9:9) is an example of this type of fasting in the Bible.
Spiritual preparation for fasting and prayer
In preparation for this special time with God, cru.org’s guide to fasting urges that you examine your heart. Ask God to help you see your brokenness clearly so that you can confess your sins and repent. In Scripture, God frequently calls upon people to repent of their sins before listening to their prayers.
You can look to King David’s example in Psalm 66:16-20:
“Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for me.
I cried aloud to him,
and he was extolled with my tongue.
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
But truly God has listened;
he has given heed to the words of my prayer.
Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me.”
In your prayers, confess not only obvious sins, but less obvious ones as well. Acknowledge the sins of omission (the right actions you haven’t taken) as well as the sins of commission (the wrong things you’ve done). What is standing in the way of your relationship with God? What is holding you back from living and loving like Jesus? It might be self-centeredness, spiritual indifference, an unwillingness to share your faith with others, putting time spent in prayer and study of God’s Word low on your priority list, or struggling to love your neighbors and treat them with kindness. Confess your shortcomings and ask God to work in your heart during this time of prayer and fasting.
Your motive in fasting should ultimately be to glorify God, not to have an emotional experience or attain personal happiness. God will honor your seeking spirit. As you spend time in fasting and prayer, God will shape your heart and draw you closer to Christ.
How to fast safely
Fasting can be practiced safely. However, as you begin a time of fasting and prayer, friends and family may express concerns about how fasting could impact your health. And they are right to encourage you to safeguard your health. It may be a good idea to consult with your doctor before you begin a time of fasting and prayer. If you struggle with certain medical conditions, such as an eating disorder or being chronically underweight, you should not fast without the supervision of a health professional. In some cases, fasting from something other than food may be a better option.
But when practiced properly, fasting can be both a spiritual and physical blessing. In fact, a growing number of people have begun to practice intermittent fasting for its dietary benefits. Here’s a guide to safe intermittent fasting from Johns Hopkins with some helpful tips for fasting safely.
Safe fasting tips and guidelines:
Fasting until a specific time of day or skipping a specific meal each day is safer and more sustainable than a complete fast. For a fast that will be longer than 1-3 days, this is often a good option.
Consider fasting from a specific type of food instead of all food, especially if you want to fast for a long period of time or have health concerns.
A complete fast should be very short; it should not last longer than a few days.
Do not abstain from drinking water for long and only do so under your doctor’s supervision. The effects of dehydration are serious, and your body may begin to experience them more quickly than the effects of hunger.
If fasting from food or drink isn’t a good option for you, you can still practice fasting. Choose something else in your life to fast from instead. For example, consider fasting from TV or social media.
