While most Christian teens have heard about people fasting, not all of us know how to fast. There are some steps to take to do it properly, and learning how to fast right can not only help you be successful in the spiritual discipline, but will also teach you how to fast safely.
Time Required: Varies
Here's How:
- First things first. If you want to fast, you have to determine if you should be fasting to begin with. Learning how to fast begins with understanding that you will be giving something up for a period of time in a way to grow closer to God. Make sure you are taking the discipline seriously. Spend some time in prayer to ask God to guide your fast.
- The next step in learning how to fast is to decide what to fast. You don't have to fast food items, you can choose almost anything as long as it is an actual sacrifice to give it up for a while. Some people give up a single food item, others give up television or music.
- Determine the length of the fast. Knowing what you are fasting is important to help guide you in the length of the fast. You have to stay healthy during your fast, so understand that you shouldn't go too long without food. However, if you give up one single food item, you might be fine having an extended fast of just that item. Also, you have school, so you might not be able to give up your computer all school year. Maybe just during a break.
- Discuss your fast with your parents. Why would this be part of learning how to fast? Your parents should know you are going to fast something for a variety of reasons. First, they can be supportive of you. Second, they can provide advice on how to fast that item effectively. Third, they may have some concerns about the particular items you are fasting and may have some alternatives.
- Give up the item. This is the "gimme" step, but it is only the beginning.
- Fasting isn't just giving something up. It's also a time to grow in your faith and in your relationship with God. So, in the time you would be eating or spending time with whatever thing you have given up, this is the time to be in prayer and reading your Bible.
- When the time of your fast is up, you can reintroduce yourself to the item you gave up. However, if you gave up food items, reintroduce them slowly. Even a 24 hour food fast can alter your system, so start off with items that won't shock your system.
Tips:
- Choose something that matters.
- Stay healthy in your fast.
- Keep your focus on God through reading your Bible and praying throughout your fast.
- Break your fast carefully, especially if you gave up food.
