There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. Ezra 8:21-23
“An absolute fast is sometimes referred to as a “dry fast” and refers to a fast without food or water. This fast is considered a supernatural fast. Moses went on this type of fast for 40 days (Exodus 34:28). The city of Nineveh underwent an absolute fast (Jonah 3:7), as did the Apostle Paul after his encounter with the Lord (Acts 9:9). Due to the extreme impact on the physical body, this type of fast should not be undertaken for more than three days, and should only be done if you have a clear directive from the Lord and are in good health.”
Vladimir Savchuk in A Beginner’s Guide to Fasting: Simple, Practical, Biblical (Pasco, WA: 2024) 9.
I had a reader ask me to give more instructions about types of fasts, so I want to elaborate for the good of all readers. The answer, in short, is that the biblical material provides at least five different kinds of fasts.
The first is the absolute fast. Scholars describe what Moses and Jesus did – 40 days with no food and water – as supernatural. Clearly the first foreshadowed the second. Both happened at defining moments.
Moses had just received the 10 commandments to form the people of God. Similarly, the early ministry of Jesus started with a 40-day fast. In these supernatural moments, we see God working in mighty ways.
Notice also that an absolute fast preceded the ministry of Paul. Perhaps save this type of fast before big moments. I remember doing an absolute fast the day before my doctoral defense in England.
I like to describe this fast as a time of absolute surrender. I chose the text from Ezra as it represents one of my favorite (and certainly less famous) fasts in Scripture. Notice the posture of surrender and dependence.
If you have something big happening in your life – a defining moment – I suggest you try this kind of fast in advance and see if you experience the generosity of God like Ezra did. It will empower your generous living for sure.
A second kind of fast, the normal fast, excludes food but may include water. This is especially important if the person fasting engages in any activity. Water serves the body like gas does for a car. We need it to function.
Going without water for any length of time is not for the weak and faint of heart. As today’s Scripture notes, sometimes we fast, but may drink water, and we do it with others. That’s what we are doing today in Malaysia.
Today at the Global Gathering we have two board committees, we will discussing Letters by a Modern Mystic by Frank C. Laubach to train the staff and board to hear God’s voice, and we will discuss five GTP 2.0 statements linked to our vision, purpose, values, programs, and verse for global collaboration.
And we will fast lunchtime today. Thanks for your prayers. Fast for me.