If you're reading this, you're at least interested in what it means to fast and what the benefits might actually be. In the Jewish culture, fasting was a part of their tradition and actually rules of Jewish law that were expected to be followed. Just like so many other rules and laws, Jesus came to fulfill all of them. We are free in Jesus and not under rules or law. However, there are so many benefits that God set up for the Jewish people before Jesus made his appearance as a man that we can glean from today, and I personally have found fasting to be one of them.
In all of my 53 years on earth, I was never once encouraged to fast. I wasn't familiar with it other than reading it in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, but I just assumed it didn't apply to me since I had never learned about it in any of my Bible classes or sermons that were preached. Not once. In 2021 that changed. An entire church had committed to do this together as they prayed specifically for things in their community, their families and individually. I found this inspiring and intriguing as, again, I'd never even considered doing this.
Fasting is an immediate way to point yourself to Jesus. We all know the pang of hunger in some form or fashion. The idea of fasting is to push through that pang and look to Jesus, asking Him to fill you instead of rushing to the fridge, pantry or nearest drive-thru. It's definitely not what we're used to here in America.
If you've made it this far, you may be truly considering it. I'm so so impressed with you! Fasting is an individual decision. However, you must commit to it BEFORE you start, or you will be tempted to change it and rationalize that change as you move forward. Here is what I have done for the last 3 years, and it is what I will do for 21 days starting January 1 of 2025:
Week 1
4 glasses of juice per day. I'm not a juice-girl, so this was already a challenge for me. I bought quite a few small bottles in the produce section at the grocery store the first year and narrowed it to what I can actually get down. Some people also substitute one or two of these glasses per day with broth. That was a line too far in the sand for me. I also drink water all day long.
Read one chapter of the book of John each day. Get to know Jesus by his own words and actions as an adult man. Learn how he interacted with his disciples, his enemies and how he treated those around him. His goal was (and is) to lead us to the Father. Read in His own words how He does that. There are 21 chapters. Kinda perfect.
Watch at least one episode of The Chosen. Start from the beginning. It's on Amazon Prime, but it also has its own app which is FREE to download and watch on any of your devices. Watch it alone the first time if you have not yet started. It's so very personal, and you don't want to miss even a moment of each episode, so don't have your phone nearby. Unplug from everything and everyone for that hour each day and soak in the visual images and audio elements of what Jesus could have been like in real flesh.
Pray. Pray specifically for what God has in store for you over the next few days, weeks, months, year. Watch. Listen.
Week 2
4 glasses of juice per day + a dinner meal of strictly vegetables. Get creative. You can start chewing this week, ha! Water all day long.
Keep reading one chapter of John.
Keep watching at least one episode of The Chosen. (When you get to Season 2, Episode 1, go back and read John 1:1-18 again. You will be moved to tears at how personal Jesus is for you. I can't wait to hear about this from everyone!)
Pray. Pray specifically for what God has in store for you over the next few days, weeks, months, year. Watch. Listen.
Week 3
4 glasses of juice per day, a dinner meal of strictly vegetables, a protein drink at lunchtime. Water all day long.
Keep reading one chapter of John.
Keep watching at least one episode of The Chosen.
Pray. Pray specifically for what God has in store for you over the next few days, weeks, months, year. Watch. Listen.
This is my personal journey. Choose one that is right for you.
One note I'd like to address: Biblical fasting is restricted to food. Others may "fast" from social media, hobbies, alcohol, etc. God set up fasting to include food. If you'd like to "abstain" from those other things, that sounds fantastic, but it's not a fast. Fasting is difficult at best and causes some days of physical suffering, but you will be SHOCKED at how God will pull you along. Some days, and this may sound crazy, you might not even feel hungry, and you will have to remember to go drink that glass of juice.
Days 2 and 5 are usually the hardest for me at first. It's like my body is saying, "ok, i know you probably forgot yesterday, but let's get back to this eating thing..." You'll have a couple of days when you don't think you can do it. YOU CAN WITH GOD! Cry out to Him. Once completed, you will have accomplished something you may have never thought you could. Your body will feel great, your soul will feel refreshed, and your relationship with Jesus will become closer than you ever expected.
ALSO, please comment on this blog each day or any day you feel encouraged or discouraged. Let's share together what verse hit you directly or how God revealed something to you. Some days will be harder while some days will be easier. Let's encourage each other. This is your personal fasting group! Welcome!
Get ready to fall in Love with Jesus in 21 days!
Comments
Melissa Orsburn:
End of day 6!
Interesting find in my study Bible :
John 6:34 “Sir, always give us this bread.” This request parallels the request of the Samaritan woman.
John 4:15 “ Sir, give me this water.”
Spiritual awakening begins with a request for God’s gift.
Jan 07, 2025
Dezy:
Day 6- I’m hungry and my hubbys garlic bread smells so good! Lol but I’m sticking to it, Grateful to have others to journey through this with! 🩵 Gum & increasing water intake has been crucial I found broth “tea” bags at Walmart that you add to hot water. What a life saver 🛟
It’s amazing how God designed fasting and I can’t believe the blessings I’ve experienced since I started. Like a seed that was planted and is now growing in a coworker & they’re showing an interest in Gods word! When I met them, they were using his name as a cuss word and have never read the New Testament, so, yay! PTL 🙌🏻
Jan 06, 2025
Kimberly:
Day 6: Today has been a challenge. Not only did I not feel so well when I got up (not enough water) but now the voice of “just go 7 days. You’re heart really isn’t in this, anyway,” has begun. I know where that voice is coming from. Y’all are encouraging me with your comments!
I was able to read John 7 tonight. How fitting and refreshing was that! “Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” (v. 58) .
Amen. How much more could we want other than to give back to the one who gave us everything? Eternal life is a priceless gift, but even more when that eternal life will be spent in perfect love. He’s all we need because He is everything.
Tomorrow is day 7. Wow.
Jan 06, 2025
Amy:
Day 6 is closing…….prior to this challenge I had only fasted one day at a time. My body is more tired than normal, but by the grace of God I am at day 6.
John 1:16 has been my life verse, and multiple times this past 6 days I have asked God, out of His fullness to fill me.
John 1:16 Out of his fullness, we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
Thank you for inviting us into this challenge, and for the daily reading of John and rewatching the Chosen. It all just comes together beautifully.
Praying for all who are on this journey together, for eyes and ears to what God will reveal to each of us.
Blessings,
Amy
Jan 06, 2025
Toni:
John 6:27
John 6:35
John 6:38
…
And many more 🤍🤍🤍
I just came off of 2 night shifts, and thought I would really struggle. I see snacks, and offered snacks and think about my commitment and know I’m all in.
Feeling grateful and blessed.
The first time I really committed to reading part of the bible I started with John. The Bible is soooo good.
Jan 06, 2025
Lisa:
This is my first day. I decided that my lunch time juice to be broth. Today it is vegetable broth. John 1 spoke to me more today than it ever has. Jesus has been here since the beginning. Jesus is life, he is light. Darkness cannot overcome His light. This is my second time starting the Chosen series again. It showed how Mary Magdalene was in a dark place and Jesus saved her. This gives me hope that my nephews (2) and my niece, that were raised in the church, can be brought back to saving arms of Jesus Christ. They are grown adults and have walked away from God.
Jan 06, 2025
Missy - Day 6 ongoing:
Wow, Day 6 with no food and this day’s reading is explaining why I need Jesus more than the next bite I will ever take!
John 6’s titles in my NIV state “Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand”, “Jesus the Bread of Life” and “Many Disciples Desert Jesus”.
Verse 51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Verse 58b, “Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.”
Many of the disciples admitted that this was a hard teaching. It just doesn’t make sense on any level that we as humans can understand! Verses 61b-64a, Jesus says, “Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.”
We spend so much time thinking about our bodies, i. e., how we look, how much we weigh, what we want to fill our stomachs with, etc. Jesus said “the flesh counts for nothing”. Our bodies were made to be temporary. Feeding on the spirit through the Word (Jesus) is the ONLY way live forever!
Day 6 is an important day for us all on this journey. Jesus is speaking directly to what our minds, hearts and BODIES actually need to hear, ingest and sustain us every single day of the rest of our lives. His flesh saved the entire world. Why wouldn’t we want to eat on that?! Thank you, Jesus, for your ULTIMATE sacrifice!
Jan 06, 2025
Rebecca :
Good chilly morning my dear sisters in the Most High!!! Day 5 has begun and God is so good!! I was getting to feel a little weak yesterday and my flesh was feeling it but praise be to Him bc I was able to call on Him for strength and He provided. I praise Him for this time He is providing to grow closer to Him and to have revelations into HIS desires for my life in the year to come. May He always be glorified!
Loving going back through the older seasons of Chosen! I was in tears last night as Jesus healed the leaper. He is so good to us. And as Mary said to the paraplegic “I was you once” 🥺😭 all I can say is He is soooooo good!!
Stay warm out there today!
Jan 06, 2025
Kristina:
Day 2 of fasting for us…
This is my 6th year of fasting the first three weeks of the new year. I am still amazed every year at how quick my body wants to fail and reach for my comfort foods! Really focusing this year on when the “urge” presents itself, I stop and pray. Ask God for help, pray for our children, pray for our three grandchildren…to focus on Matthew 6:33 – But seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness, and ALL these things will be give to you as well!
Jan 06, 2025
Kimberly:
Day 5: Whoop whoop! In John Chapter 5 today, it became more clear to me how methodical Jesus was as he went through His ministry, meaning who He told what and when he did things. I never thought about how orderly He did things before.
Diane – we are all praying for you! ❤️
When this is finished, we should find each other on Facebook somehow and stay in touch!
Someone asked about first meals. I’m craving sautéed kale and roasted broccoli so one of those, and I think I might try a little sweet potato.
Jan 06, 2025
Leave a comment