"I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over...and I chasted(disciplined) myself before the Lord." (Daniel 10:12)

Fasting has always been a challenge for me. As a young pastor I decided I ought to be spending more time with the Lord and I saw from Scripture that fasting wasa discipline that Jesus said his disciples would do. So, I tried. But I failed every time. It's not just that I got hungry. I can tolerate being hungry. Those initialcravings for a full stomach will pass. But what happened with me is that I would get faint and start to shake all over. I didn't realize that I am hypoglycemic. My blood sugar falls dangerously low when I fast. I didn't know that when I first tried fasting. I remember that my mother had the same condition and had to keepsnack bars handy to help her through a low blood sugar crisis.

Once I knew what I was facing I could plan ahead and fast the only way my body would allow; I would go on a juice and crackers fast. I chose to use a vitamin richfruit or veggie drink and peanut butter crackers to take along with me. When i would feel a blood sugar low I would drink a glass of juice with a few crackers. That ould be enough to keep me from shaking. I found this a delightful way to fast. I was avoiding regular meals and could go a couple of days with this kind of fast.

Fasting really has no set rules. One must do whatever fits your metabulism. I know now that I am no Moses or Jesus to go 40 days and nights without food. I have a brotherwho did a 40-day fast and lost a lot of weight doing so, but I could not. Another pastor friend of mine would fast 40 days once a year. The problem he faced was that everyonenoticed his drop in weight, and he was obliged to participate in church and community events where meals were part of the program. In such cases he would ask for soup or broth only. This cause some upsets among people of the church who felt he should fast in secret and not make a scene out of not eating.

It is true that Jesus said our fasting shoulld be in secret so that others do not notice we are fasting. That is a wise idea. Fasting is not a marathon. We get not extra credit from God for fasting. Fasting should be a natural rythm of prayer in which we separate ourselves from others while we fast. I often do my fasting on a personal prayer retreat soas not to call attention to my fasting. Of course, if you are going to do a marathon fast you will need to discern why you are doing it. Do you think God will be impressed byyour self discipline and answer your prayers as a reward? No, fasting is not to impress the Lord or people.

Fasting with purpose is to only do a fast so that you are seeking the Lord more than food or entertainment. True fasting is not about weight loss or a spiritual sacrificeto impress God. True fasting is hungering after God more than hungering for food. It should be a time apart from your regular routine. You should hide away. Get alone withGod for a day or a few days. Only in very unusual circumstances should you attempt and extended fast of 30-40 days. It should involve time alone with God to pray and listen to His voice. It is a time to read slowly through a book of the Bible, and/or read a devotional book that you would not otherwise have time to do.

If you will look up on guides for personal prayer retreats you will find some great helps to keeping yourself focused on extended retreats. "The Lord who sees in secret will reward you openly." May your hunger for His presence exceed your hunger for food.