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Fasting Fasting can be a full fast of no food or water, or no food only, or no pleasant food. In this last situation, one could still eat and drink water, Daniel ten. The length may vary from one night, Daniel, or just during the daytime, judges twenty twenty six, or three days, Esther four sixteen, or one week, Samuel thirty one thirteen, or three weeks, Daniel ten, or longer. If someone is having health issues, they should consult a doctor before fasting, and even if healthy, it is dangerous to fast without water for more than three days. It is not always appropriate, Luke five thirty three to thirty five, and appears to be harder the first time one fasts and when one is older. Long fasts are harder. The apostle Paul often fasted, Corinthians eleven twenty seven, and the oldest recorded person in the New Testament served God with fastings and prayers. Luke two hundred thirty seven. What do you want? If it is important enough, you will fast for it. We are not to draw attention to ourselves when fasting. That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy father which is in secret, and thy father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly, Matthew six sixteen to eighteen. But it is not wrong to call for a public fast or ask the members of your church to fast for someone or some event in the church, see 2 Chronicles twenty three and Ezra eight twenty one. It does not of itself make one spiritual, see Luke eighteen nine to twelve and Matthew six sixteen. Why is it helpful? No one wants to make a fervent prayer twelve after eating a big meal, and it is easier to concentrate when fasting. Whatever the reason, it definitely increases power in prayer, and times that are set aside for fasting should be mixed with prayer. And Jesus rebuked the devil, and he departed out of him, and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief. How be it this kind goeth not out, but by prayer and fasting. Matthew seventeen eighteen to twenty one. See first Corinthians seven five, see also Daniel ten three, twelve to thirteen. And in Isaiah fifty eight five to eight, we are told to help the poor and those in need when fasting.