Starting on Wednesday, February 18, and ending on Thursday, April 2, we are inviting the church to join this journey of fasting. Fasting often exposes our misshapen cravings–our longing for comfort and peace connected to things like food, drink, entertainment, and social media. While you can fast from any of these, we have made the decision to make this fast primarily about food. Here are a few ways you can structure your food-based fast1:
Option 1 (Varied Weeks)
Week 1: A commitment to fast from all food except water, juice, and other broths.
Week 2: A commitment to fast from all meals, except the incorporation of one meal into the schedule (ex: fasting all day until 6 PM).
Week 3: A commitment to fast for one meal out of the day, with an intentional time of focused prayer during the time period normally spent eating.
Option 2 (All Meals)
This will be a commitment to fast from all food except for water, juice, and other broths for the duration of the fast.
Option 3 (Some Meals/Altered Diet)
This will be a commitment to fast for a significant portion of your day, incorporating only 1-2 meals into your schedule (ex. fasting all day until 6:00 PM). Or, due to medical and other considerations, it may be necessary to participate by altering your diet for the duration of the fast. (This may be with vegetables only, or something known as the Daniel Fast.)
In lieu of food, please feel free to fast other things such as television or social media, as the Lord leads you.