Types of Spiritual Fasting
- An absolute fast involves abstaining from both food and liquid. Acts 9:3-9 describes this type of fast; after encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul didn't eat or drink anything for three days. In Ezra 10:1-6, Ezra the priest fasted for an undefined period, eating no food and drinking no water.
- A normal fast involves abstaining from food for a certain period, but allows for the consumption of liquids. The Bible does not specifically mention this type of fast. Those who engaged in extended fasts may have drunk water during that time, but the Bible never actually says they did. However, many people who fast today drink liquids and abstain only from foods.
- A partial fast involves abstaining only from certain foods. The prophet Daniel engaged in a partial fast as recorded in Daniel 10:2-3. While going through a three-week mourning period, he ate no choice food, meat or wine. This means his diet consisted of mainly fruits, vegetables and water.
- Exodus 34:28 records that Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai with God and received the 10 commandments. During this time, Moses neither ate nor drank. In Matthew 4:1-2, Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert, where Satan tested him. Some present the theory that Jesus may have drank water, because the scripture mentions his hunger, but not his thirst.
- The Muslims hold a fast during the month of Ramadan. Muslims are required to abstain from more than food and drink. They must also abstain from all forms of sex. This fast lasts one month. Each day, the fast begins just before dawn and ends at sunset. This results in one meal a day for a month.