Introduction

Saddam Hussein initiated the bombing on March 20, 2003, which lasted for 40 days. The war was officially declared over on May 1, 2003. This period of 40 days holds significant importance even today. Should we observe a 40-day fast? This article aims to provide a comprehensive answer to that question, revealing insights you may not have encountered before.

The Tradition

In 325 AD, the city of Nicea, also known as Nikaia, was part of ancient Greece, located in the region of Bithynia, which is today known as Iznik, a city in Turkey. It was here that the tradition of a 40-day fast began. People of the Latin West started observing this tradition from Ash Wednesday, while those in the Benjamite East began on Clean Monday. This tradition evolved such that those baptized on Holy Saturday, just before Easter Sunday, would observe a strict 40-day fast to prepare themselves. Eventually, more people adopted this practice, leading the Catholic Council to implement the tradition of a 40-day fast before Holy Week.

Although Moses, Elijah, and the people of Nineveh also observed a 40-day fast, the primary reason for this tradition is to remember the 40-day fast of Jesus Christ and his suffering. But should we observe this fast today? Three significant figures in the Bible—Moses, Elijah, and Jesus Christ—fasted for 40 days. All three appeared together to the disciples on Mount Zion, as recorded in Matthew 17, Mark 9, and Luke 9. You may have heard many things about the 40-day fast, but today you will learn something very important.

Significance of 40 days 

When Jesus Christ, the Creator of the world, says something, there is always a deep reason behind it. These reasons are natural, physical, and spiritual, and they are all interconnected. Our sun aligns with the earth during two equinoxes: the autumnal equinox and the vernal equinox.

   VERNAL EQUINOX

The vernal equinox begins on March 21 and lasts until May 1, a period of 40 days. During this time, the northern regions experience the most heat. This cycle of 40 days, with extreme temperatures during the day and cold nights, has adverse effects on the body and mind, affecting one’s ability to think and understand.

This reveals that Jesus Christ must have chosen his 40-day test with this knowledge in mind. Interestingly, Saddam Hussein’s 40-day war also took place during this period, from March 20 to May 1, 2003, coinciding with the vernal equinox. This shows that even today, these 40 days hold significant importance, and there is a profound reason behind it. The number 40 appears 150 times in the Bible, and “40 days and 40 nights” appears 24 times. Here are some instances where the number 40 is mentioned in the Bible:

• When God destroyed the earth with the flood, He did so by pouring rain for 40 days and 40 nights.
• Moses fled from Egypt at the age of 40, spent 40 years in Midian, and led the Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years.
• Moses stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights.
• Moses prayed to God for Israel for 40 days and 40 nights, bowing his head in prayer.
• The law of 40 lashes was established.
• Spies sent to Canaan explored it for 40 days.
• The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.
• The Israelites were under Philistine rule for 40 years before Samson’s arrival.
• Goliath challenged Saul’s soldiers for 40 days before David defeated him.
• Elijah walked for 40 days and 40 nights to Mount Horeb after fleeing from Jezebel.
• The number 40 also appears in the prophecies of Ezekiel and Jonah.
• In the New Testament, Jesus Christ was tested for 40 days and 40 nights.
• There is a gap of 40 days between the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

So many significant events are related to the number 40. But today, we will focus on the 40-day fast. You should know that 40 days and 40 nights is the limit beyond which no one in the Bible has been able to endure. This teaches us that the human body’s tolerance limit is 40 days. Fasting is not easy; our bodies crave food and water, and without them, we experience headaches, burning eyes, and stomach pain. The Bible shows that the human body cannot survive without food and water for more than 40 days and 40 nights, or the consequences can be fatal.

How to Fast

Science has also researched that a person can fast without food for 30 to 40 days, provided they drink plenty of water. Only those with enough fat reserves can do this. Scientists say that after 40 days, human organs start failing. However, some people have fasted for longer periods or without food and water, but this is only possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit inspires someone to fast for their ministry or calling, there is no substitute for it. Jesus Christ was inspired by the Holy Spirit to fast, so it is crucial to have the Holy Spirit’s inspiration for such a fast.

Now, the question is, what should we do? How should we fast, and should we fast at all? Generally, we can categorize fasting into three types:

1. Fasting without food and water: This type of fast was undertaken by Jesus Christ, Moses, and Elijah. It pushes the body to its extreme limits. Many people undertake this fast for the growth of their ministry or significant work for God, but it requires the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The limit for this type of fast is 40 days, making it very challenging. Sometimes, people fast for shorter periods, such as 1, 2, or 3 days. If you are considering fasting during Lent, I would not advise undertaking such an extreme fast.
2. Eating only once a day: This is a common type of fast where individuals eat one meal in the evening and abstain from food for the rest of the day. Drinking water or juice is also common during this fast. This type of fast can be beneficial as it helps remove toxins from the body, but it only works if the meal consumed is nutritious and not junk food like pizza or burgers. If you consume unhealthy food, it will harm your body instead of benefiting it. Daniel observed this type of fast for 21 days, as mentioned in Daniel 10:2-3: “In those days, I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. 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.” If you plan to fast for the entire 40 days, this type of fasting can benefit your body, but it is still challenging as headaches and other bodily issues may arise.
3. Fasting from specific items or habits: Many people choose to abstain from things like alcohol, cigarettes, vimal, gutkha, tobacco, or meat for the duration of their fast. This type of fast can also involve giving up any habit you know is harmful. It’s important to recognize that addictions, whether to substances or behaviors like eating too much junk food, worrying, jealousy, hatred, greed, or lust, can destroy your body. You need to identify and understand which addiction is affecting you. This type of fast is the most dangerous and should only be undertaken if inspired by the Holy Spirit, as the forces of evil closely watch those who fast with such intentions. The devil’s work is to kill, harm, trap, and ruin. Such fasting should only be done with a firm resolve to never return to the harmful habit after the fast is over. If you control yourself during the fast but return to the habit afterward, the addiction will come back with double force. Any kind of addiction is the work of an evil spirit. Any kind of addiction is the work of an evil spirit. When you drive it out by fasting and then give it a chance to return, it will bring seven more spirits with it. This is explained in Matthew 12:43-45: “When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it goes through dry places seeking rest and finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

We must remember that any promise we make to God or in His presence is very important and should not be taken lightly, as breaking it can be fatal for us. Therefore, it is crucial to think twice before undertaking this type of fasting. If you receive a command from the Holy Spirit, then you must follow it.

Things to Note

There is no need to fast if you are doing it only for show or to follow tradition. My advice is not to fast at all if you want your own good. Now, the question is, what should you do while undertaking any of these three types of fasts? The effectiveness of your fast, how pleasing it will be to God, and how much you will grow spiritually depend entirely on this. So, understand this well and follow it during your fast.

According to the teachings of the Bible, fasting is a way to connect with God or come closer to Him. Any kind of fasting is meant to bring us closer to God. If our fast is spiritual, aimed at pleasing the Lord Jesus Christ, we must spend the time of fasting very carefully and cautiously.

In Matthew 6:16-18, we read: “When you fast, do not be gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.” Here, Jesus Christ did not say “if you fast,” but “when you fast,” indicating the importance of fasting and that it is necessary for us to fast.

So, if we are to fast, how should we manage our 24 hours? What should we do to ensure our fast is righteous? When fasting, we must plan to dedicate time to the Lord, ensuring our minds remain focused on Him throughout the day. Remember, fasting means setting aside all other things to give time to the Lord.

How Can You Approach This Practice?

While fasting, dedicate your day’s time to activities related to the Lord. Pray, read the Bible and Bible stories, engage with Bible-related materials or watch them on YouTube or TV, read spiritual books, and fellowship with spiritual people. Listen to and sing songs, spending your whole day focused solely on the Lord. Now, you might wonder how this is possible if you have to go to work. If you cannot fully dedicate your time to these activities, then it might be better not to fast, as it won’t be beneficial. If you can’t fast for the entire 40 days, consider fasting for 1 or 2 days but with the same dedication.

Dear ones, the Lord God values your sincerity and keeping your promises more than a 40-day fast. Samson’s real strength lay not in his hair but in keeping the promise God had given him. He was strong only when the Holy Spirit descended upon him, and the Holy Spirit continued to work in him as long as he kept his promise. When he broke the promise, the Holy Spirit stopped descending upon him. This means that when you fast, you are showing the Lord God that you are serious about the promise you have made. If you are not, it can be detrimental.

Fasting affects our soul as well as our body. While our body is mortal, our soul is eternal and will enter eternal life. Fasting prepares our soul for this eternal life. Now, the question is, how many days should you fast? Some people fast for 1 day, others for 3, 7, 21, or even 40 days.

Decision Making and Undertaking

The duration of your fast is between you and the Lord God. I am here to help you choose what is right. You are unique, created by the Lord. One important thing to remember is that God is not pleased with fasting from food and drink alone. He is pleased with the circumcision of our hearts, which means the most important fast is that of our thoughts—the spiritual battle we face. The purpose of our fast should be to win this spiritual battle.

We can win this spiritual battle even without fasting from food and drink. To focus our thoughts on the Lord, we can fast from anything that entangles our thoughts and make a habit of staying away from it. If we do this, we don’t need to fast from food. We can experience the joy of the Lord even while eating and drinking. However, if you seek more and the Holy Spirit is leading you, then you should fast from food, but do so carefully. The Lord God does not command us to harm our bodies but to make them victorious. A healthy body enables us to do the Lord’s work better, while a weak body only leads to more weakness.

Your decision regarding fasting will be determined by how much you desire the Lord, as your steadfast fast will bring you closer to Jesus Christ. Remember, when your fast ends, especially if it has been a long one, pay special attention to what you eat. Avoid suddenly consuming oily, spicy, or junk food, as it can cause trouble. After a long fast, gradually reintroduce light meals and slowly return to your regular eating routine.

Conclusion

Remember that through fasting, God will test your repentant heart and your ability to sacrifice, but He will also help you. Also, remember that Satan knows you are trying to seek God and that you will come out stronger after this. He will use every trick to stop you from keeping your resolution and promise. He will try to tempt you to cheat in your fasting. We see this in the temptation of Jesus Christ, who is our role model. The first and biggest temptation Satan gave to Jesus was food. This is a significant lesson for us: if Jesus Christ, who was perfect, had to face this test, then we, who are not perfect, will certainly face it too. Therefore, it is crucial to be cautious and strong.

But if you fall and cheat or eat something, do not end your fast in despair. Instead, seek forgiveness and resume your fast because God knows we are not strong in the body. Satan wants to break us completely and destroy our will. Therefore, if we fall, we must get up again, not keep falling. Stand stronger than before, brush off the dust, repent, and start seeking God with all your heart the next day.

Remember, the devil does not want your bondage to break; he does not want you to receive what the Lord wants to give you. So, my dear ones, whenever you fall, stand up strongly and seek God deeply. You will never lose your reward because the Lord respects you for seeking Him. He will be happy that you are serious about fulfilling your promise of fasting, no matter what.

Beloveds, this is the time to learn to fight your flesh, defeat its desires, and receive your reward. May the Lord help you.