What kinds of fasting is spoken of in the Bible.?

Three different types of fasts are mentioned in the Bible: True, Absolute, and Partial fasts.

TRUE FAST

Mat 4:2 -- And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

Luke 4:2 -- Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

The abstaining from all nutritive substances except water. Can be done for a day, a week, or even longer.

ABSOLUTE FAST

Acts 9:9 -- And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

No food OR water (usually no longer than three days). The body needs water to eliminate toxins from the body and it could be harmful to your body to go longer than three days.

PARTIAL FASTS

Dan 1:5 -- And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

Restricting your diet; no rich food or drink (3 Hebrew children). Many variations in regards to time, food, circumstances. Some people fast cigarettes, or juice, etc.

The Bible also speaks about the

ACCEPTABLE FAST (Isa 58 -- It's all about ATTITUDE!)

Psalms 34:18 -- The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a BROKEN HEART; and saveth such as be of a CONTRITE SPIRIT.

Psalms 51:17 -- The sacrifices of God are a BROKEN SPIRIT: A BROKEN AND A CONTRITE HEART, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Isaiah 57:15 -- ... I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a CONTRITE AND HUMBLE SPIRIT, to revive the spirit of the HUMBLE, and to revive the heart of the CONTRITE ones.

Isaiah 66:2 -- ... but to this man will I look, even to him that is POOR and of a CONTRITE SPIRIT, and TREMBLETH AT MY WORD.

Matthew 6:16 -- Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, THAT THEY MAY APPEAR UNTO MEN TO FAST. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

When Jesus taught his disciples about prayer and fasting, He didn't say "IF" you fast; He said "WHEN". So I do believe it is for Christians today :-) And He said to do it in secret :-) (Mat 6:16)

I look at fasting as a way to "posture" our soul. It humbles us as it weakens the flesh. God WILL bless those that are of an humble, contrite, and broken spirit. His word declares this and cannot fail :-)

I know God has blessed us through prayer and fasting. We've seen miraculous answers to prayer. (INSTANTANEOUS Healing from colds, cancers, broken bones, etc.!!!) When my wife was going to the doctor with her cancer, I started an "absolute fast" (no food or water) for 3 days. When she went in for her operation, they ultra-sounded her once more to see if the tumors (3 large ones) had moved or anything. They kept re-doing the ultra-sound and changing out machines saying there must be some problem with the equipment! Finally, they apologized to her, saying there must have been some mistake! She told them it was OK, that all of her symptoms had disappeared too, and explained that her husband had been praying and fasting for her. God had completely dissolved the tumors! That was several years ago and none of her symptoms have returned!

Praise God for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

I didn't know there were other kinds of fasting.

When I fast I wake up - pray.

I do not eat for 2 consecutive meals, but you can go all day.

Then when I am done fasting I pray.

I fast with a purpose. I fast to show God I'm willing to make sacrifices for what I'm asking him for.

You do not eat for a limited amount of time.