READ: Matthew 4:1-11
“In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen,… In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, IN HUNGER AND THIRST, IN FASTINGS OFTEN, in cold and nakedness” – 2 Corinthians 11:26-27
Apostle Paul described his spiritual life. He said he fasted often, not once in a while. Notice that being hungry and being thirsty are different from fasting. Paul was hungry and thirsty but that was different from when he was fasting. Being hungry and thirsty is a very different experience from fasting. There is hunger and thirst in fasting but fasting is a spiritual exercise in which you seek God as you deny yourself food and pleasure.
It is, however, better to fast without feeling hungry and thirsty. When you do not feel hungry during the fast, you can focus on God. When there is a lot of hunger and thirst, your mind and your heart are focused on the food and there is pressure to break the fast.
Learn how to fast without hunger and thirst. The experience of hunger and thirst is different from the experience of a wonderful fast. You will notice that Jesus Christ was not really hungry during the fast. It was after the fast that He was hungry. A good fast is not a fast when you are under pressure from hunger. You must be under pressure to seek for the Lord and not under pressure to break the fast.
You must control your body. Apostle Paul was strict on his body. Your flesh is an unruly enemy ready to do the wrong thing any time it has a chance. Fasting has the additional benefit of keeping your flesh under control.
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Corinthians 9:27