The Essential Guide to Fasting is a book by Elmer L Towns that landed in my hands when I just started with our church’s beginning of the year fast.
The book has 11 chapters, with each chapter ending with a bible study section containing questions that challenge the reader to a deeper interaction with the bible.
With its 150 pages, it is an easy read for any follower of Christ.
The subtitle of the books says What it is, how to do it, and why it matters.
Indeed the author seeks to guide the reader on how to succeed in this discipline.
He starts by helping the reader to be in the right mental framework before starting the discipline of fasting.
He emphasises the importance of fasting with a purpose and plan.
He talks about different types of fast and how to choose the best one for you. Personally, I knew about some of the fasts he mentions, but I was surprised that the number is up to six types of fasts.
On the question of why do something that is so difficult? Elmer says fasting is not about lack but about drawing closer to God and resting in His abundance. He says to fast means to afflict yourself.
There are many misconceptions about fasting, and this book helps to clarify some of them. It is laced with testimonies of people who have found answers to difficult situations.
A big take-home for me is the importance of keeping a journal while fasting and praying.
Whether you are considering fasting or you have been doing it for a while, this book will be helpful in your journey. It is published by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
