How to fast if you have a sick stomach?

Question:

I have a question regarding fasting. I have a great need to fast, but my stomach is very sensitive and very sick. How can I fast without getting sick, so that it may still be a real fast before God? I mean practically, because I know theoretically from the Bible of decent behavior, humility, kindness, wisdom, etc.

What you call theoretical part, it is very practical. You should review well your relationship with people and with God and if something is not good, you should confess your sins, repent, ask forgiveness from those to whom you are guilty and then start fasting, because only such kind of fasting is received by God.

If you have health problems that prevent you from fasting without eating and drinking, you can limit yourself to what will not cause you health problems. God does not impose fasting in the Bible and He did not give us orders or prescriptions how to do it. The fact that we can fast is our privilege to stand before Him and that our prayer may be heard.

The Bible recounts a case where the prophet Daniel fasted in a different manner from other cases found on the pages of the Bible. Even if it is not named fasting in the biblical text, we realize that it was so. Here is the biblical story:

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the message was true and one of great conflict, but he understood the message and had an understanding of the vision. In those days, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks. I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed. (Daniel 10:1-3)(NASB)

How can you apply Daniel’s practice to fast?

Translated by Felicia Rotaru