Fasting is a ritual that simply heightens remembrance.  There is nothing particularly righteous about the act of not eating; it is the intention of the heart that drives you to not eat or to deny certain foods and the subsequent prayer that is pleasing to God.  For instance, a chocolate lover would fast from chocolate for a time in order to heighten their remembrance of some issue they are devoting to prayer.  Fasting can range from total denial of all food for a short time to very specific abstinence from things that would represent a sacrifice of some sort.  The focus is ALWAYS on a sacrifice of food that reminds us to pray.

The guidelines for fasting are simple:

1. Fast to remember something worthy of prayer.
2. Fast in a way that does not endanger you physically…in other words, drink fluids and don’t fast too long or too deep.
   
   Our bookstore should be able to help you with some books in this area as well. Here's a couple of verses that might help.
   
   

   Matt 6:16

   16

   "A Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they 1 neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. B

   NASU
   
   

   Matt 6:17-18

   17

   "But you, when you fast, A anoint your head and wash your face 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your A Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

   NASU