Customer Reviews

Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Although I do not have extensive experience in fasting, God has become more intimate to me during the times I have fasted.

An earlier reviewer mentioned that the book sounded more like a lecture and little like an experience. I can assure you that since I have personally taken a class under Dr. Towns, he is an extremely fascinating man to listen to! Also, I like the biblical examples he uses to illustrate the importance and results of fasting. While experience is important, being biblical is even more so!

Towns' book is an excellent read to encourage you to fast. He covers the following points:

1. Models and kinds of fasting.
2. Principles for fasting to break sin's bondage.
3. Fasting to solve a problem and break negative emotional habits.
4. Fasting to meet the need of others.
5. Fasting to make important decisions and physical healing.
6. Fasting for protection from demonic attacks.
7. Fasting to experience personal revival.
8. How fasting can benefit our bodies.

Read to be encouraged and challenged!

Fasting is more than an exercize in food deprivation. Towns gives you clear, practical FOCUS for your fast. Whether making critical decisions, breaking an addiction, or dealing with depression--Just look in the Table of Contents, and there is a chapter dealing with a fast that will help you to Breakthrough!

This is the third or forth book I've read on the subject of fasting. I'am far from an expert on the suject knowledge or practice of fasting. However, my recent experience of a 21 day fast has left me with a passion and hunger to pursue greater intimacy with God through fasting. Having said that, I would rate this book 3 stars.

Quote from the author in the acknowledgment:
"The material in this book was taught in the pastor's bible class at Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Virginia, during the summer of 1995. Thank you, class, for listening to my lessons and sharing with me the things you have learned about fasting. I wrote each chapter as I taught a lesson. For the most part, it was not the older Christians but the younger people who talked to me about this series and tried the things I taught. I have learned much about fasting by looking at it through the eyes of my students." End of quote.

Even though the book is full of detailed information about fasting, it reads like a classroom lecture. The author uses several examples of fasting experiences of other people to help illustrate his lessons, but I can recall only once during the whole book where the author used an example of his own personal fasting experience. Because of this I found the book to be informative, but very dry. Lacking in the expression of personal experience.

Fasting is (or should be) a time of deep personal intimacy with our Creator. A place where the closeness of his presence reveals our own heart's motive, allowing us to intercede for our own spiritual breakthrough, and as well, responding to Him as he leads us to intercede for a spiritual breakthrough in our home, family, friends, church, city, nation, etc. It is this aspect of relating "intimacy with God" that seems to be missing from this book.

But as the title says, "The more you read on this topic, the better".

I am a novice at fasting and continue to find directions within the pages of the book. It is based on scriptures. It is concise and is a great match for anyone who thinks in a logical, sequential manner. Towns is also inspirational and has brought the spiritual discipline of fasting/feasting to the forefront in my life. I hope his words do the same for you.

At a time when I needed answers to difficult things this book helped direct my prayers and thoughts. Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough gave me a jumping off point and now the answers ARE coming. I am confident they'd not have come had I not followed Mr. Towns' suggestion to fast in the relevent, focused ways he suggests.

The author has organized his material well. I did not need the workbook, finding everything necessary in my Bible and Mr. Town's manual.

A vital book if you're very serious about getting spiritual answers.

(**Note** It is wise to educate yourself on this subject before fasting more than a week. For example, when breaking a longer fast you must be knowledgeable or you will cramp, yet there is no danger if you know how to resume eating, go slowly, and are assured your body is ready for a fast in the first place. In fact the health benefits are incomparable and wonderful--increased energy and clarity of thought being some.)

This has been the best book I have found on fasting. It covers absolutely everything you might hope to cover on the subject - from health concerns, to reasons for fasting, to possible time-frames, to variations in how you may decide to proceed. I have found it helpful to go through some of the material on the days that I fast in order to help my focus. I have learned so much from this book and highly recommend it.

Tremendous book. One of the best I have ever read. Towns writes like he speaks, in very simplistic terms yet very profound. I would recommend this to anyone who is seriously considering or who frequently fast. He provides an eye opening approach and covers all baases.

Not only has the information in this powerful book been instrumental in my own spiritual development (bondage breaking!), the companion Study Guide was most helpful when leading this study for others. EVERYONE was blessed and deeply moved by finally understanding what it meant to incorporate Biblical Fasting into their Christian life. Thank you, Mr. Towns!

This book is designed to target a biblical and spiritual understanding of this Christian discipline rather than give tips on fasting; however, in Towns book, "The Beginner's Guide to Fasting", he writes more about the physical aspects of undergoing a fast. I recommend this book for a more thorough knowledge of "how to" fast and what to expect physically. May God bless you as He has blessed me!

I think most people either know nothing at all about fasting or think that an "absolute" fast is the only way to fast. What this book helps people understand is that there are a number of different types of fasts. According to Towns' book, the nine fasts in the Bible are:
The Disciple's Fast: Fasting for freedom from addiction
The Ezra Fast: Fasting to solve problems
The Samuel Fast: Fasting to win people to Christ
The Elijah Fast: Fasting to break crippling fears
The Widow's Fast: Fasting to provide for the needy
The Saint Paul Fast: Fasting for insight and decision making
The Daniel Fast: Fasting for health and physical healing
The John the Baptist Fast: Fasting for an influential testimony
The Esther Fast: Fasting for protection from the evil one.

The book explains how to do each fast and what one can expect the results to be. What I appreciated most was that each chapter had good scripture but also had good application. This combination makes this book great for the person looking to move to the next level in their spiritual walk.

Note: I became acquainted with Dr. Towns when I was a student at Liberty University and on staff at Thomas Road Baptist Church. Dr. Towns was also on my ordination council. However, we have not had any communication in over 20 years, therefore our past connection has no bearing on this review.

I bought this as a gift for someone. They told me that it was very helpful to them & have recommended it to others. I have just ordered this same book for myself.