The Essential Guide to Fasting: What It Is, How to Do It, and Why It Matters

by Elmer L. Towns

Vital, Practical Teaching on Biblical, Effective Fasting from the Topic's Leading Author Fasting is one of the most misunderstood spiritual disciplines in the church today. And in a society where we want for nothing, abstaining from something we want carries little appeal. Yet fasting isn't about lack--it's about drawing closer to God and resting in his abundance.In this essential, foundational handbook to biblical fasting, Elmer L. Towns, one of the leading authors on the topic, will help you discover the amazing spiritual benefits of prayer and fasting. Not only does he lay out a biblical overview, but he also gives you a practical, easy-to-implement plan and answers your questions about this spiritual discipline. But more importantly, you will encounter a powerful new way to experience God's presence, to listen to him, to worship, and to pray more deeply.

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2016

About the author

Dr. Elmer Towns is a college and seminary professor, an author of popular and scholarly works (the editor of two encyclopedias), a popular seminar lecturer, and dedicated worker in Sunday school, and has developed over 20 resource packets for leadership education. He began teaching at Midwest Bible College, St. Louis, Missouri, for three years and was not satisfied with his textbooks so he began writing his own (he has published over 100 books listed in the Library of Congress, 7 listed in the Christian Booksellers Best Selling List; several becoming accepted as college textbooks. He is also the 1995 recipient of the coveted Gold Medallion Award awarded by the Christian Booksellers Association for writing the Book of the Year, i.e., The Names of the Holy Spirit.

He was President of Winnipeg Bible College for five years, leading it to receive American Accreditation and Provincial authority to offer degrees (1960-1965). He taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, in greater Chicago, Illinois, in the field of Religious Education and Evangelism (1965-1971).

He is co-founder of Liberty University, with Jerry Falwell, in 1971, and was the only full-time teacher in the first year of Liberty's existence. Today, the University has over 11,400 students on campus with 39,000 in the Distance Learning Program (now Liberty University Online), and he is the Dean of the School of Religion.

Dr. Towns has given theological lectures and taught intensive seminars at over 50 theological seminaries in America and abroad. He holds visiting professorship rank in five seminaries. He has written over 2,000 reference and/or popular articles and received six honorary doctoral degrees. Four doctoral dissertations have analyzed his contribution to religious education and evangelism.

His personal education includes a B.S. from Northwestern College in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a M.A. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary also in Dallas, a MRE from Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, and a D.Min. from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never fasted before in my life, but God kept drawing me in and I felt called to fast. I knew nothing about where to begin or how to go about it. This book was amazing from start to finish. Answered all my questions and I took note after note. I jumped in with both feet and didnt look back and wow God came in power and answered prayers I've been struggling with for 3 years! At times I doubted whether I could continue the journey, but I persevered and I am so glad I did. The heart of the Father is awesome to experience working into our lives. Highly recommend this book. Thank you so much for writing it!

[Carey Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, basic introduction to the spiritual discipline of fasting.