Fasting:

Fast (according to the Blue Letter Bible):
To abstain as a religious exercise from food and drink: either entirely, if the fast lasted but a single day, or from customary and choice nourishment, if it continued several days.

I have an idea of what a fast looks like. so this morning I did a little research, just a very little bit and this is one tidbit of what I found:

Isaiah 58:5-12

Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, My idea of a fast: Humility.
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast, God’s challenge!!
a day acceptable to the LORD ?

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice God’s Idea of a fast: Humility and service!!
and untie the cords of the yoke, Loose the chains of injustice
to set the oppressed free Set the oppressed free
and break every yoke? Break every yoke!

Is it not to share your food with the hungry Share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— Provide shelter for the homeless
when you see the naked, to clothe him, Clothe the naked
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, IF you fast as is required (see verses
and your healing will quickly appear; above)… THEN etc etc…
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; Again, the Lord answers IF the fast is lived
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. from the heart as required.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry If you SPEND yourself on behalf of the
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, hungry and oppressed, THEN…
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you always; God will do this IF we live the fast…
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins We will do this IF we live the fast…
and will raise up the age-old foundations; REVIVAL!!
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

I spend about $15 per day in food costs, in theory I could give $105 to the poor in this one week. I spend about 1.5 hours per day eating. In theory I could spend about 10.5 hours with the homeless this week. Hum... Fasting is kind of a big deal.