Book Review: A Woman's Guide to Fasting

My most recent review for Bethany House Publishers is of A Woman's Guide to Fasting by Lisa E. Nelson. 

The book mixes spiritual aspects and Biblical backgrounds on fasting with practical advice. Nelson draws on her own experiences and shares some of the lessons she's learned through fasting, as well as some tips for successful fasting. 

My own experiences with fasting are rather limited; I didn't grow up in a church that embraced that particular spiritual discipline, and have only fasted a handful of times (and for no longer than a day at a time, at least when fasting from food). Nelson, on the other hand, has fasted many times, some as long as 40 days at a stretch. It would be easy to feel intimidated by her lengthy fasting experience, but she does a good job of emphasizing that the length of fast is not as important as the heart behind it. I especially appreciated the fact that she admitted that there are times when it is a real struggle to get through a fast, even after all her years of experience. 

As the title suggests, the book is intended for women, although I'm not sure that the advice offered would differ from advice offered to men. At any rate, if you want to incorporate the discipline of fasting into your spiritual life and are unsure of where to start, or if you've struggled to complete a fast, this book may be a good source for you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Bethany House Publishers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”