Dreaming of eating food is relatively common for some people, yet others will dream of food hardly at all. If the dream is of seeing, trying to attain or having some food, the actual act of eating may not be dominant in the dream. This may be because in waking life we pay little attention to eating, often doing other things such as watching TV or working while we eat, so the textures, tastes and sensations of eating are not so noticeable to us, and the visual or auditory signals play a more important role.
When we dream of food then, it may take on a more symbolic meaning. The act of eating can play important physical and psychological roles in our life.
We eat to survive, some other people eat to distress! But we also eat to feel certain ways, and dreams can reflect this.
Dreams of food invite us to consider:
• Are we in need of nourishment, either spiritually or emotionally
• What are we doing in life to feed our soul, or to feed our imagination
• How are we ensuring we have enough energy to get through a difficult time?
While different foods can have very different meanings for those who dream of them, we can start to understand food dreams by thinking back to when in our lives this particular food may have been important to us. Was this food a comfort food when going through a break-up? Was this food something your mother made to show her love, your grandmother made to make you feel better when you were sick, your dad gave you as a weekend treat? This can be our own dreaming mind behaving as mother, grandmother or father, trying to give us a message of love, comfort or being treated, especially if in waking life we have been hard on ourselves, or been having some kind of difficulties.
Dreaming of a banquet or lavish spread can indicate general abundance in life, not just in terms of material comforts, but a sense of having as much as you need of everything: love, time, friendship etc. or maybe the opposite is true, and we “too much on our plate” which can imply we need to simply our life a little! Similarly, dreaming of an empty table, bare cupboards, empty plates and so on can indicate we feel we are not getting the nourishment we need in life, that we are missing out on something that is vitally important to our well-being.
Sharing food in a dream can be a very rewarding feeling, creating a sense that there is something of value we are able to offer to others.
In waking life this may be someone we are caring for, providing guidance, assistance or emotional support in some way. To be offered food in a dream can be our subconscious mind trying to give us a gift. So if we have influence in such a dream we should try to accept it if only it is a good gift. It may not be immediately obvious what this gift is, but just as food in waking life gives us energy, makes us stronger, provides immunity from diseases and helps us to grow, so too can our subconscious mind “feed” us psychologically.
The phrase “you are what you eat” is especially true in dreams, where everything, even objects, can reflect a part of our own self. To understand the meaning of a particular food in a dream, it can be helpful to describe it. Try asking, how do I like this food? Is it warm and comforting, substantial and hearty, light and refreshing?
Fast food in dreams may be a sign of trying to sustain yourself on something that seems easy, but provides little real value.
While we may not recall taste all that often, when we do, it can be helpful to look at how we would describe the taste itself. Was the food bitter or sweet? Did it leave a bad taste in your mouth, or was it absolutely delicious? We can then look for experiences in our waking life that this might relate to.
Dreaming of food can also be a signal from our subconscious that we physically need to eat a certain food when awake. If we are lacking a certain nutrient, such as fiber or vitamin C, we may dream of vegetables or orange juice, as our subconscious dreaming mind picks up the subtle messages from our body and attempts to communicate with our conscious mind.
Are you getting enough nourishment?
Dreaming of food can be a way to heal and care for ourselves on many levels. We may even dream of eating bad food, or something that is poisonous. This is often a sure sign that some belief we hold, a behavior we are engaging in, or relationship we have is not good for us and may be even “poisoning” us. It might be time to consider our emotional needs and what is healthy for us. If we dream of something getting stuck in our throats, there may be some information someone is telling us, or maybe even a story we are telling ourselves, that we find “hard to swallow.” Maybe we need to take a second look.
Dreaming of not being able to finish eating something, or of trying to eat something large can be a sign that we feel somewhere in life we may have “bitten off more than we can chew.”
It is also not unusual to dream of food when we are dieting, as we spend so much time thinking about what we are denying ourselves, that our subconscious mind will go on dreaming about it even as we dream. In a similar way, starving people often dream of food, as the body cries out for what it needs and the subconscious mind can’t ignore it.
While we will often dream of familiar foods, sometimes we will dream of exotic new foods, and maybe even things we have never really tasted in waking life. This often happens when we are having or seeking new experiences, and our minds are being opened to new exciting delights.
Food dreams ask us to consider what is healthy for us, what sustains us and how we can share with others. In waking life, if we start to pay more attention to what we eat, to savour the taste and be consciously grateful for what we have, our dreaming mind will recognize this, and is likely to reward us with dreams of delicious experiences and abundance.
The Spiritually meaning of dream eating
If you are a true Christian or Muslim you should know that food causes a fall of man; the first sin in the Bible was a result of uncontrolled appetite. See Genesis 3.
To be offered food in a dream or eating is a sign of future incurable sickness, failure in marriage, at work, school, business and future plans.
In the school of dreams you will discover how to detect negative dreams. It will also show you how to handle such dreams. See, Genesis 20:3-6; 41:8-32 (KJV).
For example
- When you dream of eating food in the dream its bad and means spiritual poison
- When you dream about eating your favorite food, it means you might experience weakness of the body in future and also indicate sickness.
- Dream of picking eggs and eating them in the dream. This means that the enemy is putting incurable diseases in their body.
- When you dream of having grey hair, it’s very good, favour.
- If you dream that your cap was flying away or that your dress was being removed and you are naked, you need to pray against the spirit of shame and disgrace. The enemy uses many things like these to harass the people of God.
- When you dream of walking without shoes, this is bad for you, indicating you don’t have protection.
- When you dream crying, it’s good, you will prosper someday
- When you see a coffin in your dream, it signifies the spirit of death. It means the enemies are sending the person to an early grave. You really need to pray seriously, if you’ve had such a dream.
- When anything at all comes upon you in the dream and you want to shout for help to Jesus and you couldn’t shout or you are unable to pray or fight against the thing, it is a wicked stone.
- If you dream of flood carrying away your property, send back the flood to where it came from.
- If you see yourself getting wedded to a strange person in the dream, you need to destroy that church where the ceremony took place and send fire to your spirit bride or groom.
- When you dream of eating or someone offers food you should take it very seriously and add prayer and fasting. See Genesis 20:3-6; 41:8-32 (KJV)
What is fasting?
- Fasting is abstaining from food whether completely or partially for a period of time.
- Fasting is a period when the Christian abstain from eating in order to spend extra time with God in prayer, studying and meditation.
As you look through the scriptures, you will find so many people who fasted;
- The disciples. Matthew 17:21
- Samuel. 1 Samuel 7:6
- Elijah. 1 Kings 19:4-8
- Paul. Acts 9:9
- John the Baptist.
- Esther. Esther 4:16
- Daniel. Daniel 1 &10
- Jesus. Matthew 4:1-2
There are at least thirty five (35) records of fast by people in the Bible.
- Daniel fasted for 21 days. Daniel 10
- Moses fasted for 40 days. Deut. 9
- Joshua fasted for 40 days. Exo. 24
- Elijah fasted for 40 days. 1 Kings 19
- Jesus fasted for 40 days. Matthew 4
- Paul fasted for 3 days but did a lot more. Acts 9.
Reason why we should fast?
- To lose the band of wickedness.
- To release ourselves and others from the bondage of sin and wickedness
- Fasting for deliverance and discipline. (Deliverance + Discipline = Dominion) Matthew 17:21
- To undo the heavy burdens
- To solve problems and break stubborn strongholds.
- To let the oppressed go free.
- To break every yoke.
- To share bread with the hungry
- To meet the needs of others. 1 Kings 17:16
- To allow God’s light to break forth like in the morning. Isaiah 58:8
- To make the way plain before you as you take crucial decisions
- So that your health shall spring forth.
- For better health and for healing
- So that your righteousness shall go before you.
- So that we should be the proper light of the world.
- So that our lives can positively influence others
- So that the glory of the Lord and His glory will overshadow us.
Biblical purposes of prayer intercession with fasting
- The power of biblical prayer intercession with fasting cannot be overemphasized; it is a weapon against the devil.
- Fasting is done in scripture when facing impossible circumstances. 1 Samuel 31:13
- For repentance both personally and nationally and united with others for a mission. 1 Samuel 7:6, Neh. 9:1 , Jonah 3:5
- Fasting is done to enable one to hear clearly from God for fresh direction. Ezra 8:21
- To provoke God to move on behalf of others. 2 Chron. 23, Est. 4:16, Dan. 9:3, Job 23:3-5, Isaiah 41:21.
- To petition the Lord. Heb. 5:7, Acts 10:30
- To seek the mind of God. Acts 13:2; 14:23.
- To prepare for ministry for the power of God. Matt. 4:2, Acts 13:3
- For spiritual power. Matt. 17:21, Luke 4:14
- To afflict the soul. Lev. 16:29, Psalm 35:13, Prov. 20:27, 1 Thess. 5:23, Heb. 4:12.
- To deepen humility. Ezra 8:21.
- Fasting increases the hunger of God to work.
- Fasting intensifies prayer concentration.
- Fasting solidifies determination.
- Fasting feeds your faith
- It opens you more fully to the spirit working in you.
- Fasting fires up your zeal.
- Fasting is done when under chastening by the Lord. 2 Samuel 12:16
- It is done when someone is under judgment. 1 Kings 21:27
- When one is in danger. Ezekiel 4:16
- Fasting is done when one is worried
- When one is in spiritual conflict. Matt. 4:1-7
- To prepare for spiritual warfare. Matt. 17:21
- To strengthen prayer life. Acts 10:30
- Fasting is done during public calamity.
- When it is desperate in prayer. Acts 9
Benefits of fasting?
The secret of the power of fasting in 1 Corinthians 9:27, Galatians 5:16-17, Romans 8:7
- Fasting is a means of disciplining the body.
- Fasting is giving the human spirit an opportunity to build up by putting less demand on the flesh.
- Fasting humbles one before God. Psalm 35:13 – One of the best ways to weaken the enemy is to starve the enemy.
- Prayer brings God in, fasting keeps flesh out.
- The human body derives power from all the activities of the power of the human spirit.
- The power needed to effect digestion of food and all other bodily functions is derived from the human spirit. This is why a perfectly functioning body stops activity immediately the spirit leaves. James 2:26
- Fasting enables the Christian body to generate and release more spiritual power.
- Therefore beloveth, fasting and prayer serve a bank to generate spiritual power that could be used during emergency when there is no power to pray.
- Fasting gives your digestive system a break
- It is a great cure for unbelief. Matt. 17:14-21
- Jesus did not make fasting optional. Matt. 6:16-18. Joel 1:14; 2:12, 1 Cor. 7:5
- Just as faith needs prayer for development and growth, prayer needs fasting for the same purpose.
- Fasting does wander when in combination with prayer and faith.
- Fasting demonstrates the mastery of man over appetite. Phi. 3:19
- Fasting aids in temptation
- Fasting helps to attain power over the demons.
- Fasting develops faith
- Fasting crucifies unbelief
- The most important aids are fasting and retreat.
- All believers are supposed to fast.
- Fasting makes you closer to the Holy Spirit.
- When God ordains you to fast, something must come out of it. Luke 10:10-14, Matt. 5:20, Luke 18:10-14
- People have categorised fasting into many groups (white fasting, red fasting, dry fast, wet fast, etc) but we do not follow this, we depend on the Holy Spirit.
Scientific benefits of fasting
- Fasting helps in weight loss
- It makes insulin more effective by improving insulin sensitivity.
- It improves metabolism.
- Fasting helps in aging; it prolongs your life.
- Fasting can help to improve hunger.
- It can help to improve your eating pattern.
- It can help to improve your brain functions.
- It can improve your immune system
- Fasting helps to clear the skin.
- It promotes blood sugar control.
- It enhances the health of the heart.
- Fasting may aid disease prevention.
- It can enhance the body resistance to stress
- It can help the body to maintain good balance.
- It can protect from some diseases
- It can improve memory.
- It can upgrade your mood.
- It can limit cravings.
When does a believer fast?
- To chasten your soul. Psalm 69:10
- You fast under chastening like David did. 2 Sam. 12
- To humble the soul. Psalm 35:13.
- Under judgment. 1 Kings 21:27
- To seek the Lord. 2 Chron. 20:3-4
- When you are in need. Ezra 8:21
- To strengthen personal prayer. Acts 10:30
- To express personal repentance. Jonah 3:5-10
- To mortify the flesh.1 Cor. 9:21
- To prepare for spiritual warfare. Matt. 17:19-21
- When you are in danger. Est. 4:15-16
- When you are worried. Dan. 6:18
- When you want to prevent or solve problems. 1 Sam. 12:16
- When you are in trouble. Acts 27:9 ,33
- During public calamity or national mourning. 2 Sam. 1:12 , 1 Sam. 31:13
- To ordain people into ministry. Acts 13:2-3 ; 14:33
- You fast in spiritual conflict. Matt. 4:1-7 ; 17:21
- When you notice you are breaking communion with Christ. Matt. 9:15
- When you are desperate in prayer.
Ten (10) things to accompany fasting
- Abstinence from sexual relationship. 1 Cor. 7:5
- By prayer. Ezra 8:23
- By confession of sin. 1 Samuel 7:6
- By humbling yourself. Deut. 9:18 , Neh. 9:1
- Lamentation.
- Mourning. Joel 2:12
- Personal hygiene. Matt. 6:17
- Bible reading. Neh. 9:1-3
- Weeping. Joel 2:12 , Psalm 69:10
- Worship. Neh. 9:1-3
People do abuse fasting. The Bible talks about:
- Hypocritical fasting. Isa. 15 , Matt. 15
- Pharisee fasting. Luke 18:11
- Jezebel fasting. 1 Kings 21:9-10
- False-teacher fasting. 1 Tim. 4:1-3
Salient points that you must be careful to note
- Long fast needs teaching from those with experience.
- No fasting should go to the level of destroying your health.
- During long fasting; the more you talk, the more you waste your energy: talk only when necessary.
- Sickness should not hinder fasting. God can heal any diseases.
- If it’s too long dry fast, you must drink water. Prepare by prayer and abstinence must precede fasting.
- Avoid food containing caffeine, coffee, soft drinks, etc when you are about to start a fast.
- Fasting does not change God, fasting changes us.
- It is important for marriage couples to avoid sex during fasting but it must be by mutual agreement. 1 Cor. 7:5
- Fasting should not be turned into entertainment or show off. Matt. 6:19-18
- Many things people call fasting these days does not qualify as fasting;
– abstaining from meat and eating only fish is not fasting,
– abstaining from some food while eating others is not fasting,
– abstaining from certain pleasures while enjoying others is not fasting, etc
– using fasting as sleeping tablet,
– avoiding all aspects of family life,
– walking around in order not to feel hungry,
– keeping very busy in order not to feel hungry,
– keeping watch on the time every time,
– fasting without prayer is hunger strike or starvation,
11. Do not wait for emergencies before fasting.
12. Living a fasted life is better than doing occasional compacted fasting.
13. Corporate fasting is encouraged; it is very powerful when there is corporate fasting.
14. Fasting is not a method of obtaining God’s sympathy; you need to repent and wake up
You Need To Repent;
– If you are an unbeliever
– If you do not fast at all.
– If your fasting is not too frequent.
– Same period of fasting as you did last year.
– You are gradually stopping fasting.
– You formerly completed fast but now you cannot.
– You fast but you do not spend quality time with God.
– You sleep mostly during fasting and do very little praying.
– You fast with no burden to discharge, no goal.
– You try to replace repentance with fasting
– Trying to use fasting to look for good body shape
– Trying to use fasting to resolve gluttony.
Results of Fasting.
- Increased spiritual authority
- Receiving divine affirmation of ministry.
- Obtaining a new direction for ministry.
- Gaining insight during Bible Study that becomes foundational truth for ministry.
- An enhanced desire for prayer.
- Affirmation through a sense of destiny experiences.
- New power for spiritual warfare.
- Guidance and liberty for workers in ministry
- Victory over satanic strongholds
- Assurance of divine protection
- An increased sense of God’s presence.
- A breaking of attitudes and policies hindering progress in a new ministry.
- Times when prayer becomes enhanced as a means of effectively wrestling with issues.
In conclusion, man’s state before the fall is out of the spirit of man.
We should fast scripturally, secretly, sensibly, sensitively, sacrificially, systematically, specifically and supernaturally.
If you have any questions let us know in the comment section below.