Pastor Saeed Abedini's wife Naghmeh intends to embark on a three-week fast so that she will be able to "spend more time in the presence of the Lord and to draw closer to the heart of God."

Naghmeh bared her plan on her Facebook page. 

Aside from abstaining from "pleasurable" food such as coffee, chocolate, soda, and chips, she also vowed to give up her favourite television shows, sports, and hobbies. Naghmeh said she may even skip a meal or two with the goal of using "the cravings for those things as a reminder to spend time in prayer instead."

"I will be sharing scripture and what the Lord lays on my heart for each day," she wrote, encouraging other people to follow her lead and go on a fast, too.

Naghmeh did issue some pointers.

"In order to enter into the presence of God we will have to accept the penalty of sin that was paid on the cross by Jesus," she said. "If you do not know Jesus, this can be a scary step. It can mean letting go of everything you have been taught and have believed to be true. It might mean losing your community, friends and your family."

Naghmeh recalled that when she was only nine years old, she had to let go of everything she had been taught as a Muslim "despite the cost and the rejection and persecution that came from my own family."

In the same vein, people who want to follow Jesus now as their Lord and Saviour "will have to let go of all you have been taught and have believed."

"Whether you are Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, LDS or any form of man-made religion, you have to realise that there is a separation between humanity and God that can ONLY be resolved through JESUS CHRIST. Man-made religions are all empty labels that will not give us access to God. Access to God is only possible through Jesus Christ," she said.