When You Fast?
When You Fast…
Recently, God has stirred my heart toward the spiritual discipline of fasting. Maybe He has been stirring your heart that way as well. Over the past couple of weeks, a few people have approached me with questions about fasting: Should we fast? How do we fast? Why does fasting matter? These conversations have encouraged me and deepened my conviction that this is an area where God may be calling us to grow together.
At the start of a new year, many of us naturally begin to reflect and ask important questions:
– Who do I want to be?
– What type of person should I become?
– Who am I now, and am I happy with who that person is?
– What am I living for?
As we think about these questions, perhaps we also realize that our lives are often consumed by the whirlwind of “what’s next.” Distractions pull us in every direction, and the thought of carving out a moment of solitude can feel overwhelming. We may even find ourselves struggling to hear God clearly amid the noise.
Richard Foster defines fasting as “the voluntary denial of a normal function for the sake of intense spiritual activity.” Fasting is one way to reorient our hearts and lives toward God. It helps us create space to seek Him more deeply, to listen for His voice, and to align with His purposes.
As we begin the new year with the sermon series ‘Traveling Light,’ I’ve been praying about how fasting might help us to draw nearer to God, walk in greater dependence on Him, and reflect His presence more fully in our lives. I want to encourage you to consider fasting in some way during this next month and perhaps making it a regular rhythm throughout the year. Let’s explore what fasting is and why it matters.
What is Fasting?
Donald S. Whitney defines fasting as a Christian’s voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes. It’s an act of worship that allows us to refocus on God and realign our hearts with His will. Whitney emphasizes that fasting is always God-centered. Without a purpose, fasting can become self-centered or aimless. But when done with the right motives, it becomes a means of grace that strengthens our relationship with the Lord.
Why Should Christians Fast?
1. To Strengthen Prayer – Fasting sharpens our intercession and gives urgency to our prayers (Ezra 8:23; Daniel 9:3).
2. To Seek God’s Guidance – Fasting helps us hear God’s voice more clearly (Acts 13:2–3; Judges 20:26).
3. To Express Grief – Whether over sin or loss, fasting allows us to lament before God (1 Samuel 31:13; Nehemiah 1:4).
4. To Seek Deliverance or Protection – Turning to God in times of crisis (2 Chronicles 20:3–4; Esther 4:16).
5 . To Express Repentance – A symbol of commitment to obedience and returning to God (Jonah 3:5–8; Joel 2:12).
6. To Humble Oneself Before God – A physical expression of surrender and dependence (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21).
7. To Minister to Others – Isaiah 58 reminds us to fast in ways that bless others (Isaiah 58:6–7).
8. To Overcome Temptation – Drawing strength from God to resist sin (Matthew 4:1–4).
9. To Express Love and Worship to God – Fasting demonstrates that we value Him above all else (Luke 2:37; Acts 13:2).
10. To Prepare for God’s Work – Fasting prepares our hearts for the tasks God calls us to (Acts 14:23).
How Do We Fast?
Fasting can take many forms. Prayerfully consider which type of fast aligns with what God is calling you to do:
Types of Fasts
1. Complete Fast – Esther 4:16; Acts 9:9
Abstain from all food and drink, consuming only water or clear liquids. A Complete Fast can vary in duration:
•Skipping a Meal – Fast through one meal to devote that time to prayer and seeking God.
•Sunrise to Sunset – Abstain from food during daylight hours and break the fast in the evening.
•One Day Fast – Go without food for an entire day, focusing on prayer and Scripture.
•Three-Day Fast – Commit to three days of fasting while seeking God’s guidance, strength, or deliverance.
A Word of Caution
Fasting can be a meaningful spiritual discipline, but it’s important to approach it wisely. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant, nursing, or have dietary restrictions, please consult with your doctor before beginning a fast that involves abstaining from food. Remember, fasting is about the heart and focus on God, not the specifics of how it is practiced. For those unable to fast from food, consider a media fast or giving up other activities to create space to seek the Lord.
2. Partial Fast – Daniel 10:3
Restrict certain meals or food groups, like the Daniel Fast (fruits, vegetables, and water).
Daniel Fast Instructions
The Daniel Fast is a biblically inspired partial fast based on Daniel’s experiences in Daniel 1:12 and Daniel 10:3. It involves abstaining from rich foods, such as meats, sweets, and bread, and focusing on consuming fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and water. Participants often use this fast for 21 days, though the duration can vary.
Here are the primary guidelines:
•What to Eat: Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and water.
•What to Avoid: Meat, dairy, processed foods, sugar, and caffiene.
•Spiritual Focus: Dedicate the time typically spent preparing and eating richer foods to prayer, Bible study, and worship.
The heart of the Daniel Fast is not just dietary change but drawing closer to God through intentional focus and dependence on Him.
3. Selective Fast
Give up specific indulgences, such as sweets or caffeine.
4. Media/Activity Fast (Principle) – 1 Corinthians 7:5
Abstain from distractions like social media, TV, or other activities. This type of fast can also be combined with other fasts to help focus more intentionally on time with God.
5. Corporate Fast – Joel 2:15–16; Acts 13:2–3
A fast undertaken by a group of people, such as a church or community, uniting together in prayer and seeking God’s guidance, protection, or blessings.
How to Prepare for a Fast
Before you begin fasting, take time to prepare spiritually and practically:
- Pray About Your Purpose: What are you asking God to do in your life?
- Decide on Your Fast: Choose the type and duration prayerfully.
- Prepare Spiritually: Confess sin, seek forgiveness, and dedicate your heart to God.
- Schedule Time with God: Replace meals or distractions with prayer, Bible reading, and worship.
- Break Your Fast Wisely: Ease back into eating with small, light meals.
A Final Encouragement
Fasting is not about earning God’s favor or manipulating Him to answer our prayers. It’s about seeking Him wholeheartedly and aligning our lives with His wisdom and purposes. As Whitney reminds us, fasting often changes us far more than it changes our circumstances.
As you consider fasting, I encourage you to reflect on these questions:
– Who is God calling you to be?
– What distractions might He be asking you to set aside?
– How can you make space to abide in Him more deeply this year?
Let’s trust Him together, knowing He is faithful to meet us when we seek Him with all our hearts.
Further Resources
– Donald S. Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
– Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline
– Bill Bright’s Guide to Fasting (https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/fasting/personal-guide-to-fasting.html)
– Navigators Fuel Your Relationship With God https://www.navigators.org/resource/fuel-your-relationship-with-god-4-ideas-for-prayer-and-fasting/