How to Fast
What is Fasting?
Fasting is the practice of giving up something we normally consume to focus on God.
Why Fast?
Fasting was an expected practice in both the Old and New Testament eras. For example, Moses fasted at least two recorded forty-day periods. Jesus fasted 40 days and instructed His followers by saying, “when you fast,” not if you fast.
Fasting and prayer can work together to restore the loss of your "first love" for the Lord.
Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21).
Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance and a transformed life.
The Holy Spirit will imprint God’s Word deeper on your heart, and His truth will become more meaningful to you.
Fasting can transform your prayer life into a richer and more personal experience.
Fasting can result in a dynamic personal revival and make you a channel of life change to others.
Bible Reference
Deuteronomy 8:10-18 NLT
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
Tips for Fasting
The tips below are for a fast of food, but ask the Holy Spirit to show you what you could fast. You might want to try the following instead:
Social media • Alcohol • Talking • Entertainment or sport • Screens and devices
Walk before you can run: A ‘slow and steady’ approach to progression in this discipline is particularly important. It might be good idea to start with a partial fast, like missing one meal a day for a week, or trying a ‘Daniel fast’ which involves giving up all delicacies and concentrating on vegetables.
Build it up gradually: Move on in your fasting, trying one 24 hour period once a week for a few weeks. After success in this fasting, move onto a longer fast – try 3 days, or build a more consistent rhythm of the first 2 days of every month. It may be good to tie in with the church’s calendar at Lent and aim for a longer, more intentional fast.
Plan: As you prepare to fast, try and plan your diet intentionally. It is good to try and not get too busy when you are fasting so that you can give some set time to prayer. Try not to fill up the time you would have been fasting with work and meetings, rather keep it free to intentionally seek God. You may also want to check that your medical conditions comply with you fasting. If you need to, check it out with a doctor or nutritionist.
Monitor your heart: Try to pay attention to the attitude of your heart. What is God revealing? What needs to change? It may be a good idea to journal what God is speaking to you through the fast.
Keep going: When you start, you will begin to feel hunger pangs or discomfort: it’s not real hunger - try to resist and allow the pains to trigger you instead to offer up prayers to God. Soon the pangs will pass. Initially the body might suffer discomfort – this is due to the body ridding itself from toxins that have built up over the years because of bad eating habits. Don’t be disturbed, rather thank God for the increased health and wellbeing as a result.
Keep worshipping: While outwardly you may be getting on with what you have to do, inwardly offer worship and adoration in your heart to the Lord.
Wisdom: Be aware of the weakness in your body and try not to do anything too strenuous that would put you and/or others at risk. Break your fast with a light meal, rather than heavily overeating.
Books on Fasting
A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer - John Piper
Celebration of Discipline - Richard Foster
Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting – Derek Prince