Have you ever thought about fasting, but were unsure how to get started? If so, I’ve been in your shoes. There’s a lot to think about when it comes to fasting! What makes a biblical fast different than any other kind of fast? What kind of fast do you choose? How long should your fast last? Why are you fasting in the first place?
These aren’t just good questions—they’re questions you absolutely should ask before you start a fast, regardless of how many fasts you’ve tried in the past.
I tried fasting for the first time a few years ago and was surprised by some of the things I learned. I was used to eating in moderation, but denying myself food altogether was a foreign experience. But the uniqueness of that experience helped shake me out of my normal routine and focus more on the present moment—and my connection with God.
The things I learned in my past fasts—both spiritually and logistically—all contributed to what you’ll find in this article.
Below, you’ll find a simple guide to fasting that you can use to set yourself up for success. I’ll provide answers to the questions I just mentioned, as well as other helpful tips you can use to step into your next fast with confidence. But before we go any further, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about what a biblical fast even is.
What Is a Biblical Fast?
The traditional definition of fasting just means choosing not to eat for a set period of time. That definition has expanded over the years—now, people might fast from particular types of foods (like sweets) or from specific activities (like social media).
Biblical fasts are similar, with one distinction—followers of Jesus fast in order to grow closer to God. Jesus took part in this practice after being baptized, and just before He started His public ministry. This fast ensured Jesus was on the same page as His Father, and set the tone for the next three years of His life.
Fasting is useful for Christians for two reasons:
- Fasting helps us temporarily give up things that might be distracting us from God.
- The discomfort of fasting acts as a prompt for us to lean into our relationship with God.
Lastly, an important note: Fasting is an example of a spiritual practice, but it’s not one we’re necessarily meant to practice frequently or regularly, like worship or prayer. (We only see Jesus partake in fasting once during the gospels!) Instead, it’s a special thing we do when we want to be more mindful of God’s presence.
Now, let’s jump into the simple guide to a biblical fast.
A Simple Guide to Fasting
Step 1: Think About Your “Why”
Fasting is supposed to be a little uncomfortable. But because it’s uncomfortable, it’s important to establish your “why” for fasting early on. There are a lot of reasons you might fast, like:
- Something’s been weighing on you, like a big question or a potential life change, and you want to make space to hear God’s input.
- Life’s been busy, and that’s made it hard to connect with God as often as you’d like. You want to set aside some dedicated time to focus on your relationship with God.
- You’ve become overly reliant on something, like a specific type of food or a certain activity. You want to take a break from that time and focus on God instead.
- You’re lamenting over something that’s happened in your life or your community, and you want to bring your grief to God.
Set aside a little time to think about why you want to fast in this season of your life. Landing on a clear answer will help ensure you don’t get to the end of your fast and think, “What was the point of all of that?”
Step 2: Pick a Type of Fast
Next, it’s time to pick a fast. Knowing your “why” can help influence what kind of fast you choose—if you know you’d like to take a break from social media so you can focus on God, naturally, you’d choose a social media fast. Asking yourself these questions can help you land on a specific fast:
- Do you want to fast from food? If so, do you want to fast from all foods, or only some? Do you want to fast from liquids as well?
- Do you want to fast from something other than food? If so, what? What would cause a little discomfort to give up?
- How long will your fast last? Will your fast last all day, or only certain hours of the day?
As you think through these questions, remember—be kind to yourself. Fasting is about bringing a little discomfort into your life—not a lot. If you’ve never fasted before, don’t jump in the deep end. It’s okay to start small, see what you learn from the experience, and go from there.
Lastly, if you’ve never fasted from food before and you’d like to do so for the first time, talk to your doctor. Some medical conditions make fasting from food unwise, and that’s not the kind of discomfort you want to invite into your life. Your doctor’s input will help you narrow down the type of fast that would be best for you.
Step 3: Plan Ahead
Once you choose a fast, you can start planning for it. Even if you’re the kind of person who prefers to figure out things as you go, rather than trying to put a plan in motion, I’d encourage you to give planning a try. Doing so could have a big impact on how successful your fast is.
First, look at your calendar and determine what dates will work best for your fast. If you want to fast from food and you have a holiday, a wedding, or another celebration coming up, avoid scheduling your fast on those dates. Being surrounded by food (and people who keep asking you why you’re not eating said food) is not a fun experience.
Another tip if you’re fasting from food: Prep your pantry. Toss out items that might tempt you to eat during your fast, but make sure you have food ready to eat (or your favorite restaurant in mind) when your fast comes to an end. Your stomach will thank you for preparing ahead of time.
Regardless of what fast you choose, it’s a good idea to give the important people in your life a heads-up that your fast is coming. Your daily routines and behaviors will change as a result of your fast, and rather than making your loved ones wonder (and potentially worry) about what’s going on, you can include them in this choice, and even lean on them for support.
Depending on the fast you’ve chosen, you could even invite them to fast alongside you!
Step 4: Start Your Fast
If you’ve completed the first three steps, Step 4 should be pretty simple—all you have to do is start your fast! Assuming you’ve planned ahead, the beginning of your fast shouldn’t require much effort.
Your day will feel normal at first. Keep to your typical schedule and trust that the discomfort you’re waiting for will find you, sooner or later.
Step 5: Stick to Your Plan ...
This is what the previous steps have all been moving toward. At a certain point, you’ll start to feel your fast.
Maybe your stomach starts growling while everyone else in your office is eating lunch. Maybe 7:00pm rolls around, and you don’t know what the evening is supposed to look like without TV. No matter what you’re fasting from, at some point, you’ll feel the discomfort that comes from avoiding it.
When this discomfort sets in, think back to your “why.”
When this discomfort sets in, think back to your “why.” You’re fasting for a reason, and that reason is enough to help you continue your fast, despite the discomfort.
Then lean into God. Bring Him your attention, your questions, your laments, your listening ears. This time is what your fast is all about, so savor this space, in spite of the discomfort that comes with it.
Step 6: ... With a Few Exceptions
As you continue in your fast, keep an eye on how you’re doing—especially if you’ve given up food. If you begin to believe the fast you’ve chosen is putting your health at risk, you should break your fast. Your friends and family members can be helpful people to rely on here. If they believe your fast is impacting you negatively, take their concerns seriously.
If you’re on the fence, reach out to your doctor and follow their guidance.
Step 7: Finish Your Fast
This is the final step in the fasting journey. If you make it here—congratulations!
Take joy in breaking your fast. You don’t have to go overboard, but fasts aren’t easy, and you can (and should) celebrate having finished this practice. So go to your favorite restaurant, eat that sweet treat, or catch up with your friends on social media. Allow this celebration to fuel your thanks for God and the good things He’s made.
Then set aside some time to reflect on your fast. Ask yourself a few simple questions like: What went well? What could go better next time? What did I learn? How did I experience God through this practice?
Starting a biblical fast takes some thought and planning to put into practice well, but the time you get with God will be worth it. If you’d like to learn about more spiritual practices that will help you grow in your relationship with God, just click the button below.