Fasting

This guide is intended to guide you through a process toward a healthy, wise, and spiritually beneficial fast. For more information about fasting as a spiritual practice, please refer to our Community Group Monthly Guide.

Some things should be similar in everyone’s fast.

• It should include eliminating both needs and comforts.
  The point of fasting is to redirect your appetites toward God and practice a greater level of dependence than normal. This should include fasting food in some way. A good fast presents a feasible challenge to your body and mind so your spirit can develop.
• It should include adding spiritual practices to draw you closer to Jesus. Elimination on its own is simply discomfort. The time and energy normally given to the things you have eliminated should be redirected toward God somehow.
• It should be spiritually motivating.
  If your fast only makes you frustrated or grumpy, it is not accomplishing its purpose and is not a good fast. The things you eliminate should inspire longing for God, dependence on God, and gratitude toward God.‍
• It should be physically manageable.A good fast should feel challenging to some degree, at least at first—but that challenge should be a wise and healthy one. Be aware of your body’s needs, and ask your doctor about what you can do if you are unsure.

Many things may be different between fasts.

Within the parameters above, there is a lot of freedom to fast in a way that pushes you toward Jesus and satisfies your soul. As with all spiritual practices, our focus is not on the practice itself, but on how that practice actually deepens our relationship with God (and with other people as a result)!

‍Different rhythms and stages of life will influence how you fast. Use the following questions to better understand how to make a decision about your fasting, and use the list of fasting ideas after that for a better understanding of what your fasting could look like.

Some questions should be asked when planning a fast.

• Are there any medical reasons I cannot eliminate certain foods during my fast? Do I currently have any physical or dietary requirements/restrictions that should influence my fasting plan?
  
• Are there any close relationships that will be legitimately impacted by my fast (e.g., spouse, children, etc.)? What considerations and adjustments could be made to ensure that my fasting encourages those relationships?
  
• What is my past fasting experience, and what can I do to ensure this fast continues to expand my faith and dependence on God?
  
• Am I relying on any habits, environments, substances, or relationships to hide or help manage my current struggles and pain? How can I remove those dependencies and create space to bring those struggles and pain to God?
  
• What comforts am I turning to most frequently right now, and how can I replace those with something that drives me toward Jesus during this fast?
  
• What occupies my mind most often aside from God and his kingdom? How can I reduce or eliminate engaging with that thing during this fast, and replace those thoughts with a pursuit of Jesus?
  
• Is there any sin or negative habit I should plan to specifically and repeatedly bring to God for deliverance as I fast?
  
• Is there any relationship or circumstance I should plan to specifically and repeatedly bring to God for intervention as I fast?
  
• Do I tend to be more confident and risky when planning things, or more cautious and reluctant? How might my fasting plan need to be adjusted as a result, to ensure that I am attempting something that is both challenging and feasible?
  
• What might I need to reduce gradually prior to beginning my fast, so that I do not experience unnecessary struggle when I start?

Food Fasts

There are a few types of food fasts that you can implement:

• Water-only fast. While this is the most restrictive, it is still feasible for many people, especially when frequency and length are considered (below).
• Liquids-only fast. This eliminates all solid food but could include things like coffee, vitamin water, etc.
• Daniel fast. Adapted from Daniel 1:12 and 10:3, this fast is essentially a vegan fast that also excludes things like sweeteners, alcohol, and any form of processed food.
• Food group fast. This eliminates a certain type (or types) of food. The primary consideration with a food group fast is to ensure that it is not physically or nutritionally motivated, but instead that it is spiritually motivated and drives you toward Jesus.

In addition to the different types of food fasts, you may choose to implement these fasts at different frequencies and lengths.

• You could fast all day, or fast one or two meals each day.
• You could fast for any number of days consecutively.
• You could fast the same day or days each week for any number of weeks.

Barring legitimate medical concerns, we recommend a water-only or liquid-only fast at whatever frequency and length presents a fresh challenge to your faith.

Comfort Fasts

• Screens. This could be all screens all day, a planned thirty minutes of allowed screen time each day, screens only allowed for work-related tasks, etc.
• Entertainment. This could include television and movies, games, reading, or whatever else you tend to fill your free time with.
• Sports or other activities. This could include any sports or physical activities (such as weightlifting), done competitively or for leisure.
• Sweets. Particularly because sweets are not a necessity, this fits more as a comfort fast. Fasting sweets could mean dessert, soda, candy, or all sugary foods.‍
• Sexual intimacy. The Bible affirms periodic abstinence between married couples so they can be more devoted to prayer (1 Corinthians 7:5).

Permanent “Fasts”

As you fast some comforts, you may discover that you are content—and maybe even more satisfied—without them (or at least with less of them). This is one of the long-term benefits of fasting: not only does it drive you toward Jesus during the fast, but it can lead to a healthier and more pure life over time as you decide permanently not to return to some of the comforts you’ve fasted for a season.

You also may leverage a period of fasting to step away from sin and negative practices or habits. However, this shouldn’t be considered a fast, which eliminates things only for a period of time; we should aim to step away from these things permanently, with no intention to return!

One final thing…

Fasting is when we cut out something for a period of time so that we can intentionally and willingly experience a greater dependence and desperation toward God. What matters most is if and how you are drawing closer to Jesus. As you plan your fast, ensure that it leverages unmet appetites and desires to find greater hope and satisfaction in him!