THINGS TO CONSIDER DURING FASTING

Fasting is a deeply spiritual discipline that aligns the heart with God’s will. It’s not simply a physical act of abstaining from food, but a sacred moment of seeking God through humility, prayer, and spiritual focus. Below are seven key principles, supported by Scripture, to guide your fast effectively:

1. Prayer Must Accompany Fasting

Fasting without prayer is incomplete. Prayer is the spiritual engine of your fast. Jesus made it clear that certain breakthroughs require both prayer and fasting.

Mark 9:29 (NIV): “He replied, ‘This kind can come out only by prayer.’”

Matthew 17:21 (KJV): “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”

Fasting intensifies our prayers. It helps us surrender our physical needs so we can become more spiritually sensitive and dependent on God. Every fasting day should be filled with intentional, heartfelt, and often extended prayer.

2. Be Quiet and Withdrawn When Possible

Fasting is a time of inward focus. Avoid distractions, social outings, and unnecessary errands. Jesus often withdrew to solitary places to pray (Luke 5:16), and we are encouraged to do the same during fasting.

Psalm 46:10 (NIV): “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Quietness enables us to listen to God more attentively and engage in deeper self-examination.

3. Guard Your Speech

The tongue must also fast. Avoid idle talk, gossip, or excessive conversation during your fast. Fasting helps us become more mindful of our words and focus on what matters most—God’s voice.

Proverbs 10:19 (NIV): “Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.”

Let your words be few, your thoughts focused, and your spirit tuned to God’s presence.

4. Abstain from Fleshly Desires

Fasting is not only from food but from all physical indulgence. Paul calls us to crucify the desires of the flesh.

Galatians 5:24 (NIV): “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Married couples may choose to abstain from sexual intimacy temporarily, as modeled in 1 Corinthians 7:5, to devote themselves more fully to prayer.

5. Don’t Replace Meals—Reduce Intake

Fasting is about sacrifice, not rescheduling. Avoid turning your fast into a feast at sunset. Eat modestly and thoughtfully when breaking your fast.

Isaiah 58:3-5 (NIV) critiques fasting with wrong motives and shows that God desires a fast that transforms the heart, not just one that manipulates meal times.

The true fast weakens the flesh but strengthens the spirit. Overeating after fasting dulls the spiritual alertness you’ve cultivated throughout the day.

6. Avoid Pleasurable Foods

Daniel practiced a partial fast where he gave up rich and pleasurable foods to humble himself before God.

Daniel 10:2–3 (NIV): “At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.”

Fasting means choosing discipline over desire. If we consume our favorite foods during a fast, we risk turning it into a moment of indulgence rather than sacrifice.

7. Keep Your Fast Private and Humble

Jesus warned against fasting for show. Spiritual disciplines should be done in secret, for the glory of God—not to gain admiration from others.

Matthew 6:16–18 (NIV):
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do… But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

If necessary, close family members or a spiritual mentor can be informed for support and accountability—but never for recognition.

Final Encouragement

Fasting is about aligning with God’s heart, not manipulating Him. The reward is not material gain, but deeper intimacy with the Father. As you fast, let it be rooted in humility, fueled by prayer, and driven by a desire to know God more fully.