Fasting is one of the oldest practices in the Bible and one of the least understood today. At its simplest, it means voluntarily giving something up — usually food, for a set time — in order to seek God more intently. Here's a plain guide.
What it is (and isn't)
Fasting is not a hunger strike to twist God's arm, and it's not a diet with a spiritual label. It's a way of saying, with your body and not just your words, God, I want you more than this. The empty space — the hunger — becomes a prompt to turn to him.
Jesus assumed his followers would fast. Notice he says "when you fast," not "if."
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance... But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret.
Matthew 6:16-18
Why Christians fast
- To seek God in a season of decision, need, or hunger for him.
- To pray with intensity over something that matters deeply.
- To loosen a grip — to feel how much we lean on comfort, and lean on God instead.
- To grieve or repent, as God's people often did in Scripture.
How to start, gently
- Begin small. Skip one meal, or fast from breakfast to dinner. You don't have to start with days.
- Replace the time with prayer. This is the point — when hunger hits, turn it into a prayer. A fast without prayer is just going hungry.
- Consider other kinds of fasts. Food is traditional, but you can fast from social media, screens, or another habit that crowds God out.
- Keep it quiet. Jesus warns against making it a show. This is between you and God.
- Drink water, and use wisdom. Stay hydrated, and break your fast gently.
However you begin, remember the aim. Fasting isn't about the food. It's about God — using a small, felt emptiness to make room for the One who fills it.
Lord, I want to want you more than I want comfort. As I set this aside for a time, meet me. Let my hunger turn into hunger for you. Amen.