Fasting is a common practice in Christianity. When Jesus was talking with His disciples He taught them about fasting. It was expected that His disciples would fast (Matthew 6:16-18). Here are some tips for fasting.
Plan Your Fast
The Bible has examples of one-day, three-day, seven-day and forty-day fasts (Judges 20:26, Esther 4:16, 1 Samuel 31:17 and Matthew 4 respectively). You should enter your fast with prayer and a
There are various types of fasts as well. Some people fast with only water for short periods, while others maintain multi-week fasts with juice and broth maintaining a strict liquid diet. Both are valid. You simply need to decide what is right for your body and your purposes.
Part of planning your fast should be to educate yourself on different types of fasts and reasons to fast. It is also important to know how to break your fast properly. This becomes more critical the longer your fast lasts.
Consider Your Schedule
While a fast, by nature, is inconvenient, it should be an inconvenience to you—not to those around you. You should not obligate your family to skip Christmas dinner because of your fast. This takes away the personal nature of fasting.
Tell Only the People You Must
Your spouse will need to know you are fasting. Beyond that, you would be better off not telling many people that you are fasting. Most won’t understand. Fasting can also become a source of pride and boasting as you spread the news to more and more people.
Telling your pastor can be a help both to you and to him. It will be an encouragement for him to pray more specifically for you during this time. And you will know that someone is praying for your spiritual and physical well being.
Wean Yourself Off Caffeine
Several days before your fast begins, you should start weaning yourself off caffeine. Some people experience unbearable headaches 2 to 3 days after ceasing to drink caffeinated products. During your fast you will already be acutely aware of your stomach. There is no need to add a second discomfort if it can be avoided.
Avoid Media
Disconnecting from TV, radio, newspapers and the Internet can help you stay focused on your purpose for fasting. You will be less tempted by the constant bombardment of advertising as you become physically and emotionally challenged. Avoiding media will give you more time to focus on the Lord and His Word.
Disconnect from people
Fasting is not necessarily a vacation, though dedicating time off and away from people during your fast can help you get the most benefit out of this precious time. Leave your email and cellphone behind. If possible, find someone who can cover your responsibilities at work and ministry. Many people fast and still carry on their normal daily activities. But if you can get away, it will give you more time in quietness and stillness with the lord.
Beware of Your Emotions
Some people experience vast mood swings during a fast. One moment they are totally focused on God and the next they are wallowing in pity. Knowing that this is likely to happen will help you react properly. Learning to refocus on God and His goodness during this tough emotional time will help when your fast is over and you experience similar emotions.
Rest
Laziness is a problem that the Bible speaks against, but most of us today suffer from being too busy and not getting the rest we need. If you disconnect from the media and other people you will have extra time allowing you to get a full night’s sleep. During your fast you will be forced to slow down since you won’t be needing long meal breaks. A fast will reveal to you that you have too many activities and busyness in your day-to-day routine.
Stay Physically Active
You should take time to rest but this does not mean you should do nothing. Enjoy a walk in God’s creation. Outside of His Word, His creation is one of the best ways that God has revealed Himself to us.
Be Still and Focus on God
Fasting is a time to study God’s Word, meditate and pray. To help with this, plan a specific Bible passage or topic you want to study during your fast. Look for verses you want to memorize and meditate upon. Fasting by Jesus and the disciples was always accompanied by prayer. Spend time talking to God and allowing Him to reveal Himself to you in His Word.
Have you been on a fast before? Share your fasting tips or experiences in the comments!
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David, this is especially superb. I particularly loved the media fasting portion. This is something that I need to take to heart personally and you’ve given me some new ideas in which to fast. Well done.
That’s wonderful! I enjoyed thinking through this and putting together these tips. I hope it helps many others.
Well I am Teen who is going into a fast for my desire of a Job that I want. But reading through other website and discovering this one, I have realize that I am not only praying for what I want but also by keeping to the concept of my Praising God.
This will be my first time making that decision of me fasting on my own, but I have fast before like a day with my church group. It is only a two day fast. In today’s world we are distracted by so many worldly things and the temptations are growing stronger as the return of Jesus Christ. Satan wants to gather his army and he is targeting the youth, people like me. I am thankful of me getting this site and coming upon scripture to meditate on while I am in fasting mode.
Thank you Natalia. We are thankful for your finding this site too and we certainly hope you can return again soon. I believe that fasting is a great way to engage in fighting spiritual warfare. I love your comment about meditating on scripture while you are in the fasting mode. Great idea. Very effective I would imagine. Please come back to visit us again soon.
Wow am just so inspired by all de comments u guys hve mde,am i hve learned a lot from all ur comments#remain blessed#
I fasted a year ago when I was 11 years old and I’m doing it again tomorrow which is ash wednesday and I fast for the day on only water… By around 4:00pm I start feeling funny but it’s worth it.
30-day Fast! I started doing a study on fasting in the mid 90′s because I wanted to go on an extended fast, but I didn’t want to fail. As I studied and learned what happens with your body during extended fasts. I am a Christian, so Imy desire was religious, and I asked Father God if I could go on a 30-day fast. Please note that at the time, I did not work, I was a stay-at-home mom. So, I do not recommend this if you are working to fast this long. In the beginning of my practicing fasting, I started with 1 day, and progressed up to 7 days. Once I got my release from Father God that I could do the 30-day fast it was on. I learned as the article states above to wean from caffine, and I also stopped all sugar too prior to fasting. Both of these non-food items can cause you to turn around and not ever want to fast again! You have to get this out of your system to avoid the horrible headaches and mood swings, and complete your goal. Also, I found that after day three of my fast, that I no longer got hunger pangs. Also, I did need to rest my body, but not to sleep the fast away as I did when I first began fasting. LOL! Seeing, smelling or being around food was not a prolem any longer after the 3rd day, and I was also able to cook for my family without tasting the food the entire time. That was totally with God’s help, because my kids would ask me, “mom, when are you going on another fast again?”, because they said that the food tasted better when I fasted!!! Energy came back after a week or so and I was able to do everything I was doing prior to fasting. When it came time to break the fast after the 30th day, I did not want to eat. Nothing looked good, smelled good, or sounded good to eat. I also knew that I had to break the fast correctly to awaken my digestive system, so I began with juice and broth, then moved up to vegetable soups and crackers and advanced until I could eat what I was eating prior to fasting. From that experience and others, I became a vegetarian in January of 2010, and just this year 2012, I added fish back into my diet. I now also fast once a week which I began in June of 2011. It’s a great life not to be a slave to food!
Sheila, thank you for your comments. I know the additional information you provided will be a help to others.
Fasting starting today for my Lord! I am to fast until Sunday Morning (Easter) Only water. I’m very skinny as it is and i already feel a little funny and it’s only been 5 hours. I’m in constant prayer for the Lord to help me stay strong as I fast for Him. (5’7 110 pounds)
Please pray!
will I’m from Eritrea and I’m fasting I started from January to April the 15. is really good, a little though antile you get used to
Thank you for this precious nuggets of information. I am undertaking my longest fast and felt very challenged today. Your article has helped me to see the traps I have opened myself up to (media etc) and I now feel much more empowered to stay focused and strong – bless you
Just as the bible says “I will never leave those who seek me”.Fasting is one thing telling God how great He is.then his greatness will be poured to those seeking Him
wow thank u so much for all the tips cause i have been fasting but realized after reading this,that i have not been doing it the right way. so thank u very much
I am starting my fasting today, this is the first time i’ll be fasting. i just pray that i survive through the awesome time i will be spending with God, and that i please Him with this. i am fasting until friday.
After reading these tips i really feel empowered to continue my fast, and do it the right way. These tips really helped me out. I was really struggling, but now i have te tools to make it to the end. Thank You…
I ve been planing to fast 4my whole life its been hard,but after reading on this site I ve learned a lot I’m facing tough situation which God has told me many times to fast but I ddnt so now I understand ill start my fasting on wensday to friday.my question is can I fast for 7hours in a day which I belive seven is da number of perfection,drinking water only?
Hello Phindile. There is no time limit on fasting. You can fast for 7 hours and water is fine…but if you have diabetes or another medical condition, please, please contact your doctor before fasting. The Bible doesn’t specify how long a fast is…Jesus said, “When you fast” but He didn’t say how long to fast. I would start small like 7 hours and work up slowly at first. But again, let your doctor know what you are doing.
That is a wonderful point Jack. Jesus assumes we will fast based on the statements He gives, but there is no assumption or requirement of a particular length of time for a fast.
I have read than Jews fast from sunrise to sunset. Are we to do that too? Also, how does that work for 3rd shifters? I work 3rd shift and sleep from about 9am-5pm. That doesn’t really seem like a fast since I’m alseep for most of it. Should I just fast while I’m at work?
Great question Kelley. I do admire your desire to fast and there is no set time limit that I know of in the Bible for when or how long to fast. Fasting at work might be difficult if your job performance is affected or you have to do work that might risk your safety. If you want to fast during sleep, that’s fine, just fast up until the time you go to work and eat just before you go to work. That would be about 14-15 hours but, I am guessing since I don’t know when you start (12 am?).
Again, consult your doctor first or at least call her or him and tell them what you are going to do. Diabetics of course must take special precaution and many people can fast and drink water only. Again, there are no specific times or hours mentioned in the Bible. God bless you my friend.