A Guide
To Fasting
What Fasting Is (and Isn’t) in the Christian Life
Christian fasting is the intentional giving up of something good in order to seek God more fully. The goal of fasting, therefore, is to turn ourselves away from worldly things and set our hearts and minds fully on the Lord. At its core, fasting is about humility, repentance, prayer, and dependence on God.
Fasting is not a way to manipulate God or coerce him to hear and answer our prayers. Nor is it a shortcut to Christian maturity or a form of spiritual self-punishment. Rather, fasting acknowledges our complete dependence on God. It increases our hunger for him and awakens us to the reality that we are often driven by our fleshly desires and appetites. Through fasting, we are humbled and made more aware of our deep need to rely on God for everything.
Types of Christian Fasts
Fasting is most commonly understood as abstaining from food, and Scripture most often presents food-related fasting as the primary expression of this spiritual discipline. However, fasting from food may not be practical or wise for everyone. Thankfully, there are many other faithful ways to practice fasting beyond abstaining from food.
The following are several different ways to fast, including abstaining from food, or other things.
Food-Related Fasts
A full fast involves abstaining from all food while continuing to drink water. This type of fast is typically short-term, often lasting one to three days, unless undertaken with medical supervision. Because of its physical demands, this type of fast should be approached with prayerful discernment and caution. Depending on circumstances, it might be wise to seek advice from a medical professional before engaging in a full fast from food.
A partial fast limits food intake rather than eliminating it entirely. This often includes eating simple foods while avoiding sweets, meat, and rich or indulgent foods. Partial fasts are commonly practiced for longer periods, such as seven to twenty-one days, and allow for sustained focus without complete deprivation.
A meal fast consists of skipping one meal per day or one meal per week. This is an excellent option for those new to fasting, as it introduces the discipline in a manageable way. Skipping a meal creates intentional space for prayer and reflection without placing significant physical strain on the body.
An intermittent fast involves eating only within a designated time window, such as during daylight hours. This approach can pair well with established daily prayer rhythms and helps cultivate regular moments of dependence on God throughout the day.
Non-Food Fasts
Non-food fasts can be just as spiritually meaningful, especially when it is not wise or possible to fast from food.
A media or entertainment fast involves stepping away from television, streaming services, gaming, or social media. This kind of fast replaces constant noise and distraction with silence and prayer, often revealing how media and entertainment keep us from having a meaningful spiritual connection with God.
A technology fast limits the use of phones, specific apps, email, or news consumption. By reducing digital engagement, this fast helps reclaim attention, presence, and awareness of God.
A comfort fast involves giving up something pleasurable, such as coffee, sweets, shopping, or listening to music in the car. This type of fast exposes subtle dependencies and invites us to find our comfort and satisfaction more fully in God.
How to Fast Well: Practical Strategies
Before a Fast:
Take time to pray about what to fast from and how long the fast should last.
Set a clear purpose for the fast, even if that purpose is simple, such as seeking greater attentiveness to God or deeper dependence on him.
Choose something to give up that actually costs you, rather than something that is easy to relinquish.
Plan intentionally how you will use the time and space you gain through fasting so that it is filled with prayer, Scripture, or quiet reflection. Time gained from fasting should not simply be left empty or filled with the regular things of life.
During a fast:
Focus on replacement rather than mere removal. When hunger, desire, or discomfort arises, allow those moments to prompt prayer, reading Scripture, or sitting quietly before God.
Expect some level of discomfort, as this is a natural and formative part of fasting and often reveals what our hearts rely on most.
Keep the fast mostly private, in accordance with Jesus’ instruction in Matthew 6:17–18, resisting the urge to draw attention to your sacrifice.
Journaling can also be helpful during this time, allowing you to notice and reflect on what surfaces emotionally and spiritually throughout the fast.
After a fast:
Be intentional about how you conclude it. Break the fast gently, especially when fasting from food, and allow your body time to readjust.
Take time to reflect on what God revealed to you and what may have shifted in your heart or habits.
Finally, seek to carry forward what you learned. Remember that fasting is not meant to be an isolated spiritual exercise, but a discipline that shapes and informs daily life.
Physical Cautions About Fasting
Before beginning a fast from food, it is important to consult a physician if you have any medical conditions that could be affected. Fasting from food is not advised for those who have a history of eating disorders, are pregnant or nursing, or have certain medical conditions such as diabetes.
Also, it is usually not recommended for children and young teens to engage in food-related fasts. In these situations, non-food fasts are fully valid and are often the wiser and healthier option. If at any point fasting leads to mental or emotional instability, the fast should be stopped, and guidance or counsel should be sought.
Fasting as a Family Discipline
Fasting can be a meaningful practice not only for individuals, but also for families and couples who desire to seek God together. When approached thoughtfully, shared fasting helps create unity, reinforces spiritual priorities, and invites God into the rhythms of daily life.
For families with children, this often means choosing a fast that is age-appropriate and life-giving rather than burdensome. An entertainment fast—such as limiting television, video games, or personal screen time—can be especially effective when the whole household participates together. Replacing that time with shared prayer, Scripture reading, conversation, or simple activities like walks or games helps children understand that fasting is not merely about giving something up, but about making more room for God and one another.
For couples, fasting together can deepen spiritual intimacy and connection. Choosing a shared fast, setting a clear purpose, and praying regularly throughout the fast fosters mutual encouragement and accountability. Couples might fast from media, certain comforts, or specific habits that distract from attentiveness to God and to each other. As discomfort or restlessness arises, it becomes an opportunity to pray together, listen, and grow in dependence on God together.
Simple Steps to Get Started
Begin by determining what kind of fast you will implement, considering what is most appropriate and sustainable for your current season of life. Next, decide on the length and frequency of the fast, whether that means fasting for twelve, twenty-four, or thirty-six hours, or maybe skipping one meal per day over the course of a week. As you prepare, set clear and prayerful goals for the fast. Keep the focus on seeking God rather than simply completing the discipline.
If you want an easy on-ramp, consider skipping one meal this week and using that time to pray to the Lord and meditate on his Word. As you do, ask God a simple but honest question: “What do I need to rely on you more?” This alone is more than enough to begin.
As you enter this season of prayer and fasting, remember that fasting is not about perfection, endurance, or earning God’s attention. It is about drawing near to God who will draw near to you. Whether your fast feels small or significant, God honors hearts that seek him with humility and trust. As you create space through fasting, trust that God will meet you there, gently reshaping your desires, renewing your dependence on him, and awakening a deeper hunger for his presence. May this practice lead not only to a more focused Week of Prayer, but to a life increasingly marked by attentiveness, surrender, and joyful reliance on the faithfulness of God.
Additional Resources
For more information and help with fasting, consider these articles from cru.org: