Before you begin any fast, check your heart posture. What is your motivation? If your answer is centered around anything but basking in the presence of the Father, check yourself. This fast can’t be about you. Nothing that you do should be about you but especially this act of dedication to the ways of the Lord. This isn’t about losing weight or killing cravings. It is okay to enjoy that side effect as God calls us to value our bodies as His sanctified dwelling place. You can and should care about your overall physical health but that’s not what this is about. As Christians, we fast as an act of strengthening our spirit. Denying ourselves of our fleshly impulses to gain spiritual clarity. Everything that we do, from reading the Bible to getting up in the morning, should be Christocentric: with the intention of seeking Christ. Our goal is to become more like Christ. Fasting is a powerful tool to reconnect with the Lord, hear His voice more clearly, seek His guidance, and intercede for the people and situations around us. That being said, the Bible discusses a few different kinds of fasts that serve varying purposes centered around living out the plan of God. You do not necessarily have to choose from one of these, this is just a reference. This list has been adapted from the Fasting Journal by Christian pastor and author, Jentezen Franklin. It is linked at the end of this post.
- Seeking God’s Favor – Esther’s 3-Day Fast
Esther called the Jewish community to partake in a 3-day total deprivation fast with no food or water during a time in which their entire nation was in danger of persecution. She was asking God to intervene on their behalf by having the king, her husband, show her favor as she pleaded on behalf of her people (Esther 4).
If you are facing crisis or strife, consider Esther’s fast. Give God a chance to show up in your time of need. Many of the Biblical greats like Paul, Esther, and Daniel received deliverance from God because they fasted through their fear.
2. Gaining Focus or Clarity – Daniel’s 21-Day Fast
If you’re familiar with the story of Daniel, God brought him through life-threatening natural circumstance with supernatural deliverance. In addition, the Lord gave him the gift of visions and prophecies of the future which Daniel was able to receive and interpret because of the clarity that he gained from fasting.
Daniel’s 21-day fast would be considered a partial fast of only fruit, vegetables, and water. No pasta, bread, meat, dairy products, sweets, or any of the other kinds of foods that we would normally indulge in as comfort foods. I hear God saying that we, especially as Americans, have made an idol out of our plates. We give into gluttony as a coping mechanism when God should be our primary source of comfort. If this speaks to you, consider the Daniel fast. Return to the Lord to quell your worries and turn to praise to celebrate your victories instead of a trip to the Cheesecake Factory. In doing so, you will gain mental clarity and be able to receive communications from the Lord our God in ways that you never have before.
3. Self-Examination – The Single-Day Fast of Leviticus
Leviticus 23:27 “Be careful to celebrate the Day of Atonement on the tenth day of that same month—nine days after the Festival of Trumpets. You must observe it as an official day for holy assembly, a day to deny yourselves and present special gifts to the Lord.”
Fasting doesn’t always have to be a multiple day affair – there is a time and place for just one day of denying your flesh and presenting offerings to the Lord. You might offer your time, serving the Lord with random acts of kindness towards others or volunteering while you refrain from eating. Replace meals with praise and worship or time in the Word of God for a day. Take time during this day to ask God to reveal to you the nature of your own heart. Lord, what do I need to work towards? In what areas of my life do I not look like you? This single day fast may be especially helpful if you are new to the faith, new to fasting, or haven’t done much fasting preparation. This can be a great place to start. Consider even doing a one-day fast before a longer fast. Fast about fasting! Ask God during this day what the focus of your longer fast needs to be.
4. Preparing for War – The Fast Before a Battle
Judges 20 records a battle during which the children of Israel came up against the tribe of Benjamin. Per the Lord’s instructions, they went up to battle not once but twice, losing both times with tens of thousands of their soldiers slaughtered. Both times, they prayed and sought the Lord, receiving a “yes” to their question of “should we go now?” However; the third time they went, they went a step further – they added fasting to their prayer regimen. They fasted, offered burnt offerings, and peace offerings before the Lord (Judges 20:26). After taking this time to fast and present offerings before God, they went forth and completely obliterated their enemy.
If you know you’re facing a major battle – this fast may be for you. Maybe you’ve attempted and failed something multiple times and you’re just about ready to give up. I encourage you to try again but this time, set yourself up for success. Fast to clear your mind and strengthen your spirit so you can clearly hear God’s instructions. Demonstrate that you are seeking Him first and that you’re ready to give Him the glory when you finally see your victory.
5. Interceding for Others – A Fast for Mercy on Someone Else’s Behalf
There are a few Biblical examples of fasting on behalf of others. In Daniel Chapter 9, Daniel fasted on behalf of Israel. God revealed to him that Israel’s time of exile was ending yet Daniel was grieved because they had not truly repented before the Lord. He began an intercessory prayer pleading for the Lord’s mercy not because Israel deserved it but because God is simply merciful.
Another example of intercessory fasting can be found in David’s fasting on behalf of his ill child. 2 Samuel tells us that King David would not eat, drink, or even lift his face from the floor as he pleaded with the Lord for his son’s healing.
Is there someone in your life that needs something from God but perhaps isn’t spiritually sound enough to fast for themselves? Maybe this person needs God’s mercy for their decisions or behaviors but doesn’t recognize the error of their ways. Maybe there’s someone who needs healing in their body but doesn’t know the Lord at all. As Christians, we are called to intercede on behalf of those in need it. They may not deserve it but neither did we. Jesus was brutally beaten and crucified for OUR sinful nature. God continually showers us with blessings that we don’t deserve, and we are called to exemplify the same grace. Alternately, in light of the many tragedies going on around the world today, ask God if He requires you to fast for the nations that need supernatural intervention at this time.
6. Healing – God’s Promise to the Faithful
Isaiah 58 is undoubtedly the clearest scriptural reference for fasting. It tells us many of the benefits of fasting, one of which being that your healing will “spring forth speedily.” Feel the healing power of God come upon you during this duration of fasting. It’s amazing what can happen when you dedicate time and energy back to the Father. Maybe you don’t even know the full extent of the healing that you need – ask God what parts of your body or mind is broken in some capacity so that you can speak to each organ individually proclaiming the name of Jesus over your sickness and disease.
7. Strength from the Father and Submission to His Will – Jesus’ 40-Day Fast
Jesus recognized the importance of his ministry. He knew what was ahead of him and he was proactive in preparing by spending time denying his flesh, strengthening his spirit, and submitting to the will of God. Jesus knew that temptation was lying ahead of him and we do too. Scripture tells us time and time again that the enemy seeks to ensnare us so he can damage our connection with God and ultimately prevent us from fulfilling our God-given purpose. We have not been left to wonder whether or not we’re under attack – that part is certain. We are given ample opportunity to do what Jesus did and prepare ahead of time. We have plenty of opportunities to build our spiritual armor. Jesus showed us that there is no better way to do this than fasting.
When you read Matthew chapter 4, pay attention to not only that Jesus fasted, but what took place immediately afterward. First, he was tempted. Thankfully, he had just spent 40 days resisting fleshly temptation. He was prepared. He trained for this moment. After successfully resisting that temptation, he went on to heal the sick and publicly preach the gospel. Could it be that he was only able to do so because he’d spent 40 days doing nothing but drawing strength from God? Familiarizing himself with the Supreme Spirit that he had been modeled in the image of? Gaining a clear understanding of his own authority? Dedicating time with the Lord equips us to go forth and do his work; to be a light in the darkness without being overcome by the temptations of this world.
Please note that this is not to say you have to fast for a certain amount of time or with certain parameters to achieve particular results. You do not have to fast for 40 days to receive strength from God. Similarly, one day may not be enough to examine yourself and receive all of the correction that God needs you to receive. In fact, if you don’t take anything else from this fasting preparation guide, take this – the success of your fast will depend on whether or not it is God-led. You will receive more from a 2-hour fast than a 2-month fast if you’re doing what God has instructed you to do. Obedience is the key to success in life so as in fasting. It does you no good to fast for healing in your own body if God is actually telling you to intercede for someone else. Below are some resources that I have used to prepare for this fast but the single most important thing that you can do before we begin this time dedicated to God is just pray. Talk to Him, let Him determine your duration, goals, and parameters.
When God gives you that information, I encourage you to write it down! If you have a few friends that are embarking on this journey with you, share it with them for accountability and support. The Word tells us not to boast about fasting out of pride, but it does not always have to be an isolated event. As we see in the lives of Esther and Daniel, there is power in fasting as a collective if that is what the Lord is leading you to do. In any case, make sure that you have your parameters written down or typed out as a reference. Satan will come through and try to convince you that God changed his mind. “I know I’m fasting, but I think God just said I can have this donut” – NO HE DIDN’T!!
In any case, fast with wisdom. Don’t pass out here, okay? If you have pre-existing conditions or you start to feel sick, dizzy, faint, or ill, don’t feel like you’ve failed if you have to adjust your commitment. It is natural to feel uncomfortable (especially during the first day or two, whew!) but you shouldn’t be absolutely miserable. Use your God-given discernment.
Also, please remember that we are not perfect so mistakes will happen. Don’t get discouraged – each moment is a new opportunity to do better. Don’t let the enemy shame and guilt you into abandoning your fast. God is not mad at you. When you decide to try again, He will be celebrating your dedication no matter how many tries it takes.
Love y’all, happy fasting! – Nikki
I’ll be using this fasting guide by Jentezen Franklin.
Walking With, Like, and In Christ 
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