Fasting is voluntary abstaining from food (or other things) for a spiritual purpose. Jesus assumed his followers would fast — 'when ye fast' (Matthew 6:16), not 'if.' Fasting is biblical, ancient, and practiced by Christians of every tradition. This guide explains how to fast in a way that honors God and serves real spiritual purposes.
Fasting appears throughout the Bible. Moses fasted forty days at Sinai (Exodus 34:28). Daniel fasted while seeking God (Daniel 9-10). Esther fasted before approaching the king (Esther 4:16). Jesus fasted forty days in the wilderness (Matthew 4). The early church fasted before major decisions (Acts 13:2-3, 14:23). Jesus assumed fasting (Matthew 6:16-18; 9:14-15) and warned against making it a show.
Total fast (no food, water only) — short duration (24-72 hours typical). Partial fast (Daniel fast — vegetables and water only). Skipping meals (one meal, one day) — easiest for beginners. Non-food fasts (media, entertainment) — also biblical in principle.
Fasting without purpose is just dieting. Common biblical purposes: seeking God's guidance (Acts 13:2-3), repentance (Joel 2:12), spiritual warfare (Matthew 17:21), interceding for someone (Esther 4:16), drawing near to God.
Pregnant, nursing, diabetic, or chronically ill people should consult a doctor before fasting from food. Modify accordingly. God honors a heart of fasting more than the form.
Fasting is fueled by prayer. Use mealtime hunger as a prayer prompt. Read Scripture you might normally skip. Be quiet. Listen.
Even on a 'total' fast, drink water. Long fasts without water are dangerous. Don't endanger your body to prove spiritual seriousness.
Jesus' command (Matthew 6:17-18) — 'when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face... that thou appear not unto men to fast.' Don't broadcast it. Fast for God, not applause.
See Matthew 6:17-18 →Don't end a fast with a feast. Begin with light foods — broth, fruit, simple meals. Let your body re-adjust. Spiritual exit matters too — give thanks, journal what God did.
Biblical fasting is voluntary abstaining from food (or other things) for a spiritual purpose — usually combined with prayer. It appears throughout Scripture (Moses, Daniel, Esther, Jesus, the early church). Jesus assumed his followers would fast (Matthew 6:16 — 'when,' not 'if'). The point is not the food but the spiritual seeking.
Begin small — skipping one meal, then one day. Longer fasts (3 days, 7 days, 21 days like Daniel) are possible but should be approached with prayer and care. Forty-day fasts like Moses, Elijah, and Jesus are extreme and biblically rare. Most Christians fast for a meal, a day, or a few days.
Yes — most Christian fasts include water. A 'water-only fast' is total abstinence from food while drinking water. Drinking water is wise even on the strictest fasts — dehydration is dangerous. Some 'absolute fasts' in the Bible (Esther 4:16) excluded water, but only briefly.
Matthew 6:16-18 — 'when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites... when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast.' Jesus assumed his followers would fast (Matthew 9:14-15) but warned against making it a religious show. Fast for God, in secret, with a heart seeking him.