fasting FOR CONNECTION

You connect with God through fasting. When you deny your flesh and feed your spirit, you feel closest to God. When you fast, you are resetting your appetite on the things of the Spirit. This spiritual discipline awakens your sensitivity to hear God’s voice, see what He wants to show you and be led into the things He is calling you to. Fasting creates a supernatural faith and a spiritual strength. You intentionally withhold your desires to draw closer to God. Fasting is not just abstaining, but it is filling yourself up with the things of God. Like Daniel, you are resolved to not be filled with things of the world, but full of the Holy Spirit. When you intentionally withhold (whether it is entertainment, social media, food, etc.), you are able to set distractions aside to fully lean into what God is saying in clarity. There are multiple ways you can fast including:

• Water Only Fast (Jesus, Moses, Elijah)

• Partial Fast (Daniel)

• Full Fast (Esther)

• Liquid Fast (Juice)

• Intimacy Fast for Married Couples (1 Corinthians 7:5)

• Corporate Fast (All Israel)

• Anything Fast (TV, Social Media, Spending, etc. Whatever the Lord puts on your heart to fast.)

• Weekly, Monthly, Yearly Fasts

• Be obedient, but also wise in your fasting! You can learn to grow in fasting whether it’s meals, days, weekends, weeks, or extended fasts.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITES FOR YOUR FASTING JOURNEY

Ask yourself, “What do I need to give up to connect with God?” “What is keeping me from a deeper connection with God?”

Ask the Lord what to name your fast and what to expect. Put a demand of faith on your fast!

Ask God what to fast (food, media, entertainment, etc.) and reset your appetite to hunger and thirst for Jesus.

Ask God how long you are supposed to fast.

Keep a fasting journal. Document what you are praying about, what you are hearing God say, and the breakthroughs that happen after the fast.

SCRIPTURE THAT SUPPORTS FASTING

This happened when I was on the mountain receiving the tablets of stone inscribed with the words of the covenant that the Lord had made with you. I was there for forty days and forty nights, and all that time I ate no food and drank no water. 10 The Lord gave me the two tablets on which God had written with his own finger all the words he had spoken to you from the heart of the fire when you were assembled at the mountain.

11 “At the end of the forty days and nights, the Lord handed me the two stone tablets inscribed with the words of the covenant.

— Deuteronomy 9:9-11

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”

— Esther 4: 15-16

21 And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen[a] to accompany us and protect us from enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king, “Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him.” 23 So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer.

— Ezra 8:21-23

Other: Psalm 16:11, Psalm 40, Isaiah 40, Isaiah 58, The Book of Daniel, Matthew 4:1-11, Matthew 6, Matthew 9:14-17, Matthew 17, Luke 4, Galatians 5

ENCOURAGEMENT

Without prayer, it’s just a diet. While you are withholding entertainment, social media or food, be intentional about filling yourself up with the Lord through prayer, worship and reading your Bible. It is not a fast unless you lean into your daily personal encounters with God. Jesus was tempted when He was fasting. This is why it is important that we daily encounter Him while we fast. Take time to be with the Lord outside of your typical discipline and agendas for no other reason than to be with Him and to hear what is on His heart. Don’t allow shame to settle in if you break your fast before it’s over—you can restart and keep going! Jesus responded to attacks from the enemy with the Word of God. When you fast, fill yourself up with His Word. Be cautious of boasting while you are fasting, but if someone asks if you are fasting you can answer. Don’t be weird about it! Pursue humility while you fast, because fasting opens doors that no man can open. Jesus began His ministry by fasting. Fasting gives you access to His throne, and breakthrough comes after the fast.

Make your commitment

Pray about the kind of fast you should undertake. Before you fast, we encourage you to partner with God first and decide the type of fast you will undertake and how much time each day you will devote to prayer & reading His Word. Making these commitments ahead of time will help sustain your fast.

fasting safely

As you begin your fast, you may hear from concerned loved ones and friends who urge you to protect your health…and, they are right. It would help if you protected your health. We want to encourage you that if done properly, fasting will not only prove to be a spiritual blessing but a physical blessing as well.

You may have a physical problem that would make fasting unwise or dangerous. If that is the case, include your doctor in your decision on how to fast. Also, if you are under any type of medication, you may want to talk with your doctor before changing your regime.

fasting and eating disorders

If you have struggled with an eating disorder, the situation is a battle that you can win through Christ (Philippians 4:13). If your method of fasting is going to cause you to obsess about what you eat in any way, you will either need to change your approach or your mindset. If giving up food is a stumbling block to you, then consider the other ways of fasting that have been mentioned that do not include food. There are many distractions and things that we use to stay in control that we could eliminate from our daily routine that does not include food.

Ask the Lord, He will help you.

Why should you fast?

Prayer with fasting was an expected discipline in both the Old & New Testament eras. The Bible records at least two occasions when Moses fasted for 40 days. Jesus also fasted 40 days and reminded His followers to fast as well. He said, “when you fast” not “if you fast.”

Fasting with prayer can restore your “first love” Jesus Christ & result in a more intimate relationship with Him. It is a Biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). King David said, “I humble myself through fasting.”

Prayer with Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal the true spirit condition of the human hearts, resulting in exposing wounds, unforgiveness & brokenness, leading to repentance and a transformed life. It increases our love for God’s Word & God’s Presence.

Prayer WITH fasting defined

Prayer with Fasting partners us with Jesus and his desire for us to be one with Him and the Father. When we give up food for a time to focus and connect with Jesus, we obey Jesus’ declaration, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every words that comes from the Father.” We receive power from Holy Spirit as we rely on Him during prayer with fasting. 

“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every words that comes from the Father.”

- Matthew 4:4

Types of fasts DEFINED

Daniel Fast

The Daniel fast is probably one of the most commonly referred to fasts; however, within the Daniel fast there is room for broad interpretation. Daniel 1 states that he ate only vegetables and water. In Daniel 10, it states that he ate no rich (or choice) foods, as well as no red meat or wine. So, based on these two verses, we can see that either of these or combinations of the two, constitute a Daniel fast.

Steps to Complete the Daniel Fast

Step 1: Be Specific

Daniel was not vague in his objection to the Babylonian diet—he defined the problem immediately:

- The king’s food was against dietary laws.

- Daniel and his friends had vowed not to drink wine.

- The king’s food had been offered to idols and demons.

Step 2: Fast as a Spiritual Commitment

The Daniel Fast is rooted in a deep spiritual commitment to God. “Daniel proposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8).

Step 3: Reflect Inner Desire with Outer Discipline

Many of us desire better health, but discipline often stands in the way. The physical health you seek through fasting may be more than just an answer to prayer—it is linked to choices and commitments:

Food choices: Avoid foods that hinder health.

Spiritual commitment: Maintain constant prayer throughout the fast.

Time commitment: If you commit to a certain length of time, follow through (e.g., fasting for 10 days means not stopping on Day 9).

Testimony commitment: Your fast is a declaration of faith that you trust God to heal and restore. Faith is foundational to the Daniel Fast.

Step 4: Pray to Perceive Sin’s Role in Poor Health

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms” (James 5:13-16).

Sin may be connected to sickness.

Poor health can result from rebellion or wrong intake (e.g., harmful substances).

Repentance can open the door to healing.

Elders have a role in both spiritual and physical restoration.

Prayer, repentance, and faith are essential to health.

Step 5: Fast as a Statement of Faith to Others

Daniel’s request for only vegetables and water was a bold statement of faith. He trusted God to honor his obedience and was confident others would see the results.

Step 6: Learn the Effects of the Food You Eat

Take time to understand how food impacts your body. When you recognize the effects of unhealthy food, it becomes easier to say no and honor God with your choices.

Step 7: Yield All Results to God

Daniel’s approach was humble: “As you see fit, deal with your servants” (Daniel 1:13). Trust God with the results of your fast, knowing He is faithful.

Food Guidelines for the Daniel Fast

Daniel 1:12: “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.”

Daniel 10:3 KJV: “I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”

When fasting, if you have questions about specifics, seek the Lord in prayer and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your decisions. Let your fast be an act of worship and surrender, trusting God to lead you every step of the way.

Juice Fast

A Juice fast is simply consuming vegetable/fruit juices and water instead of solid food. Many people include whey protein in their liquid plan as well. Even if you choose not to make your entire fast liquids only, substituting one or two meals for liquids could be a great alternative.

Specific Food or Meal Fast

In this type of fast you omit a specific item(s) from your meal plans. For example, you may choose to eliminate all red meat, processed/fast food, or sweets. This fast can also be a great solution for people with specific dietary needs or medical conditions that may cause certain limitations.

Entertainment Fast

While fasting typically refers to refraining from specific food items, you may also find it extremely beneficial to fast from a certain regular activity or certain habits. This might include things such as television, social media, and the like.