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QUICK START
GUIDE TO FASTING
When you fast…
Matthew 6:16a
“Some have exalted religious fasting
beyond all scripture and reason; and
others have utterly disregarded it.”
John Wesley
“It was not Christ’s intention to reject or
despise fasting…it was His intention to
restore proper fasting.”
Martin Luther
1As you can imagine, the topic of fasting is not without its baggage. Throughout the
centuries, people of many different faiths have used and abused the practice to serve
their own purposes. Even in the time of Christ, we see that Jesus has to instruct the
Jewish people on the proper practices and motivations surrounding the discipline of
fasting (See Matthew 6:16-18). As a result, it is with great caution that we embark on
the task of writing this guide. Much of what we will write in the pages that follow will
be practical. Although the Bible describes how people fasted along with the proper
motivations surrounding the activity, it is largely silent on all the practicalities that
surround the discipline. It is important, therefore, to note that the suggestions in this
guide are simply that – our suggestions. We encourage you to spend some time with
God praying through how you specifically will practice the discipline of fasting
throughout the 30 days of Awaken 2021.
Questions for Reflection:
1. Have you ever participated in a fast before? What was your biggest takeaway?
What was your biggest struggle?
2. As you prepare for the 30 days of fasting with Awaken 2021, what are your
biggest fears/concerns?
3. Pray asking God to speak to you as you prepare to enter a season of fasting.
2WHAT IS FASTING?
Throughout scripture, fasting refers to abstaining from food for spiritual purposes.
Elmer Towns, the co-founder of Liberty University, defines fasting as “a non-required
spiritual discipline, where you can alter your diet for a spiritual reason and accompany
the experience with prayer.”
WHAT FASTING IS NOT
Throughout history, men and women have used fasting for many different reasons,
many of which aren’t Biblical. Fasting is never about gaining power as has been seen in
hunger strikes used to manipulate individuals or governments to action. Fasting is also
not a weight loss regimen or diet plan. Fasting in scripture always accompanies prayer
and is used as a way to connect with God for a particular season or with a particular
purpose in mind.
AM I COMMANEDED TO FAST?
Fasting is a spiritual discipline. When Jesus addresses the topic of fasting in the Sermon
on the Mount, it is in the direct context of prayer and giving. It is as if he is implying that
the three are going to be a part of Kingdom devotion. Additionally, in that passage Jesus
states, “When you fast,” (Matthew 6:6a), not “If you fast”. It seems to be assumed that
fasting should be a part of Christian devotion. Like other spiritual disciplines, fasting is
not a requirement of following Jesus, but a tool at our disposal which can be leveraged
for following Jesus.
3HOW SHOULD I FAST?
We will focus on four common ways of fasting. A fifth way of fasting, the absolute fast,
involves abstaining from food and water completely. Although there are examples of
this in scripture (Esther 4:16, Acts 9:9, Deut.9:9) it is not recommended that anyone
participate in an absolute fast for more than three days and only after consulting a
physician. Since Awaken 2021 is a movement of prayer and fasting covering 30 days,
this type of fast is not advised.
-------------------- FOUR WAYS OF FASTING --------------------
1. TOTAL FAST
A total fast is a fast that eliminates food but not water or other beverages. Some participants
choose to drink simply water, while others will drink coffee, fruit drinks, or even Boost or
Ensure. Your inclusion of certain liquids is between you and God. If you choose this particular
fast, prayerfully consider the limits, and then stick to them. Luke 4:2
2. PARTIAL FAST
Sometimes referred to as a Daniel Fast, this fast eliminates certain foods, but not all food. You
may choose to eliminate meat, or other foods you enjoy in an effort to turn your heart more
deeply to God. Daniel 1
3. MINOR FAST
Sometimes referred to as a Jewish Fast, this fast requires you to abstain from food for a certain
period of time. During certain festivals, the Jews would fast from sunup to sundown. If you
choose this fast, you may decide to abstain from food for one day a week, one meal a day, or
during certain hours.
4. COMFORT FAST
Also called a Soul Fast, this fast eliminates something other than food. Although strictly
speaking, biblical fasting only refers to abstaining from food, this option can be beneficial if you
have limitations due to your health or if you are aware that some other comfort has control
over your life. In this particular fast, you may choose to abstain from electronics, social media,
television or some other item. 1 Corinthians 7:5
4STARTING WELL
Now that we have discussed some biblical examples of fasting, let’s look at some
practical suggestions for starting well.
1. DETERMINE THE PURPOSE OF YOUR FAST
Begin by praying and asking God to help you with the specific reason for your fast. As a
part of Awaken 2021, we believe that God has asked us to pray and fast on behalf of our
neighbors. We believe that God wants to bring revival and awakening to the lives of
many in our region.
2. CHOOSE YOUR FAST
You will need to make some decisions regarding the type and parameters of your fast.
Type of Fast Total Fast
Partial Fast
Minor Fast
Comfort Fast
Parameters of the fast (please fill in the blank with details)
A portion of every day _________________________________
A full day every week _________________________________
A particular type of food _______________________________
A particular comfort __________________________________
Other ______________________________________________
53. PLAN FOR YOUR FAST
PREPARE YOURSELF
Check with your doctor. Make sure you are physically fit enough to engage in your
chosen fast.
PREPARE YOUR BODY
No matter what kind of fast you choose, it will require some adjustments to your
body’s schedule. Drink plenty of water and avoid the urge to overeat in the days
leading up to your fast.
PREPARE FOR TEMPTATION
Plan what you will do when you feel the urge to eat (or engage in the activities you
are fasting from). What will you do when your family is eating dinner? What will you
do when you feel hungry? Perhaps you can use that time to pray or have spiritual
conversations with others around you.
PREPARE THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU
Establish accountability. Typically fasting is an activity that is between you and God
and should be kept private. However, there are some biblical examples of corporate
or public fasting (2 Chron. 20:1-4; Ezra 8:21-23, etc.) Awaken 2021 is a group fast
calling our community to prayer and fasting for spiritual renewal. As a result, there
will be many people around you fasting in similar ways. Find one or two who can
check in on you and hold you accountable to your commitments. You may also want
to prepare your family so that their lives are disrupted as little as possible. You want
to communicate to your children that fasting is a blessing from the Lord, not a
burden to endure.
64. STICK WITH IT AND EXERCISE GRACE
Quite simply you will face many opportunities to break your fast once you get started.
Jesus would warn us against making false promises. In the same sermon where he
discusses fasting, Jesus would teach his followers that our yes should be yes, and our no
should be no (Matthew 5:37). When you feel the urge to give up, spend some time in
prayer and engage with an accountability partner.
All of that having been said, if you do give in to your hunger, do not let yourself quit.
Dave Clayton, the author of the book Revival Starts Here states, “Fasting is an exercise in
grace – so be sure to give yourself some.” When you were learning to ride a bike for the
first time or when you were figuring out how to throw a curve ball, or perform the
perfect plié, you didn’t give up just because you failed a few times at first. The same
should be true for fasting. If you make a mistake and give in to your urges, don’t beat
yourself up. Instead spend some time in prayer and start again!
7PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR A DAY OF FASTING
(Taken from Revival Starts Here by Dave Clayton)
SUGGESTIONS FOR MORNING
How you begin your day will often set the tone for the rest of it.
• Begin your day in praise and worship.
• Read and meditate on God’s Word.
• Invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart and life.
• Invite God to use you to influence your family, workplace, neighborhood, and
world.
• Ask God to give you his vision for your life.
• Ask God to empower you to do his will.
MIDDDAY SUGGESTIONS
The lunch hour is a significant time of day. With a little bit of intentionality, this can
become something you look forward to (and not merely survive) during your fast.
• Return to God in prayer and Scripture.
• Take a short prayer walk.
• Spend a few moments in silence reflecting on God’s goodness.
• Use your lunch hour to meet up with others with whom you are fasting to pray,
worship, and set your hearts on God together.
EVENING SUGGESTIONS
Finally, the way you end your day will set the tone for the next one.
• Spend some unhurried time with God without the pressures or constraints of
work or school.
• Meet up or video chat with others who are fasting for a time of prayer and
encouragement.
• Avoid or limit outside distractions such as television or social media.
• Spend some time on your knees in prayer with your spouse, children, or
roommates.
8FASTING WITH YOUR KIDS
(Taken from Revival Starts Here by Dave Clayton)
Fasting can be an incredible way to experience God’s presence in the life of your family.
START BY TALKING ABOUT IT
Explain to your kids what fasting is, why you are doing it, and for how long you’ll be
doing it. Mealtimes can be an easy opportunity to share what God is doing in your heart
because your kids will notice you are not eating. Share the blessings you’re
experiencing and not simply the burdens you might be feeling.
PREPARE AHEAD
One of the most challenging aspects of fasting as a family is that often the parents must
still prepare meals for the kids who are eating. You can eliminate some of the struggle
of food prep by planning ahead, or at the very least sharing the load as a couple to avoid
both the temptation of eating and the time constraints that come with preparing a meal
for others.
INVITE THEM IN
Invite your kids to pray about whether they would like to fast with you. When your kids
see you fasting and hear about the blessings you are experiencing with the Lord, they
may ask to join you in the fast. When doing an extended fast, we suggest that young
kids only fast from one meal, no more than one day per week. This gives them the
ability to participate in a healthy way.
START SMALL
If your kids want to join you, have them commit to fasting from one meal or snack as a
starting point.
9CHANGE THE SCENERY
When your kids are fasting with you, get out of the house during mealtimes. Go for a
walk. Play at the park. Pray for your friends and family members. Whatever you do, try
to change the setting during key mealtimes. It will be especially helpful for your kids to
remember that you’re doing something different as a family.
GIVE THEM GRACE
If your kids are hungry and struggling to keep their fast – stop right there and pray with
them that God would satisfy their hunger. If they need to eat, give them grace and let
them eat. Remember, you don’t want them to forfeit a lifelong discipline because of a
legalistic experience when they are young.
CELEBRATE TOGETHER
Take time to share the joys of what God is doing in your life as a family. Celebrating
where God is at work is a wonderful reward and motivator for kids who are learning to
fast.
Certainly, this document doesn’t cover every possible aspect of
fasting, but hopefully within these few pages we have given you a
guide that can propel you into the 30 days of prayer and fasting that
is Awaken 2021. Should you have additional questions, please
contact your pastor.
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