Should All Christians Fast?
Have you ever fasted? Maybe you’ve given up sweets for a season or fasted from food altogether. Or maybe fasting is an entirely new concept for you!
This Lent season, we want to help equip you to think biblically about the topic of fasting. So let’s dive in! Should we fast as Christians, and if so, what does that look like?
Should Christians Fast?
My husband and I lived in a Muslim country for several years, and in many parts of the world, fasting is a required part of life. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset every day as a part of their religion and culture. Restaurants close down across the country, and daily rhythms change.
For Christians, though, fasting is different. In the West, restaurants don’t close down during daytime hours so Christians can fast. Fasting looks very differently than in a predominantly Muslim country. Even so, there is also an expectation that Christians will fast in the Scriptures.
Consider Jesus’s words in Matthew 6:16–18, as He gave instructions to His disciples about how to fast. He said:
“Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” — Matthew 6:16–18
Notice that Jesus doesn’t say “if you fast,” but “when you fast.” There is an assumption that Christians will fast, and Jesus gives us instructions about how we should do this.
How to Fast
If Christians are supposed to fast, what should this look like? Traditionally, fasting is abstaining from food for the purposes of prayer. As we go without the food our bodies crave, we direct our longings to the Lord. Our physical hunger magnifies and points us to our spiritual hunger for the Lord.
But while it is traditional to fast from food, there are other kinds of fasting, too. So if you’re wanting to fast this Lent season, here are a few ideas to get you started:
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Consider why you fast.
Look up verses like Matthew 6:16–18, Joel 2:12, Daniel 9:3, Isaiah 58:3–7, and Luke 4:1–13. Think about the way the Bible talks about fasting and consider why you’d like to fast.
Biblical fasting is not abstaining from something in order to make much of ourselves or to boast about how much we’re giving up. It’s instead a means of worshiping and making much of Christ. Sometimes, we fast to seek the Lord before a big decision. Other times, we fast to recenter our priorities on the Lord and show the truth that Jesus is better to us than any earthly pleasure. In every case, we fast to worship Jesus. As you prepare to fast, prayerfully consider your motives and surrender this season to the Lord.
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Choose the kind of fast you’d like to do.
While fasting is typically abstaining from food and drink, there are many kinds of fasting, including:
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Food Fast - In this typical kind of fast, you abstain from food or drink for a set period of time. If you choose to partake in this kind of fast, when you feel the pangs of hunger, pray. Use the time you’d have spent eating in prayer or in the Word. Make a plan for how you’ll spend your time when you’re hungry, and spend time hungering more for the Lord.
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Daniel Fast - Just as Daniel requested vegetables and water in the Bible, a Daniel Fast is a time to eat specific foods, abstaining from meat or other rich foods for a set time (Daniel 1:8–14).
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Technology Fast - Sometimes, we can become addicted to our phones or other technology. Fasting from specific pleasures gives us the time, ability, and self-control to spend more time in prayer.
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Communal Fast - Churches, small groups, or friends can also come together to fast for a set period of time. As groups pray and fast for a common mission, they are united together with the same heart.
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Other - In fasting, we give up something good for a season to worship God. In our longing for a particular pleasure, we affirm that Christ is our greatest treasure.
3. Pick a time.
Would you like to fast from food for the day or fast from technology for the month? Prayerfully determine the length of time you’d like to fast, being mindful of any health concerns or existing commitments.
4. Make a plan of what you’ll do during that time.
When you’re hungry, will you read a specific book of the Bible or pray? Or when you want to reach for your phone, what will you do instead? Begin your fast in prayer, devoting your time to the Lord.
Fasting is a form of worship. As we hunger for food, we hunger more for Christ. So when you feel the pang of hunger for food or treats, turn your thoughts to the Lord. Remember that He is better than every earthly thing.
If you’ve never fasted before, maybe this Lent season is the perfect time to start!
