Fasting for Lent: 6 Practical Tips

As we begin to dive into some practical tips in fasting, this is just a reminder to make sure you are being led by the Spirit every step of the way as you venture out in faith.

There are seasons for fasting and there are even seasons for feasting. We learned before that while Jesus was physically present with His disciples, it was a time for feasting, but there would come a time when the “bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast” (Mark 2:18–20). It is important to be led by the Spirit always and to know what season you are in.

Also, be wise and seek counsel or medical advice first in regard to fasting if you have health issues. If you are pregnant, do not fast food but instead fast social media or something similar. For those who still want to participate in a fast but cannot because of health or weight issues, seek the Holy Spirit on how to be led in an alternative fast like I mention in my book, Fasting For Fire.

Start Small

When beginning your journey in fasting, start small and celebrate your successes. If you have never fasted before, I would suggest starting with a smaller fast and skip two meals one day while drinking lots of water. If that is too hard, try drinking juice or a thicker liquid. For longer fasts, it is advisable to eat fruit just before.

Remember that fasting is not just abstaining from food; it is also filling your soul with something better: the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Spend the time you would normally have spent eating instead in worship, silence, prayer, meditating on God, reading the Word, praying with a friend, or waiting upon Him. If you have a chance, go to an isolated place where you connect well with God; for me, that is in nature. During your normal day, when you get hunger pains, turn your attention and affection toward God.

Discomfort

I find that days one and two are the hardest of any fast, no matter how long the fast is. This is when your body is detoxing. Usually after making it past day three, it gets much easier. During longer fasts, I notice my energy levels drop and I get cold. I also notice I am tired and need to take naps. I tend to wake up early or sometimes in the middle of the night.

Another thing to take into consideration is that many times one of the harder parts of fasting is not being as social since most events surround food. These events are still fine to join; however, doing group meals with people can sometimes get awkward when you are the only one not eating. I notice that I’m a bit more introverted than normal during fasts, and that’s okay.

Richard Foster says that “more than any other Discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us.” During a fast, be aware of what comes up for you and take time to journal and process it. Are you easily irritated, feeling out of control, or experiencing some other extreme mood shift? What things are you running to rather than food? What themes are emerging in your heart? What relationships are being brought to the surface, and is He asking you to respond in a certain way? Is there anyone you need to forgive or be reconciled with? Is there anyone you need to reach out to or become more aligned with?

Ask the Holy Spirit what is really going on during these times and what He might be bringing up within you to heal. Ask God to go to the root of any issues that emerge. I encourage you to press in, worship, pray, scream, dance, run, intercede, beat a drum, contend, or whatever you feel you need to do to respond to God when the hunger gets severe.

There have been times when I have gone days without eating and at the same time have avoided God by staying busy. I filled up my schedule to mask the hunger pains rather than turning to Him in those times. I missed out on golden opportunities to dive in deeper with the King of kings. There have been other times when I have chosen to feast upon God’s presence during a fast and have been surprised by rich encounters in His presence. Songs have been birthed, Scripture has been revealed at new depths, and healing has come as I positioned myself at His feet instead of trying to stay busy to avoid the hunger. Fasting is not just going without food; it must also be feasting on God. The fast is the most effective when it is intricately woven together with communion with God.

While sometimes during a fast I experience increased connection to the Holy Spirit, have more prophetic dreams, and revelations of clarity, many times during a fast, I also don’t feel a thing. Sometimes I’m just really hungry, weak, and even irritable. Other times, I am tired and weary from the lack of food while attempting to muster my strength to praise Him.

The amazing thing I have discovered though is that there has been a consistent pattern of God moving in a profound way in the days, weeks, or months following my fasts, even if I didn’t feel anything in the process. While this was not the motivation for my fasts, most of my major breakthroughs and increased anointings have come in the season directly following a fast. Several of my books including Silver to Gold, Water to Wine, and Life on Wings were birthed after longer fasts. Destiny House ministry and Writing in the Glory were also both birthed following a long fast.

Pay Attention

Pay attention to the details and themes in what is being highlighted to you during a fast. Many times, we can hear the still small voice of God more clearly and see things we haven’t been able to see before. Also, be aware of possible new alignments God may bring to you. Who is God highlighting to you during this time? Who is reaching out to you during a fast? Are there potential divine connections or anointed alliances He is bringing? Is He putting a burden on your heart for a specific person or nation? Is He putting a new idea in your heart? Is He redirecting your steps?

Don’t be surprised if God changes your plans or redirects you during a fast. This is actually very common. In the process of focusing on His face and His agenda more precisely, many times people hear things from God that seem “out of the blue.” These are from God and can be expected during a fast. Respond to the leading of the Spirit. What you hear from God, especially during a fast, may be your new assignment from heaven.

Don’t get discouraged if you don’t feel anything or see what you have been praying for during the fast. Setting yourself aside to feast upon Him alone is an act of worship, which He is pleased about whether you experience a tangible immediate result or not. Furthermore, while you are setting yourself apart and consecrating yourself to the Lord, He is at work behind the scenes on your behalf even if the timeline is different than what you imagine. From the first day Daniel set himself aside to pray, God heard his prayer and dispatched an angel to help him (see Daniel 10:12–14). And remember, ultimately at the core, you are fasting to feast upon God and grow closer to Him more than anything. This alone is a priceless investment.

Learning to Thirst

I once did an Esther fast in conjunction with a call Lou Engle put out, and this was the hardest fast I have ever done bar none. Even though it was only three days, it was going completely without food and water. I remember feeling so incredibly weak. I dreamed of having just one sip of water.

What was different about this fast from all others was that it was the first time I learned about thirst. I had become acquainted with understanding spiritual hunger, but when both food and water were removed, I learned something about spiritual thirst I had never accessed before. The story of the rich man asking the beggar Lazarus for just one drop of water in hades made sense to me in a new way (Luke 16:19–31). I experienced more of what the psalmist meant in Psalm 42, when he wrote that as the deer pants for the water, so his soul thirsts for God. I felt like I, too, could cry out to God along with David:

I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1).

There’s Grace

It is really important to give yourself grace during a fast. If you end up breaking the fast prematurely or before the original goal you had set for yourself, don’t beat yourself up or come under condemnation (Romans 8:1–4). Celebrate each small victory. If you have never fasted before and you were able to fast one meal rather than two starting off, celebrate that you are on your way. There have been times when I couldn’t even make it to the end of my one-day fast and I had to eat. The grace had lifted for me to continue, and that’s okay.

The beautiful thing about fasting with pure motives and the right perspective is that we are not fasting to try and prove a point to anyone or even to ourselves; we are simply positioning ourselves to know God better. We fast to encounter more of God. There are no rules here. We do it to fall more in love with God. The more we practice fasting, the easier it becomes.

How to Break a Fast

Practically speaking, it is important to break a fast well to avoid injuring your stomach or harming your body. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, so make sure to be wise and steward what goes in there. Breaking a fast is usually good with liquids, fruit juices, and then moving on to fruit and vegetables. Slowly integrate more regular foods into your diet depending on how long the fast was. Generally, you can come off shorter fasts with a light meal of fruits or vegetables and then work your way toward weightier meals.

Coming off of a fast will vary for each person and will depend upon how long the fast was. For longer fasts, be gentle and slowly ease back into your regular diet so that you don’t shock your system. It is important to replenish your body with the proper nutrients. Even if you make it to the end of a longer fast, the effects of going without food and the right nutrients may take some time to recover from.

I drink a lot of coconut water before, after, and sometimes even while on a liquid fast because it is rich in electrolytes. Taking vitamin supplements can also be useful. The main thing to be aware of on the other side of a fast is that your body has gone without nutrients and will need some time to replenish them to get back to normal. Do some research to learn the best way for you to come off of a fast, and record what works and what doesn’t for future fasts.