Biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose. Our primary focus in fasting is to fix our eyes on Jesus and to listen to hear the voice and direction of God. It is vitally important for us to pay attention to our motives behind the commitment we’ve made.

“Say to all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted… was it for me that you fasted?’” – Zechariah 7:5–6

If our fasting is not unto God, we have failed. Physical benefits, success in prayer, the ending with power, spiritual insights—these must never replace God as the center of our fasting. – Richard Foster

First, let [fasting] be done unto the Lord with our eye singly fixed on him. Let our intention herein be this, and this alone, to glorify our Father which is in heaven. – John Wesley

Fasting helps us to realize the things that control us. Practicing the discipline of fasting allows the Lord the venue to help us bring these areas into alignment. Just as David once wrote, “I afflicted myself with fasting…” in Psalm 35:13, we will be intentional to provide the Lord the venue to instruct us and bring clarity to our lives.

“‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but I will not be mastered by anything.” – 1 Corinthians 6:12

Fasting from any nourishment, activity, involvement or pursuit—for any season—sets the stage for God to appear. – Dan B. Allender

We fast because it helps to give us balance in life. It makes us more keenly sensitive to the whole of life so that we’re not so obsessed by our consumer mentality. – Richard J. Foster

If you would like more information and help on fasting, read these articles from cru.org

7 Steps to Fasting

6 Ingredients That Will Help You Fast From Technology

We understand that there are different factors that lead to your decision to say yes to participation in this church-wide commitment. We want to do the best that we can to help provide 3 different ways to engage with this fast. We do not presume to be authoritative or comprehensive in the correct ways to fast, but we have chosen these pathways after thoughtful consideration about ways to include everyone in the journey we feel called to in this season. As a church, we have purposed that our fast will be directly connected to food, as we see multiple examples of this throughout the Scripture.

Option 1 Fast for a Meal

Choose one meal to fast and spend that time in God’s Word and in prayer.

Maybe do this on different days or the same day each week during the season of prayer and fasting.

Option 2 All Meals for 24 hours

Fast for a 24 hour period from all food. This might be from after dinner one day until the start of dinner the following day.

Maybe commit to this on the same day each week during the lenten season.

Option 3 (Some Meals/Altered Diet)

This might be fasting for a significant portion of your day, incorporating only 1-2 meals into your schedule. (ex. fasting all day until 6:00 PM) Or, due to medical and other considerations, it may be necessary to participate by altering your diet for the duration of the fast. (This may be with vegetables only, or something known as the Daniel Fast)

If fasting from food is not possible, you may feel led by the Lord to fast from something else, such as social media, television, or certain times or activities on your cell phone.

Whatever you choose to commit to, the goal is to spend the time away from food or other fasted activities in prayer and in Scripture.

The practice of fasting is in stark contrast to most of the way we live on a day-to-day basis in our lives. The Bible mentions fasting over 70 times directly and is inferred many more. This practice was clearly important to God, as even Jesus engaged in a 40-day fast immediately following His baptism.

Heightened Emotional Sensitivity

Anger, bitterness, jealousy, strife, fear—if they are within us, they will surface during fasting. At first, we will rationalize that our anger is due to our hunger; then we know that we are angry because the spirit of anger is within us. We can rejoice in this knowledge because we know that healing is available through the power of Christ. — Richard Foster

Physical Effects

Changing the amount and type of nutrients intake on a regular basis could possibly affect your energy levels, leading to physical fatigue. Headaches have also been known to be a symptom during fasting.

Intense Hunger

Although this may seem like an obvious point of awareness, it is important to note that you may feel hunger in a way that you’ve not experienced before. This will become the primary indicator and reminder for times of prayer and listening during the fast.

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:9

Prepare Your Fast (See “How Can I Participate?” above.)

1. Option 1 Fast for a Meal

2. Option 2 All Meals for 24 hours

3. Option 3 Some Meals/Altered Diet

Prepare Your Prayer Focus

1. Consider the ways that we are praying together for our church. We want to see unity amongst the body of Christ. We are hoping for advancement in growing followers of Jesus. We are praying that we see many come to know Christ in our community and the Greater Houston area .

2. Download the Awaken Prayer Guide so that you can follow along with the daily devotionals.

3. Identify some friends or Community Group members to be praying with through this time.

Prepare Your Mind

1. Take some time to consider the real implications of how the fast will affect your regular life rhythms. For example, think about how your daily schedule may be altered and have some forethought on how to adjust properly.

2. Ask the Lord to prepare your mind for the challenge in the days ahead.

3. Meditate on scripture and stories that are a reminder of God’s faithfulness and ability to sustain us: ex. Psalm 100, Matthew 4:1-4, Matthew 6:25-26

Prepare Your Heart

1. Take some time to ask God to identify potential areas of difficulty during this time of prayer and fasting. Do you see the potential for emotions like anger, anxiety, and fear to rise up during your fast? Are there areas of sin that you are aware of and have not addressed in your life?

2. Spend some time in confession and repentance concerning these areas to which the Spirit leads you. As it says in 1 John 1:9, “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Asking yourself difficult and direct questions and answering them in honesty may help you to enter the fast with a posture ready to receive. (ex. Am I honest in all my acts and words or do I exaggerate? Do I confidentially pass on what has been said to me in confidence?)

3. Ask the Lord to show you any areas of discord or disunity in your life relationally and seek to address them.

Prepare Your Body

1. Drink plenty of water, maintaining proper hydration and water intake leading up to the beginning of the fast.

2. Eat healthier foods (fruits and veggies) directly before the start of the fast in order to make for an easier transition. Avoid overindulging, as well. When the fast is complete, be mindful of easing back into your regular diet.

3. If you have potential medical concerns, you should visit your doctor to make sure that you are physically able to participate as you intend. A chronic or severe medical condition, such as diabetes or heart disease, may prevent you from fasting in the manner you’d like. You should also consult your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing in order to enter into the fast in the most informed way.

Prepare Your Schedule

1. Take time to pre-plan what types of juices, liquids, and supplies you will need while engaged in the fast. If you are planning to drink juices for part or all of the fast then you may prepare for this by purchasing a portable cooler to take with you to work, ball games, etc. This practice will keep you from being at the mercy of snack and sports drink machines.

2. Think about when you will set aside time to pray and when you will partake in liquids throughout the day.

3. Discuss with family and those in your household about what the upcoming days will look like together.

Prepare Your Response

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. – Matthew 6:16–18

1. In hopes to avoid pride and self-appreciation, we don’t want to broadcast our decision to fast publicly. But, when addressed about it directly, we should prepare a thoughtful response, rather than feeling the need to be dishonest or making a bigger issue of it.

2. When someone asks why you aren’t eating, consider simple ways to communicate that you are dedicating yourself toward a time of prayer and listening to God. Seek to respond in a simple and straightforward way without belaboring the point.

3. Consider beforehand how to graciously communicate with those that may invite you to a meal or gathering when it may conflict with the fast. (ex. As you are preparing for the gathering, please note that my family and I are praying and fasting together in this season, so we may not fully take part in the meal portion of the evening. Thanks for understanding.)

Praying is spiritual breathing, essential for our life in God. As we meditate on God’s Word, we breathe in the promises and purposes of God. In prayer, we breathe out, responding to God’s Word to us. Each day in the prayer guide, there will be prompts to help you worship, ask, look, and pray each day. Throughout this season you will be praying in specific ways for your life, our church, and our community and city. Together, let’s put our faith into action, trusting in the promises of God for us and our church. Below are some helpful tips on how to make the most of this guide.

• Commit to a specific time each day to devote to prayer. Find a place where you can be free of distractions and be alone with God.

• Use the prayer points and Scripture in this guide to focus and fuel your praying. Write the Scripture and prayer point on a card and carry it with you, post it on your social media, make it the screensaver on your phone—whatever you can think of to keep these prompts in front of you. Use them throughout the day and invite others to join you in praying.

• You can take it a step further by journaling your prayers each day, simply writing out your prayers to God. It’s a great opportunity to hide God’s Word in your heart, working to memorize the verses as you meditate and pray.

• In addition, you may consider ways to pray with others during this season. Meet or set up a Zoom call with friends or members of your small group. Pray together as a family.

Download the Prayer Guide