PRACTICAL GUIDE SHEET FOR
FASTING
PRACTICAL GUIDE SHEET FOR
FASTING
Throughout Scripture fasting refers to abstaining from food by
an individual or a group/community in a designated period for
a spiritual purpose.1 Jesus assumes and teaches about the
practice of regular fasting (Matthew 6:16-17, 9:15). It is exercised
by the early church (Acts 13:2) and has been a regular spiritual
discipline of believers throughout church history.
PREPARING TO FAST
n Humble yourself before God with a contrite heart; pray for the enabling, guidance
and protection of the Holy Spirit (Psalms 35:13; 1 Samuel 7:6; John 15:15-21, 16:5-15).
n Determine the type of fast you will carry out:
Liquid-only Fast – drinking water or juice.
Partial Fast – abstain from certain selected food.
Absolute Fast– no water and no food for a prolonged period, e.g., 40 days.2
n Decide and commit to a duration of the fast:
One day or part of a day (Judges 20:26; 1 Samuel 7:6; Nehemiah 9:1)
A one-night fast (Daniel 6:18-24)
A three-day fasts (Esther 4:16; Acts 9:9)
A seven-day fasts (1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 12:16-13)
A fourteen-day fast (Acts 27:33-34)
A twenty-one day fast (Daniel 10:3-13)
A forty-day fast (Deuteronomy 9:9; 1 Kings 19:8; Matthew 4:2)
Fasts of unspecified lengths (Matthew 9:14; Acts 14:23)
n Keep it to yourself and don’t show off (Matthew 6:16-18). Ask someone else
to join your fast so you can be accountable and support one another.
n Prepare your body and start slowly, especially for beginners. Don’t overeat
before [or after] your fast.
n Seek medical/professional advice before any extended fast.3
1. Many have suggested that the scope of a fast can include fasting from TV/entertainments, the news media, e-mail, gaming, shopping, etc. These “fasts”
are meant to be denials of our pleasures and/or habits in order to draw us closer to God.
2. This is definitely not for beginners and it should be undertaken with careful health consideration with medical guidance.
3. We do not advise minors, diabetics, folks with diseases or chronic health challenges, those prone to eating disorders, and pregnant or nursing women,
to participate in food-related fasting.
9680 Ninth Line // Markham, ON L6B 1A8 // P: 905-294-3554 // [email protected] // cornerstonechurch.ca
DURING THE FAST
Fasting is not just about what we give up. It’s about how we spend the time we would normally use
for meals to pray and seek the Lord. Expect intense urges to quit fasting, powerful temptations, and
spiritual warfare (Matthew 4:1-11).
n Keep praying for God’s strength and protection; put on the armour of God (Eph. 6:10-20).
n Engage in one or more of the following actions to stay focused and steadfast in your fast:
• Set aside specific and significant time and location to worship and seek God during your fast.
• Use the normal meal time to take a prayer walk.
• Follow a Bible reading plan or a devotional/prayer book.4
• Research what the Bible teaches about justice. Find out where there’s injustice locally and
how to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.” (Micah 6:8; Isaiah 58).
• Keep a journal on what the Lord has been showing you and teaching you.
• Continue to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
• Have regular exercise and get plenty of sleep.
BREAK THE FAST
Breaking a fast requires just as much careful consideration as beginning it. Do not plan for a big
celebration feast when breaking a fast!
n Do not break extended fasts abruptly. Start by taking small portions of fruits, vegetables and
liquids before returning slowly to your normal diet in about a week.
n If the fast only lasted a day or two, end the fast with a small amount of fruit juice as your first meal.
Gradually increase small amounts of easily digestible foods such as yogurt, soup, fresh fruit and
cooked vegetables.
n If the fast lasted longer than a few days, you continue with liquid intake such as fruit juice for a day
or more before gradually increasing more substantial foods like yogurt, soup and fruit. Stop eating
as soon as you begin feeling full.
REMEMBER
God is more interested in your attitude and walk with Him, not how long you fast. Deliberately
abstaining from food is one concrete way to show your commitment and sincerity in seeking God.
God questioned the people in Zechariah’s day:
… when you fasted and mourned in the summer and in early autumn, was it really for me that you
were fasting?” (Zechariah 7:5, NLT)
4. Check out a suitable Bible reading plan from YouVersion Bible, https://www.bible.com/reading-plans. Or, pray following Cornerstone’s The Lord’s Prayer Guide
or the Daily Office in Pete Scazzero’s Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day-By-Day.
9680 Ninth Line // Markham, ON L6B 1A8 // P: 905-294-3554 // [email protected] // cornerstonechurch.ca
