is basically when you voluntarily skip food (or something else you enjoy) to focus on and connecting with God. It's not a diet hack or a spiritual flex — it's a that the Bible takes seriously, and straight up assumed his followers would do it. So yeah, Christians probably should.
Jesus Didn't Say "If You Fast" — He Said "When" {v:Matthew 6:16-18}
This is lowkey the most important detail. When Jesus taught about fasting, he didn't frame it as optional:
🔥 "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."
He said when, not if. Same structure he used for prayer and giving — both things every Christian does. That's not a coincidence. Jesus is treating fasting like it's just part of the deal.
What Fasting Actually Is (And Isn't)
Fasting is going without something — usually food — to create space for God. When your stomach growls, instead of reaching for a snack, you redirect that hunger toward prayer. It's a physical way of saying "You're more important than this, Father."
It's NOT:
- Starving yourself for spiritual points
- A way to twist God's arm into answering prayers
- A performance for other people to see how holy you are
It IS:
- A way to humble yourself before God {v:Psalm 35:13}
- A tool to sharpen your focus when something feels urgent
- A historical practice that runs through basically the entire Bible
Moses fasted 40 days on the mountain {v:Exodus 34:28}. Daniel fasted and got prophetic visions {v:Daniel 10:3}. Paul and the church at Antioch fasted before sending out missionaries {v:Acts 13:2-3}. This isn't some niche thing — it's woven into the whole story.
Does It Have to Be Food? {v:1 Corinthians 7:5}
Traditionally, fasting means food. But Paul references married couples temporarily abstaining from intimacy to devote time to prayer — which shows the principle applies more broadly. Some people fast from social media, news, entertainment, or coffee.
That said, most theologians would say food fasting is the biblical norm because hunger is uniquely visceral. It hits different. Your body literally reminds you every few hours what you're doing and why.
How to Actually Do It
There's no single right method. Here are the main ones:
- Regular fast — no food, just water
- Partial fast — cut out specific foods (like Daniel's vegetables-and-water fast)
- Intermittent fast — skip a meal or fast sunrise to sunset
- Extended fast — multiple days (talk to a doctor first, fr)
Start small if you've never done it. Skip lunch and spend that time praying. See what happens. You're not trying to earn anything — you're practicing a posture of dependence.
One Thing Evangelicals Agree On
There's not much debate here across evangelical traditions. Fasting isn't commanded as a fixed rule (like a required once-a-week thing), but it's clearly modeled, expected, and rewarded. The disagreement is mostly about frequency and form — not whether it's valid.
High-church and liturgical traditions (Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox) have structured fasting seasons like Lent. Reformed and Baptist traditions tend to leave it more personal and situational. Both are reading the same Bible and landing in reasonable places.
The Bottom Line
Fasting is one of those things that sounds weird until you try it — and then it makes complete sense. You voluntarily feel weak so you remember who's actually strong. You pause your comfort so you can actually hear something. It's not about impressing anyone. The Father sees it and that's enough.
Jesus did it. The apostles did it. The early church did it. It's not a rule you have to follow to stay saved, but it is a gift you're probably leaving on the table if you never try it.