Prayer and fasting are biblical practices that help us humble ourselves before God, seek His guidance, and realign our hearts with His will. Throughout Scripture, God’s people fasted and prayed to draw near to Him, to repent, to seek wisdom, and to depend on His power rather than their own (Joel 2:12, Matthew 6:16–18, Acts 13:2). Fasting creates space for deeper prayer, reminding us that we do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).

Biblical fasting looks different in different contexts. For many young Christians, fasting might mean:

• Skipping a meal or meals for a set time

• Fasting from social media, entertainment, or constant noise

• Choosing simplicity in food rather than total abstinence

The goal isn’t to harm your body—it’s to reduce dependence on comforts so you can increase dependence on God (Matthew 4:4).

If food fasting isn’t wise for you physically or mentally, choose another fast. God cares about wisdom, not performance.

(NO FOOD AND NO WATER)

A dry/absolute fast is the most extreme form of fasting; it is fasting from both food and water. Paul went on a 3 day dry fast. “And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank” (Acts 9:9). 

Caution: This should not be undertaken for over 3 days, and it should only be done if you have a clear directive from the Lord and are in good health.

What this fast will look like for you: As mentioned above, this should not be undertaken for more than 3 days. However, you can challenge yourself by doing a dry fast for the first day or last day of the fast. After doing 1-3 days of a dry fast, move to a different type of fast below.

Expect to feel some, or all of the following symptoms:

• Hunger

• Irritability

• Poor Focus

• Headaches

• Fatigue

• Replace your “meals” with reading and praying to God. Use the physical urge as a signal to feed yourself spiritually.

How to prepare for a Dry Fast: Make sure you have clearance from a medical professional. Communicate with your family and friends about your intent, do not plan to fast for more than 3 days, and closely monitor how you are feeling (energy levels, sensations, etc). When finished with the fast, do not rush into eating solid food, and make sure to drink fluids along with electrolytes / sodium to rehydrate.

(NO FOOD, ONLY WATER)

This type of fasting is what one normally thinks of when the word “fast” is mentioned. It involves not eating any food, but only drinking water. When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert, he did a water only fast: “...being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry” (Luke 4:2).

Caution: This should only be done if you have a clear directive from the Lord and are in good health.

What this fast will look like for you: You can choose to do water only fast for the full 7 days or split up the days. For example, you can do water only fast for the first few days, then the rest of the days can be a partial fast, and vice versa.

Expect to feel some, or all of the following symptoms:

• Hunger

• Irritability

• Poor Focus

• Headaches

• Fatigue

Replace your “meals” with reading and praying to God. Use the physical urge as a signal to feed yourself spiritually.

How to prepare for a Water only Fast: Similarly to a dry fast, it is wise to consult with a medical professional to ensure you are safe to do a prolonged water only fast. Do not neglect electrolytes / proper sodium intake even during this water fast, as it will allow you to stay hydrated, and will help with the symptoms you will experience.

(ABSTAINING FROM CERTAIN FOODS)

A partial fast is abstaining from certain foods, specifically ones that you might crave / have a strong desire for. The Catholic church fasting tradition of lent is an example of a partial fast; red meat and white meat are fasted from during Ash Wednesday and Friday. 

Another example is in the book of Daniel: “I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled” (Daniel 10:3). A partial fast could mean abstaining from meals on a set day or abstaining from certain kinds of foods. This is commonly referred to as the Daniel fast (no meat, no sweets, no dairy. Soup only, fruit and vegetables only).

What this fast will look like for you: A partial fast for the full 7 days is more achievable than either a dry or water only fast, but will still require discipline and consistency. Since you will still be eating meals, one way to intentionally spend more time with God is to block out some time after dinner or before you sleep to meditate on His word and or pray.

How to prepare for a Partial Fast: Decide what it is you are cutting out for the next 7 or specified amount of days you decide. Buy your groceries ahead of time. Prepare spiritually by confessing your sins to God. Schedule your prayer time or bible time each day.

(ABSTAINING FROM OTHER THINGS)

For those with medical conditions, or are pregnant, this fast is the safest and most convenient but not necessarily the least difficult. In fact, depending on what you are giving up, it might be more difficult than fasting from food or water.

What this fast will look like for you: Similarly to the previous fasts, you can choose to mix and match the amount of days, but a default guideline is to decide on one thing you are giving up for 7 days. Each time you crave or want to engage in the said activity or thing, read your bible or pray instead.

How to prepare for a Non-Food fast: Decide what it is you are fasting from (like watching TV, social media fast, mobile phone fast, listening to music, exercising). Specify the amount of days you want to fast; be clear with your goal. Prepare spiritually, and communicate with others if needed. Structure your prayer time or bible time each day.