How to Fast as a Christian: A Guide for Beginners

If you’ve ever wondered how to fast as a Christian, but weren’t sure where to begin, you’re not alone.

I was watching an episode of The Chosen with my family the other day, which has become an almost-nightly routine, and they mentioned fasting. They didn’t go into detail, they mostly mentioned it as part of a larger point. But, it made me wonder whether most Christians today even have a clear picture of what fasting even is, or if it’s one of those things that we recognize by name yet don’t know how it fits into our lives. I realized that I’ve really only participated in Christian fasting a couple of times in the course of my Christian life. So, I decided to dig into Scripture and brush up on the intent and purpose, because one thing I do know is that it’s not just a weight loss strategy. It’s meant to be a tool for turning our attention back to God, and reminding us of our dependence on Him. So let’s talk about how to fast as a Christian in a way that is biblical, thoughtful, and grounded in dependence on God.

How to Fast as a Christian: What It Really Means

John MacArthur defines fasting as “the voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes, always in connection with prayer and seeking God.” Scripture consistently demonstrates that fasting is relational rather than a ritual. It is a heart posture more than an outward ritual.

It’s a voluntary act of personal worship. Matthew 6:16 says, “Whenever you fast, don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, so that you don’t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” This isn’t to say that you can’t do it collectively with other believers, like you would any other form of worship, but it does mean that the position of your heart is very important here.

It’s about dependence. Every time fasting is referenced throughout the Bible, it is talking about food. Why is that? It’s because food is something we are dependent upon for survival. It’s not optional. Likewise, dependence on God to supply our every need and the recognition that everything we have comes from Him is essential if we are to truly love Him, abide with Him, and follow Him.

It is always accompanied with prayer. Daniel realizes they are nearing the end of the prophesied exile, and is concerned about the spiritual condition of his people, “So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.” In Acts, the believers are using it in conjunction with prayer and worship, and then after the Spirit spoke, they turned to it again in further dependence: “As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to.’ Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.”

What fasting is not

• It is not a way to manipulate God into doing what you want (Isaiah 58:3–5; Luke 18:9-14 )
• It is not for bragging rights (Matthew 6:16–18)
• It is not a substitute for obedience. (Zechariah 7:5–6)

If you’re wondering how to fast as a Christian in a simple, practical way, here is a beginner-friendly approach.

How to Fast as a Christian (Step-by-Step for Beginners)

Step 1: Choose your fast

Pick one:

• One meal fast (skip breakfast or lunch)
• Sunup to Sundown (no food during the day, but still drinking water)

Step 2: Determine your purpose

• Prayer over a specific event?
• Seeking His guidance on something?

Step 3: What will you do when you feel hunger pangs?

Choose a repeatable 5-10 minute loop. For example:

• Pray (1–2 minutes): “Father, You see in secret. Help me seek You.”
• Read (3–5 minutes): Matthew 6:16–18 or Psalm 63
• Ask (1 minute): “What am I craving more than You right now?”
• Respond (1–2 minutes)

Step 4: Make sure your heart is right, and try to keep it private between you and God.

**If you are pregnant, diabetic, have a history of eating disorders, or have medical concerns, talk with a doctor and consider a different kind of “setting aside” that still creates space for prayer and attentiveness to God.

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Here are some common questions people ask when learning how to fast as a Christian.

Common beginner questions

• How long should a beginner fast? The Bible never specifies a specific time frame.
• Does coffee break a fast? There is nothing that tells us what foods to abstain from, it’s more about focusing your heart on God. If having coffee means your heart is not truly “set aside for God,” then choose water during the fast. If coffee is neutral for your discipline and doesn’t replace prayer or focus, it’s not theologically violating fasting.
• What if I fail halfway through? This doesn’t have to be perfect. It is more about the position of your heart.
• Can I fast from social media instead? Biblical fasting is always in relation to food. Fasting from other things, like social media could definitely be beneficial, especially if you are replacing it with prayer and Scripture. However, I don’t think it’s the same thing, since food is necessary to survival and social media is not. (Note: This is my personal opinion)
• Should I fast during Lent if I’m evangelical? You could fast during Lent. The caveat here is that fasting in the Bible is not tied to the calendar. So, I would be careful making a connection that isn’t required to be there. Your intention and heart matter here as you practice dependence on God and worship, not simply depriving yourself in and of itself.
• Do I have to tell my family or friends? If it affects someone close to you, you can explain. It’s just not something you should broadcast, because it isn’t for anyone else, it’s for your relationship with God.
• How often should Christians fast? There is no specific frequency. Use it as a tool. Daniel used it in seasons when he needed direction or was in crisis. In Acts, they used it as they sought direction. Jesus didn’t tell us how often to do it, He just expected that we would.

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You don’t have to fast tomorrow. It isn’t a mandate. It’s a gift. It’s a simple, biblical way to recalibrate when you need direction, and a way to practice dependence on God. Jesus assumed His followers would fast, not all the time, and not for show, but in seasons.

Fasting in Scripture often shows up in seasons of seeking direction or realignment. If you are in one of those seasons, and you want help thinking through your next step with clarity and intention, I created a short Clarity Kickstart. It includes five reflective questions to help you reconnect with your identity in Christ and discern where God may be inviting you to move forward.
You can download it here.

Want to study fasting more?

If you’d like a structured way to explore fasting and prayer with Scripture each day, the Bible App offers a 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting reading plan you can follow for free.