“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” – Habakkuk 2:2a

Types of Fasting:

• TOTAL FAST: no food or water (no more than 3 days)
• WATER FAST: only drink water (consult physician, max 40 days)
• LIQUID FAST: drink water, fresh juices, broth, herbal teas, etc.
• PARTIAL FAST: abstain from certain foods. Includes Daniel fast, which eliminates meats, sweets, and other delicacies.
• Biblical fasting always involves abstaining from food. However, we can benefit from also fasting other things that may be habit-forming and/or shifting our focus and dependency away from God (i.e., social media, television/video games, shopping, negative talk, caffeine, sleep, etc.

Starting Strong: 

• SET CLEAR GOALS. Why are you fasting? Ask Holy Spirit for guidance on the purpose of your fast (i.e., direction, deliverance, desire for God.) 
• DETERMINE TYPE OF FAST. What kind of fast (full, liquid, partial), length of days (i.e., 21 days, 3 days per week), times of day (i.e., 9am – 5pm), and include fasting add-on’s (i.e., no TV). If you have any medical conditions, seek advice and permission from your doctor before you begin a fast.
• PREPARE PHYSICALLY. Two days before you fast, limit your intake of food and drink lots of water to facilitate detoxing. Prepare for mental discomforts such as impatience, crankiness, and anxiety, as well as physical discomforts such as dizziness, headaches and different kinds of pains. These symptoms are not a sign to stop fasting. Your body is working to cleanse itself of impurities.
• PREPARE SPIRITUALLY. Invite Holy Spirit’s searching and conviction, confess your sins to God, forgive where necessary, surrender to Him. Fasting is pointless when lacking humility and a repentant spirit. (Isaiah 58, Luke 18)

Steward Your Time Well:

• REPLACE FOOD PREP AND MEAL TIMES, as well as media and entertainment times, with prayer and Bible study. Intentionally add extra times with God throughout the day or night. Set alarms to prompt your pause. 
• SELECT A PRAYER GUIDE, devotional book, or teaching series to consume as part of your daily spiritual food. Books about victories obtained through fasting will be especially encouraging to you.
• FEEL FREE TO REST a lot and continue to exercise with wisdom.
• DON’T BOAST ABOUT YOUR FAST. Let people know you won’t be eating (certain things) only if you need to (Matthew 6:16-18).
• FAST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOMEONE ELSE. Two are better than one! Find a friend to hold you accountable. We encourage married couples to fast together, parents and kids too!
• IF YOU FAIL, DON’T GIVE IN TO CONDEMNATION. God always extends grace. If you mess up, just hit the “reset” button and continue on your fast!
• END WELL. when it comes time to end your fast, do not overeat or binge on activities you’ve been abstaining from. Slowly reintroduce foods into your diet and activities into your lifestyle, in small portions.