How to start A Fast
1 – Determine the Purpose of Your Fast
This is a call for a personal fast and a corporate church fast.
This is a church fast called by Calvary's spiritual leadership. We will have teachings and tools available for you to help you in your fast. We encourage you to look at things in your life that need breakthrough and deliverance and pray and fast for them. Pray and fast for revival in your life. Each week we will also be praying for the needs of our church body and for the dreams and visions that God has given us.
2 – Have a Heart of Humility
When you are thinking of how to start a fast, it is important that your heart is right before God. Your purpose of fasting needs to be sincere according to Isaiah 58:3-8. God is looking at your heart, that is, your motive when fasting before Him.
Don't focus on the outcome of your fast, but instead focus on the One that will bring about that outcome—Jesus Christ. No matter what is on your heart to fast for, you will grow closer to Jesus if you keep your focus on Him.
3 – Decide on the Kind of Fast
Remember, the fast we are calling for is a biblical fast: food and beverages. There are five kinds of fasts to choose from which are detailed below, however, here is the brief list for you:
Absolute Fast (no food or water) - should be limited to three days and be in combination with other fasts.
Normal Fast (most common)
Juice Fast
Partial Fast (fruits and vegetables)
Rotational Fast (specific food consumed on a day-by-day rotation)
The Absolute Fast
The Absolute Fast means absolutely no food or water. This kind of fast is recommended for shorter periods of time, however, if you are considering a time period longer than seven days, you need to be very sure that Holy Spirit is leading you to this kind of fast and that you are in good health.
The Normal Fast
This is considered the Normal Fast to go without food but drink water or 100% natural juice. This kind of fast can be for one or two meals up to several days or even three weeks.
If you are considering a fast longer than 21 days, it is advisable to seek the advice of your physician, to rule out any concerns they may have.
The Juice Fast
This fast is simply having either fruit or vegetable juice only. This means no coffee, no tea, and no soda pop. Sugar and caffeine will stimulate your body to crave more. So commit to only fruit juice (natural sugar) or vegetable juice.
The Partial Fast
This fast is often called the Daniel Fast because it allows you to eat fruit and/or vegetables along with water, 100% natural juice or broth.
The Rotational Fast
You may not have heard of this fast, but it allows you to rotate eating certain foods over a few days. For example, you would have some fruit on day 1, day 2 will be water or fruit juice, and on day 3, have certain vegetables. You would rotate this for this duration of your fast period.
4 – Decide on the Length of the Fast
We are asking that that you commit for a whole week to fast with us. This will start on a Sunday and through Saturday of that week. You will break your fast the following Sunday.
Here are some ideas you can choose from:
- fasting breakfast, which means if you last ate at dinner the evening before, you will be fasting approximately 18 hours before you will eat again.
- fasting two meals, ie, breakfast and lunch, which will be approximately 24 hours before having dinner
- a one day fast: can be done with no food or drink
- a three day fast: this is the max for no food and water
7 day fast: many styles of fasts can be done with this
You may be led to extend your fast for more personal growth and that is absolutely ok. Here are some great ways you can do that:
14- or 21-day fast
30 days or longer - some people choose to give up coffee, soda, sweets, meat, or processed food for long periods of time, up to a year.
What do we recommend?
If you have never fasted before for spiritual purposes, we suggest you begin with fasting one meal, whether it is breakfast, or lunch or dinner. If you fast your dinner meal, you will eat your breakfast the next morning.
Once you are comfortable with how your body reacts to not being fed, you can progress to the next step, ie, fasting two meals, or going from a one day to three-day fast.
If you are considering a fasting period longer than 30 days, please ensure that you are being Holy Spirit-led to do this and that you are healthy. If you are taking medications or have a health condition, please consult your doctor before engaging in any kind of food and beverage fast.
Yes, we know that Elijah, Moses, and Jesus all fasted for 40 days. We also know they were called by God to do so. So, we encourage you to know that you know that you are to fast for 30 days or longer.
5 – Prepare Your Body
When you have decided on the date your fast will begin, you can prepare your body by reducing your food intake. This is best done a few days prior to the start date.
Eat fruit and vegetables, no meat, and food lower in sugar. Your body will crave this during your fast, so reducing it now will help you later. This is especially helpful if you are fasting longer than one day.
6 – Make a Commitment to God
When you’re wondering how to start a fast, the above steps will lead you to the importance of making a commitment with God. Making a commitment with God before you start your fast is very important. This is something we do and we would encourage you to do this as well.
What we like to do is decide on the ground rules of our fast so that we don’t change our mind part-way through the fast period. Making a commitment to God keeps you accountable. In your commitment, include the date you will fast, the purpose, the length of the fast, the type and kind of fast, i.e., what I will eat, if anything, i.e., fruits and vegetables. Also, we encourage you to keep a journal of your fasting experience. In fact, you can use the journal to write down your commitment.
One final thought: When the cravings hit, we you don't feel motivated, when it's time for your normal meal and your body is demanding it or things you have kept from it—this is the time to press in and pray—letting your body know that it must fall under the authority of Christ.
This is a call for a personal fast and a corporate church fast.
This is a church fast called by Calvary's spiritual leadership. We will have teachings and tools available for you to help you in your fast. We encourage you to look at things in your life that need breakthrough and deliverance and pray and fast for them. Pray and fast for revival in your life. Each week we will also be praying for the needs of our church body and for the dreams and visions that God has given us.
2 – Have a Heart of Humility
When you are thinking of how to start a fast, it is important that your heart is right before God. Your purpose of fasting needs to be sincere according to Isaiah 58:3-8. God is looking at your heart, that is, your motive when fasting before Him.
Don't focus on the outcome of your fast, but instead focus on the One that will bring about that outcome—Jesus Christ. No matter what is on your heart to fast for, you will grow closer to Jesus if you keep your focus on Him.
3 – Decide on the Kind of Fast
Remember, the fast we are calling for is a biblical fast: food and beverages. There are five kinds of fasts to choose from which are detailed below, however, here is the brief list for you:
Absolute Fast (no food or water) - should be limited to three days and be in combination with other fasts.
Normal Fast (most common)
Juice Fast
Partial Fast (fruits and vegetables)
Rotational Fast (specific food consumed on a day-by-day rotation)
The Absolute Fast
The Absolute Fast means absolutely no food or water. This kind of fast is recommended for shorter periods of time, however, if you are considering a time period longer than seven days, you need to be very sure that Holy Spirit is leading you to this kind of fast and that you are in good health.
The Normal Fast
This is considered the Normal Fast to go without food but drink water or 100% natural juice. This kind of fast can be for one or two meals up to several days or even three weeks.
If you are considering a fast longer than 21 days, it is advisable to seek the advice of your physician, to rule out any concerns they may have.
The Juice Fast
This fast is simply having either fruit or vegetable juice only. This means no coffee, no tea, and no soda pop. Sugar and caffeine will stimulate your body to crave more. So commit to only fruit juice (natural sugar) or vegetable juice.
The Partial Fast
This fast is often called the Daniel Fast because it allows you to eat fruit and/or vegetables along with water, 100% natural juice or broth.
The Rotational Fast
You may not have heard of this fast, but it allows you to rotate eating certain foods over a few days. For example, you would have some fruit on day 1, day 2 will be water or fruit juice, and on day 3, have certain vegetables. You would rotate this for this duration of your fast period.
4 – Decide on the Length of the Fast
We are asking that that you commit for a whole week to fast with us. This will start on a Sunday and through Saturday of that week. You will break your fast the following Sunday.
Here are some ideas you can choose from:
- fasting breakfast, which means if you last ate at dinner the evening before, you will be fasting approximately 18 hours before you will eat again.
- fasting two meals, ie, breakfast and lunch, which will be approximately 24 hours before having dinner
- a one day fast: can be done with no food or drink
- a three day fast: this is the max for no food and water
7 day fast: many styles of fasts can be done with this
You may be led to extend your fast for more personal growth and that is absolutely ok. Here are some great ways you can do that:
14- or 21-day fast
30 days or longer - some people choose to give up coffee, soda, sweets, meat, or processed food for long periods of time, up to a year.
What do we recommend?
If you have never fasted before for spiritual purposes, we suggest you begin with fasting one meal, whether it is breakfast, or lunch or dinner. If you fast your dinner meal, you will eat your breakfast the next morning.
Once you are comfortable with how your body reacts to not being fed, you can progress to the next step, ie, fasting two meals, or going from a one day to three-day fast.
If you are considering a fasting period longer than 30 days, please ensure that you are being Holy Spirit-led to do this and that you are healthy. If you are taking medications or have a health condition, please consult your doctor before engaging in any kind of food and beverage fast.
Yes, we know that Elijah, Moses, and Jesus all fasted for 40 days. We also know they were called by God to do so. So, we encourage you to know that you know that you are to fast for 30 days or longer.
5 – Prepare Your Body
When you have decided on the date your fast will begin, you can prepare your body by reducing your food intake. This is best done a few days prior to the start date.
Eat fruit and vegetables, no meat, and food lower in sugar. Your body will crave this during your fast, so reducing it now will help you later. This is especially helpful if you are fasting longer than one day.
6 – Make a Commitment to God
When you’re wondering how to start a fast, the above steps will lead you to the importance of making a commitment with God. Making a commitment with God before you start your fast is very important. This is something we do and we would encourage you to do this as well.
What we like to do is decide on the ground rules of our fast so that we don’t change our mind part-way through the fast period. Making a commitment to God keeps you accountable. In your commitment, include the date you will fast, the purpose, the length of the fast, the type and kind of fast, i.e., what I will eat, if anything, i.e., fruits and vegetables. Also, we encourage you to keep a journal of your fasting experience. In fact, you can use the journal to write down your commitment.
One final thought: When the cravings hit, we you don't feel motivated, when it's time for your normal meal and your body is demanding it or things you have kept from it—this is the time to press in and pray—letting your body know that it must fall under the authority of Christ.