The Purpose of Fasting

2/9/2026
Post Written by
Annabella Sills, Pastoral Resident

"When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so 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." — Matthew 6:17-18

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Biblical fasting is the voluntary abstaining from something—typically food—for spiritual purposes. Notice that Jesus said 'when you fast,' not 'if you fast.' He assumed His followers would practice fasting as a normal part of their spiritual lives.

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Watch Annabella's Encouragement here.

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Important Things to Remember When Fasting

  • Fasting is not about earning God's favor—it's about creating space to hear God more clearly. 
  • Fasting is an invitation to go deeper with Jesus, not a religious obligation
  • Fasting doesn’t make God love you any more or any less
    • But it does help you become more aware of how much you need him and how much he loves you.

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Why We Fast

To draw closer to God — Fasting creates space for deeper intimacy with God.

To gain spiritual clarity — When we remove distractions, we can hear God's voice more clearly.

To break strongholds — Jesus said some battles are won only through prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29).

To practice self-control — Fasting trains our flesh to turn away from our desires and to turn towards God. 

To identify with Christ — We join in the pattern Jesus modeled for us on how to defeat temptation and become more Christ-like.

To intercede for breakthrough — Throughout Scripture, fasting accompanied prayers for breakthrough and preceded God moving in powerful ways.

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Fasting Options

The way in which you choose to fast is completely optional and should be undertaken prayerfully and according to your individual circumstances. We encourage everyone to choose one aspect of the Soul Fast to partake in for all 40 days. Then, for those who are able and ready to go deeper we encourage you to additionally choose one of the Food Fast options to implement once a week. 

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The most important thing is not on what you fast, but that you use the time you would have spent on that activity to focus on God.

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Replace the time you would spend eating/on media with prayer and Scripture. If you break your fast, don't give up—simply begin again. End food fasts gradually with light foods to avoid digestive issues.If you have medical conditions, are pregnant, nursing, or have any health concerns, please consult your physician before any food-related fast. 

Remember it’s not about what you fast from but rather what you fast for. The goal is to grow closer to God. You can do that by replacing your Netflix/Facebook scrolling time with prayer, Scripture, and worship just like you can do that by refraining from a meal.

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SOUL FAST (Media & Entertainment)

Great for beginners or those with health restrictions. Meant to be used during the entire 40 day journey. 

Choose to fast from one or more of the following:

  • Social Media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X/Twitter)
  • Streaming Services (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube)
  • Television or specific TV shows
  • Video Games or Gaming Apps
  • Non-essential phone use or specific apps
  • Unnecessary News consumption
  • Online shopping or browsing

FOOD FAST (Specific Foods/Meals)

 Choose to abstain from certain foods or meal times for one day a week during the 40 days. 

  • Skip one meal per day (breakfast or lunch) and use that time for prayer/reflection
  • Fast from sweets, desserts, and sugar
  • Fast from coffee or caffeinated beverages
  • Fast from snacking between meals
  • Fast from food 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM (or sunup to sundown)

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