Lent is a season in which we remember Jesus fasting for forty days in the wilderness as he faced temptation from the devil (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13). Historically, fasting has been an integral part of the season of Lent, a time to intentionally abstain from something we enjoy in order to be reminded of our great need for God. Feeling the hunger as we fast from a meal, for example, serves as a tangible reminder of our deeper hunger for God. When we fast from something like social media, we turn our attention to prayer each time we feel the urge to pick up our phones. 

Fasting also opens us up to the spiritual practice of prayer. It makes space for us to communicate and commune with God. It helps us to discern the voice of God in a world of busyness, noise, and distraction. Therefore, the end goal of fasting is not self-improvement, weight loss, breaking bad habits, or bending God’s will. We’re not trying to earn something or convince God and others that we’re holy or worthy of love. Rather, fasting starves the distractions of our lives so that we can feast on God.

Dr. Dan Allender puts it this way, “Fasting from any nourishment, activity, involvement or pursuit—for any season—sets the stage for God to appear.” 

It can be helpful to make a fasting plan for the season of Lent. Traditionally, fasting is about abstaining from food. That’s what Jesus did for 40 days in the wilderness, and we see countless other biblical examples, from Moses and Elijah in the Old Testament to Anna and Paul in the New. 

Our recommendation for Lent is to choose one day a week to fast from food. In the time you would normally be cooking or eating, give yourself to prayer. Let your desire for food become a desire for God as you turn your attention to Jesus. Below, you’ll find a written guide for making a fasting plan. 

It has also become common to give up something non-traditional for Lent, like sweets, or alcohol, or coffee. We recommend being intentional about choosing from what to fast. Here is an audio guide that can help you prayerfully discern from what to fast. 

FASTING GUIDE:
Make a fasting plan for the remainder of the season of Lent.

Traditionally, fasting is about abstaining from food, so try starting there. We recommend fasting until sundown one day per week during Lent. Here are some tips… 

• Pick a day that works for you. Wednesdays or Fridays are ideal if you want to get in touch with Christians around the world and throughout church history. If possible, do this with your community to encourage and enliven your weekly practice.
• Fast until sundown that day every week. Then, eat a simple meal in gratitude.
• If a full day is too much for your body or soul, start smaller. Skip breakfast and break the fast at lunch or 3 p.m. The goal is to make fasting a part of your regular life, not try it once or twice, hate it, and never try it again. Start where you are, not where you feel like you “should” be.
• In the time you would normally be cooking, eating, or cleaning, give yourself to prayer. Let your desire for food point you to Jesus as you open yourself to him.

Note: Please modify as needed for health reasons, and also consider whether it would be supportive for you to meet with a therapist or doctor as you think about engaging in this practice. As a community, ask how you can support and include those who need to modify this practice. We recommend this podcast interview between John Mark Comer and Dr. Alison Cook where they discuss the relationship between fasting and body image at length.

Additionally, we recommend fasting from something non-traditional during Lent. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you think of one thing that you might fast from, such as chocolate, coffee, social media, or alcohol. Intentionally and prayerfully commit to your fast, and tell someone you trust about your plan.