7 Best Steps for Successful Fasting and Prayers

Fasting and prayer is a Christian's best weapon to seek God's guidance during a pivotal moment in their life. It's one of the spiritual disciplines that produce potent and perceptible results. Christians have been using fasting and prayer for two thousand years. Fasting has become an enduring discipline for the church to grow closer to God. It helps build deeper intimacy and open the doors of your soul for God to speak directly with you.

What is Fasting?

According to Dictionary.com, fasting is to abstain from solid food, or to "eat only sparingly or of certain kinds of food, especially as a religious observance."

You might have also heard of the Daniel Fast, which is a different type of fast in which you avoid meat, wine, and rich foods in favor of water, fruits and vegetables for 21 days of prayer and fasting to grow closer to God.

In Daniel 9:3-5 KJV, it goes into detail about Daniel's fast:

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

As you see here, fasting can be used as a statement of faith to build a deeper relationship with God.

Why Should Christians Fast?

Maybe now you're wondering "Why should Christians fast?" The reasons lean heavily on the Old Testament. Here are some reasons:

Sanctification: Moses fasted for 40 days before he went up the mountain to receive the commandments. Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness while being tempted by the devil.

Repentance: God's people know they are sinful. Typically they realize their rebellion and come seeking God's grace. Fasting shows an inward heart of repentance to God. Such acts might not earn His forgiveness but demonstrated genuine contrition. This is demonstrated in 1 Samuel 7:6 KJV:

And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

Grief: God's people also used fasting as a way to mourn. It represents a faithful heart to God even amidst great tragedies. You can see it during the death of Saul in 1 Samuel 31:11-13 KJV:

And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;

All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.

And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

Before God comes in with the revival of the nations, the Holy Spirit will call God's people to repent, fast, and pray. According 2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Fasting in the Bible

There are many Bible verses that help us find the true meaning of prayer and fasting.

Jesus Christ fasted for 40 days and 40 nights after His baptism by John the Baptist. In Matthew 4:1-2 KJV:

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

David fasted after committing adultery with Bathsheba. In 2 Samuel 12:13-20 KJV:

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

Moses fasted for 40 days before he went up the mountain to receive God's commandments written on stone tablets. In Deuteronomy 9:9-10 KJV

When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the Lord made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water:

And the Lord delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the Lord spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.

Paul/Saul fasted for three days when he encountered Jesus. In Acts 9:7-9 KJV:

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. There are different types of fasting in the Bible. Spiritual fasting allows you to humble yourself, grow closer to God, and spend quiet time in God's word. Fasting helps in your quest of finding hope in difficult circumstances.

7 Steps for How to Fast and Pray for a Breakthrough

In this section, we will break down how to fast and pray. We have created a list of basic steps to successfully help you prepare yourself for praying and fasting. Let's break down how to do a Biblical fast for a breakthrough:

1. Determine Your Prayer Requests

Your fasting is centered around your spiritual growth, so it starts in your prayer life. Some people create a prayer guide to use through their days of prayer and fasting. It can be as simple as laying down the goals and objectives of the fast. Ask yourself why you are fasting. Seek the Holy Spirit to clarify the intent of the fast.

2. Commit to Your Fast

Pray about what kind of fast you want to take on. Some people might take on a day fast, while others will choose juice fasting. Here is a simple way to do this:

• Determine the length of your fast: is it a meal, a week, a month?

• What kind of fast does God want you to select?

• What times of fasting do you want to dedicate to prayer and meditation of God's word?

Writing down these commitments help you sustain the fast when the world tells you abandon it.

3. Prepare Yourself Physically

Fasting is not always easy to start. If you are a beginner, you might not want to do a lengthy fast right away. Please take the necessary precautions, especially if you have medical issues. You should see a physician if you need professional assistance.

• Begin to taper your meals days before starting a fast

• Avoid sugary or high-fat food before the fast

• Try eating more fruits, vegetables, and water two days before starting a fast

4. Prepare Yourself Spiritually

The foundation of prayer and fasting is to grow closer to God. Begin by sanctifying yourself:

• Look at yourself for unrepentant sin

• Confess your sins to God and ask for forgiveness

• Ask God to guide you, surrender your life to Jesus Christ

• Meditate on how you can become more Christ-like

• Don't underestimate the attacks of the enemy. Sometimes the battle between the flesh and the spirit are intense as your fast.

5. Following Through

When you start fasting, follow through with the fast you committed to. Here are some helpful guidelines:

• Limit physical activity

• Rest as much as your day-to-day allows

• Prepare for physical and mental discomforts. Withdrawal from food, caffeine, and sugar can cause headaches. You may also feel tired or weak throughout the day.

The first three days of the fast are the most difficult. Your spirit and flesh will be challenged. Drink more water as you fast.

6. Prayers and Meditation

This is the most important part of the fast. Focus on using this time to grow your relationship with God. Here are some ideas on how you can do this:

• Start your day with prayers and worship

• Meditate on the Bible

• Invite the Holy Spirit to guide you on your day

• Ask God to give guidance on His will for you, your family, and your community

• Pray on His vision for your life.

• Avoid distractions like YouTube or television

7. Breaking Your Fast

Now that your fasting is complete, you can begin to nourish your body again. But do it slowly! Try starting with smaller meals or snacks before eating solid meals. Here are some tips:

• Try eating salad or fruits for the first day

• Begin to introduce rice and carbs your second day

• Start moving back into your normal diet on the third day

Final Words

If you are sincerely seeking the Lord, your times of fasting will be eye-opening and amazing. You will start to see God working in all aspects of your life. As you stop depending on the world (food) and you start relying on God, you will experience His goodness in your life. You will see major breakthroughs and miracles in all things. You will see that God will win all your victories for you.

God bless!