In this second of our two posts on the subject of fasting, we turn our attention to the practical issues. Drawing on a number of frequent questions, we examine good practices for wisely and fully engaging in a fast. For a discussion of Jesus teaching and the Biblical vision of fasting, why not take a look at the first post

Are there any people who should not consider fasting?

If you are physically ill, have a long-standing medical condition, are pregnant or know of any other physical reasons why you shouldn’t be fasting, then you should not enter into the fast. If you have had struggles with eating in the past it would be wise to speak honestly with a trusted church leader who knows you before considering participation.

What level of participation should I pursue?



In my church we tend to set aside a week at the beginning of each term to concentrate on prayer and fasting to God. I ask everyone in the church to seek God and use their common sense when deciding how much to participate. For some people this might mean taking a couple of days out of each week to fast, others will miss certain meals, still others might fast the whole time: All are legitimate if the fast is undertaken for God and under His guidance.

What constitutes ‘food’?



Basically anything with nutritional value whether it is a solid or a liquid. As mentioned before, in Scripture fasting involves the omission of all food and the ingestion of only water.

How should I prepare to fast?

Spiritually - have a spiritual ‘clear out’ in your life prior to the fast: Forgive people you need to forgive, confess any sin as that might hinder your prayers (see Psalm 66:16-20 for a good example) and pray with a trusted friend through any hidden things that need to be brought into the light. Repentance is the foundation of prayer and fasting to God.

Physically - if you plan to fast more than a day at a time, you should consider eating smaller meals a couple of days before the fast. There can be a big drop in your blood sugar if you normally have a high fat and sugar diet so it is best to reduce your intake of these before the fast.

Are there any general physical concerns a healthy person should have going into and coming out of the fast?

Everybody has a different metabolism and so will be affected differently by fasting. However, some general comments can be made:

If you usually drink a lot of tea, coffee or other caffeinated drinks, cutting them out can cause your body to suffer caffeine withdrawal (resulting in headaches etc.) Maybe you could cut down prior to the fast so it is not such a shock to the system.

Bearing in mind the above, you may wish to drink some prune juice or something with a similar laxative effect prior to undertaking an extended fast, to guard against constipation. One side-effect of fasting can be bad breath. To combat this, for the sake of others, you might like to add a slice of lemon to your water!

If you have fasted for more than a week or so you should be wise about how you break the fast. Your digestive system will have ‘gone to sleep’ and you should not immediately bombard it with lots of food (even if you are very hungry!) but work up gradually, starting with juice, fruit and other easily digestible foods.

How can I use my time most wisely whilst fasting?