These on-ramps are meant to help you start fasting in a way that’s attainable for you. The Lord rewards all fasting, and it’s not about judging whether your fast is as robust as someone else’s. “For the Lord sees not as man sees. For man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7b).
Our advice is to pray, choose a method and get started. It can be hard at first, but breakthrough—and confidence—will come. Don’t give in to the temptation to quit. Invite a friend to pray for you or even fast with you to give you strength in numbers.
Fasting is about gaining confidence that you can live without food and learning to turn your hunger toward God. Fill the time you would have spent eating with worship, prayer, Scripture study and God-oriented activities—otherwise, you might be doing little more than dieting.
Fasting is best done regularly. Try setting aside one day per week to start. If you become accustomed to that, pray about adding a second day. Keep an open heart if God calls you to a longer fast, or, on rare occasions, shortens your fast.
Using these tips, you can soon be on the way to saying, like Job, “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12b).
Blessings as His joy begins to fill your heart!
Disclaimer: This is not intended as medical advice; please check with your doctor first if you are pregnant or have any health issues or concerns. Minors are discouraged from fasting food and should always ask their parents before doing any fasting. {eoa}
For additional resources: Read Mike Bickle’s book The Rewards of Fasting (free ebook download) and IHOPKC’s “Fasting Guidelines”. Further teachings are available on Mike Bickle’s website.
A Detroit native who was raised in Vermont and Connecticut, Adam Wittenberg worked as a newspaper journalist until 2012, when he moved to Kansas City to complete the Intro to IHOPKC internship. Afterwards, he earned a four-year certificate in House of Prayer Leadership from IHOPU and is now on full-time staff in the Marketing department at IHOPKC. Adam is also active in evangelism and has a vision to reach people everywhere with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Janet Perez Eckles 
Shawn Akers 
Abby Trivett