Lent

Start where you’re at
If you've never fasted before, don't feel you have to do a big chunk to begin with, however a longer and more regular fast may be right for others.

Pick a regular & achievable period of time/day
We’re recommending Wednesdays as a good day to fast, the same day we’re meeting to pray on Zoom from 7:00-7:30am. Maybe skip breakfast and/or lunch on Wednesdays, and break your fast at dinner as you feast and celebrate God’s goodness.

Notice your emotions
There may be uncomfortable things that come to the surface. Take note of what is coming to mind and bring it to God in prayer. It may be helpful to journal across the weeks of Lent to track any themes and share them with a friend where appropriate.

As we fast from food, we feast on God and open ourselves up to his presence in our lives, making space for him to do in us what we can’t do for ourselves.

There are various forms of fasting which vary from tradition to tradition, but we would differentiate between four main types:

The Full Fast
This is the elimination of all food for a period of time. Some might only drink water, others might drink fruit juices at standard mealtimes. Ordinarily this might be for a day or a number of days. This is the normal type of fast found in the Bible.

The Partial Fast
This is where food is eaten, but not at certain times – for example: forgoing breakfast and lunch, but eating in the evening.

The Selective (or ‘Daniel’) Fast
This is where particular foods are not eaten during a period of fasting. In Daniel 10, Daniel fasted from ‘choice foods, meat and wine’ for a period of 21 days and then he received a breakthrough. It would be common for people undertaking a ‘Daniel fast’ to eliminate snacks, sweet foods, treats, meats and alcohol. With this type of fast, it’s important to remember to prioritise prayer, as hunger won’t be so much of a prompt as with other kinds of fasting.

The Soul Fast
This is where certain elements of distraction and/or entertainment are eliminated either entirely, or during certain periods of time. It could mean coming off all or various forms of social media and/or TV/Netflix altogether or during certain hours, in order to pray. It could mean limiting ‘screen time’ each day. This type of fasting is encouraged for everyone, either alongside a food fast of some type, or in place of a food fast, for those who are unable to fast from food, or for whom it is unwise.