To help you get started, we've mapped out some fasting possibilities for you to think about. This is by no means a comprehensive list. The way you choose to fast is between you and God, but these are some of the most common fasting choices that people have expressed to us.
In each fasting opportunity, we've listed three potential ways for you to engage with fasting: Open, Grow, and Thrive. If this is your first time fasting, Open is a great choice for you to dip your toe in the water this year. Grow is if you are familiar with fasting and would like to take a step into deeper waters, and Thrive is for those who are well-practiced in fasting.
We hope you find these suggestion helpful as you start your journey.
Do you find yourself mindlessly eating out of boredom? Maybe most of your time is spent thinking about preparing your next meal. If so, perhaps food has become a distraction from God. Below we have mapped out some simple recommendations to open up to fasting, grow, or thrive depending on where you are in your fasting journey.
*Note: If you have ever struggled with dieting, eating disorders, or have health issues centered around food, we do not recommend you choose food as your fast.
Open
Empty yourself by fasting from a specific food item for 40 days (not including Sundays). This can be any food item of your choice that you feel has control over you in some way.
Fill yourself by reciting the Lord's Prayer any time you have a craving for this specific food item or feel tempted.
Helpful Hint: There are no fasting rules. If you're just getting started, try giving up this food item until noon each day or every other day. Pray for guidance to find your fast.
Grow
Empty yourself by fasting from one meal each day. Try to make it the same meal at the same time each day for focus and consistency.
Fill yourself by using the 30 min to 1 hour that you would have been eating to read a different Parable of Jesus each day and pray about what God is teaching you.
Thrive
Empty yourself by fasting from all food until 4pm each day. Don't forget to drink lots of water.
Fill yourself by doing 20 minutes of prayer time in the morning during breakfast and 30 minutes of Scripture reading during lunch. Any time your stomach grumbles throughout the day, stop and thank God for all of the blessings in your life.
Drinking for pleasure rather than sustenance can become a wedge between us and God. If you can't imagine going a day without your coffee, soda, beer, or any beverage, it might have too much power over you. Consider replacing this need with a need for God's presence.
Open
Empty yourself by replacing one beverage each day with water.
Fill yourself by being intentional with the time you are drinking water rather than consuming it absentmindedly. Thank God for the gift of life with every gulp you take.
Grow
Empty yourself by fasting from a specific beverage for 40 days (not including Sundays). This can be any beverage of your choice that you feel has control over you in some way.
Fill yourself by reciting the Lord's Prayer any time you have a craving for this specific beverage or feel tempted.
Helpful Hint: There are no fasting rules. If you're just getting started, try giving up this food item until noon each day or every other day. Pray for guidance to find your fast.
Thrive
Empty yourself by only drinking water for 40 days and removing all other beverages.
Fill yourself by stopping to say a prayer of gratitude and thanksgiving after every glass of water you drink.
Have you ever noticed your attitude shift after listening to talk radio, watching national news, or clicking on headlines through your favorite social network? Knowing what's going on in the world is helpful, but consuming too much news can distort our view of the world in negative ways. If you find yourself getting sucked into the latest news, it could be distracting you from a relationship with God. Consider fasting from news this Lent.
Open
Empty yourself by giving up news for specific times each day. You can commit to a specific time (I won't check the news until 10 am) or simply try to make it through your first 15 minutes of being awake.
Fill yourself by starting each day with a prayer rather than turning on the news or checking headlines on your phone.
Grow
Empty yourself by only watching the local news at one time each day. Remove national news, talk radio, news podcasts, etc. from your routine.
Fill yourself with the Good News for 30 minutes each day by reading through one of the Gospels during Lent (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John).
Thrive
Empty yourself by completely giving up news programming of any kind on any platform.
Fill yourself with positivity by keeping a daily journal of ways God has blessed you each day of Lent.
In our culture it's easy to get caught up in the "more" mindset. Everything is on demand and available instantly. If I see shoes I like on Amazon, I buy them. I have the extra money, so why not spend it? If you find yourself clicking the "Buy Now" button without a second thought, it might be a good idea to fast from extra spending this Lent.
Open
Empty yourself by only allowing one "non-essential" purchase each day. You might have to figure out what is non-essential. That Starbucks coffee might not make the list.
Fill yourself by writing down a prayer and putting it in the place of your credit card. When you are tempted to spend extra, repeat that prayer.
Grow
Empty yourself by giving up Amazon or Walmart (or wherever is most convenient for extra spending) for 40 days.
Fill yourself by reading daily Scriptures about generosity at the beginning of each day.
Thrive
Empty yourself by suspending all non-essential spending for 40 days.
Fill yourself with generosity by reading daily Scriptures about generosity and donating the money you would have spent on extras to Mozambique Missions.
During shelter-in-place and quarantine times, it has become so easy to replace God with Netflix, Hulu, HBO, or whatever streaming service you prefer. We binge podcasts, tv shows, and have marathons of gaming just to fill our time. If this has become the norm for you, consider fasting from your favorite form of entertainment to make room for God.
Open
Empty yourself by choosing not to engage with entertainment content from 8am to 8pm on weekdays. (Or whatever days/ times you choose)
Fill yourself by going on a walk, practicing yoga, or participating in a calming activity to clear your mind and talk to God instead of choosing entertainment.
Grow
Empty yourself by giving up entertainment for a 24 hour period each week or multiple days each week.
Fill yourself by using that time to read spiritual books, reconnect with friends or family, or spend time in prayer.
Thrive
Empty yourself by fasting from all entertainment-driven content for 40 days.
Fill yourself by creating a nightly schedule of spiritual practices that you can experience instead of watching tv, listening to podcasts, or playing video games.
Do you have a mini anxiety attack or stress spike if your phone or iPad isn't within arm's reach? We've all felt that emptiness when we realize we've accidentally left our phone at home. If you see your screen time creeping up week after week, you might be unintentionally shutting out space for God. Try fasting from technology for Lent.
Open
Empty yourself switching to an old fashioned alarm clock to keep from looking at your phone first thing in the morning. Try to keep that going for 15 minutes each day or every other day.
Fill yourself by using the first 15 minutes of your day to read Scripture and pray that you will see what God is trying to show you this Lent.
Grow
Empty yourself by limiting your phone usage to connect with people rather than scrolling social networks, playing games, or reading articles. Basically, if you're not interacting with another human then don't do it.
Fill yourself by listening to our daily audio devotion when you start to feel the itch to tinker on your phone.
Thrive
Empty yourself by only using your phone for phone calls for 40 days. You can check your email when you get to your computer, and why text when you can call?
Fill yourself with connection by choosing a new person every day to call and ask how they are doing. Pray before you make the phone call for God to be with you.