You have probably heard of Christians going on a fast and you’ve thought to yourself ” I can’t survive a day without food” or perhaps even if you have the willpower, you don’t know where to start.

I am aware that you can fast other things other than food. However, a food-fast is what is predominantly emphasised in the Bible and to date, remains the most challenging to the mind and body.

To be honest, even though I was a legacy Christian, I never managed to fast for more than a few hours until I was born of the Holy Spirit on 29 January 2023. On the day I was born again by the Holy Spirit, I fasted for three days, and that marked the beginning of a new life in Christ. The eyes of my understanding were opened, and I have never looked back.

Since then, I have been on numerous fasts, some long, some short but I can never term any fast as easy. I’ve come to realise that without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, fasting is an uphill task. Denying your flesh for the sake of growing your spirit is challenging because you are going against your human nature.

“What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature. For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what our human nature wants. These two are enemies, and this means that you cannot do what you want to do.”- Galatians 5:16-17

Before initiating a fast, I would compel you to pray and ask for the Holy Spirit’s direction on what fast you are to do in relation to what you are seeking. Whether it’s a breakthrough, deliverance, intervention, an impartation or to draw nearer to God. The Spirit of God knows the mind of God and therefore knows all things and has the ability to guide you in making the decision.

I would also urge you to have at least one covenant day of a sunrise to sunset fast weekly to keep your spirit alert and in check (1 Peter 5:8). I have compiled a list of Biblical fasts you can do, along with their scripture references. All the best as you journey on, you got this!

Read about different types of Biblical fasts here