Experiencing True Transformation Through Fasting and Surrender

"Although I had fasted before, I did not truly understand the purpose of fasting until I was incarcerated."

During a church-wide, 21-day fast at the beginning of the year, I asked the Lord what He wanted me to give up. Almost immediately, I sensed Him asking me to surrender some of my favorite foods — rice, pasta, bread, crackers, sweets. I wasn't seeking a miracle. I simply wanted to know Him more deeply.

What happened during those weeks surprised me. Scriptures, sermons, and biblical truths I had heard years earlier suddenly became clear. It was as if the Lord was opening my understanding and teaching me directly through His Word. That season changed my perspective on fasting forever.

I learned that fasting is not about giving something up. It is about making more room for God.

What Fasting Really Is

Today, the word "fasting" gets applied to many things — stepping away from social media, turning off the television, putting down the phone, or cutting out a habit. While those practices can be valuable disciplines, they are not what the Bible means by fasting. When we see fasting in Scripture, it always involves abstaining from food for a spiritual purpose. Fasting has always been a normal part of a relationship with God. It brings us into a deeper, more intimate, and more powerful relationship with the Lord.

When you remove food for part of a day or for a number of days, your spirit becomes less occupied with the things of this world and more sensitive to the Lord. Fasting should be a part of every Christian's life.

Note: Before beginning any fast, consult your doctor if you are pregnant, nursing, managing a chronic illness, or have any medical condition where restricting food or water may affect your health. This content is for spiritual encouragement only and is not medical advice.

Jesus taught about fasting in Matthew 6:16:

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." (Matthew 6:16 NIV)

Notice that Jesus said "when you fast," not "if you fast." This tells us that fasting is something He expects believers to practice.

Fasting crucifies the "king stomach" — the desires of the flesh that seek to rule our lives. We see this principle from the very beginning. Sin entered the world through eating. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, and their disobedience caused them to hide from God's presence (Genesis 3:6-10).

Esau is another example. He despised his birthright for a bowl of stew. His desire for immediate satisfaction caused him to trade a lasting inheritance for one meal (Genesis 25: 29-34).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary says:

"Those who are under the power of a carnal mind, will have their lusts fulfilled, though it be to the certain damage and ruin of their precious souls."

The flesh and the Spirit are opposed to one another. Scripture says:

"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want." (Galatians 5:16–17 NIV)

Three Types of Fasts in the Bible

1. Absolute Fast

An absolute fast involves abstaining from both food and water. Moses practiced this type of fast:

"Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments." (Exodus 34:28 NIV)

2. Normal Fast

A normal fast involves abstaining from food while drinking water and other liquids as needed. Jesus practiced a normal fast in the wilderness:

"After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry." (Matthew 4:2 NIV)

The Bible specifically says that Jesus was hungry. It does not mention thirst, which tells us He abstained from food but continued to drink. A normal fast may vary in length. Depending on the duration, some people choose to drink water, clear liquids, or juices to maintain their strength.

3. Partial Fast

A partial fast involves abstaining from certain foods or drinks for a time period. Daniel is an example:

"I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over." (Daniel 10:3 NIV)

Seeking God's Direction in Fasting

Whenever you desire to fast, seek God's direction regarding what type of fast He wants you to undertake and for how long. He is the One who prepares us and gives us the strength to complete the fast when our desire is to please Him.

Partial and complete fasts may be observed during specific hours of the day or for longer periods of time. Whether your purpose is to draw closer to God or to bring a specific request before Him, fasting should always be accompanied by prayer and the Word of God.

Fasting is not dieting. Fasting itself becomes a continual prayer before God.

You may fast alone or with a group. At times, ministries or entire churches fast together. This provides encouragement and accountability as believers support one another. The Bible teaches:

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, 12 NIV)

May fasting draw us into a deeper relationship with God, increase our sensitivity to His voice, and strengthen us to walk in the Spirit rather than according to the desires of the flesh.

Six Biblical Purposes of Fasting

Across the Old and New testaments, fasting served a range of purposes. Here are six that appear consistently throughout Scripture.

1. To Draw Closer to God

Fasting creates space. When we remove the noise of food, entertainment, and routine, we become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Anna the prophetess "worshiped night and day, fasting and praying", not as a burden, but as devotion (Luke 2:37).

2. To Humble the Soul

Physical hunger is a reminder of our dependence on God. David wrote I, "humbled myself with fasting" (Psalm 35:13). Even King Ahab, one of Israel's most wicked rulers, received mercy when he fasted and humbled himself before God (1 Kings 21:27–29).

3. To Seek God's Guidance

Before major decisions, the early church fasted. When the Holy Spirit called Paul and Barnabas to missionary work, the church "fasted and prayed" before sending them out (Acts 13:2–3). Fasting quiets self-will so we can hear God's direction more clearly.

4. To Repent and Return

"Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning" (Joel 2:12). Throughout Scripture, fasting accompanied genuine repentance, a physical expression of an inward turning back to God.

5. To Seek Protection and Deliverance

When Queen Esther faced a life-or-death moment, she called for a three-day fast among all the Jews (Esther 4:16). Ezra proclaimed a fast before a dangerous journey, asking God for safe passage (Ezra 8:21–23). Fasting invites God's protection into impossible situations.

6. To Prepare for Spiritual Warfare

Jesus fasted 40 days before beginning His public ministry (Matthew 4:1–11). Fasting strengthens the spirit and sharpens discernment, making us less vulnerable to deception and more prepared for God's work.

The Fast God Chooses

Isaiah 58:6 describes the fast God values most:

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?"

True fasting is not performance. It is not about appearing spiritual or impressing others. Jesus warned against making fasting a public display (Matthew 6:16–18). The goal is always inward transformation — a heart that grows more tender toward God and more open to His Word.

That is exactly what happened in that prison during a 21-day fast. No dramatic miracle. No burning bush. Just a quiet, unmistakable clarity — Scripture coming alive, truth becoming personal, and a deeper knowing of the One who was already there.

Practical Ways to Fast

There is no single correct method. Here are four common types rooted in Scripture:

Type of Fast	What It Involves	Biblical Example
Normal Fast	No food; water only	Matthew 4:2 (Jesus)
Partial Fast	Giving up certain foods	Daniel 10:3 (Daniel Fast)
Absolute Fast	No food or water	Esther 4:16
Soul Fast	Abstaining from media, entertainment, or habits to redirect time to prayer	Isaiah 58:6–7

Making Room for God

Fasting will not earn God's favor. You are already loved. But it does shift your attention — from what fills the stomach or flesh to what fills the soul. It trains desire. It builds spiritual muscle. And sometimes, in the quietest, most unlikely places, it opens your ears to hear what God has been saying all along.

You do not have to be in a prison to fast with purpose. You just have to be willing to create the space.