- The Blameless Life
How To Prepare For A Fast As A Beginner And 5 Tips To Keep You In Line
Updated: Mar 6
Have you been wanting to do a fast? This is your sign to do it. Have you had the intention to do one before but weren’t quite sure how to begin? Or did you start a partial fast of 21 days and had to give it up because you almost passed out due to no proper planning?
That was specific.
Well it happened to me. That was my first attempt at fasting years ago. I was not prepared for it and I had to give up on the last day. There was no proper meal plan and I wasn’t eating well. What did it was not staying hydrated.
But I learned my lesson and have picked up a thing or two since.
There are some fasts I do that don’t require planning and some I still have to do planning for like the Daniel "fast." Which, by the way, it's not an actual fast. But it's a good place to start. The amount of planning depends on the length of the fast.
Preparing is important. Even more so if you’re a beginner and I’m going to tell you a simple way to do it. And some tips to keep you in check.
How To Prepare
Preparing for a fast consists of praying, planning, and knowing why you’re fasting. Knowing why you’re fasting is the first step. Prayer is crucial through it all. And you don’t want to go in unprepared, even more so as a newbie.
There are different types of fasts out there. The ones that are for a few days or even one day require zero to minimal planning. This how-to post is for those that are doing a partial fast for more than a few days.
DISCLAIMER: Please consult with your doctor first if you have specific dietary needs.
I should also add, fasting doesn't have to be abstaining from certain foods only. You could take a break from things such as social media, watching TV, etc... Anything that you've been spending too much time on. This is perfect for those that are underage or breastfeeding.
Depending on what you do for a living it is not recommended to do a full fast if it will affect your work. For example, a nurse fasting with shaking hands might make a mistake. So instead of food you can sacrifice something else.
This would even be a great time to do things you've been wanting to do. But focus more on getting closer to God
Ask yourself why you are fasting
There are several reasons why one might decide to do a fast. If you’re a Christian it’s most likely you want to: get closer to God, overcome a temptation, or develop discipline. Or you might be fasting for a breakthrough. Or you could be like me as often fast to refresh the spirit.
Knowing the reason why you are fasting is a good start. This will set your expectation and will give you direction.
Prayer
Prayer is crucial. It is your connection to God. Pray before you start your fasting, during, and after. Pray throughout the whole process. This is where you’ll ask God for strength and fight any battle in the spiritual realm.
Prayer is fundamental to your fast. Be sure to keep an open heart and an open ear for God. Above all be sure to listen for God's voice!
Planning
Depending on the type of fast you’re doing you will plan according to it. It’s essential to plan ahead so you don’t become frustrated in the middle of it. Even more so when you are doing one like the Daniel fast. This is because of the food list of what you can and can’t eat. And planning meals ahead will save you time and roadblocks.
If you will be restricting certain foods you can start to wean off of them weeks or days before. But that is up to you.
Also, it would be a great idea to keep a journal and write down your experience.
5 Tips To Help You
1. Stick to your plan. Don’t compromise anything. If you do you’re more likely to compromise again.
2. Keep yourself disciplined. This is important as it will keep you on the right path.
3. Don’t make it obvious you’re fasting. The Bible says in Matthew 6:16, “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others.”
4. If you’re new to fasting, take it slow, and don’t be hard on yourself.
5. Should you fail, don’t give up. Pick up where you left off and keep going. Don’t let it distract you from your mission.
This Isn’t The Only Way To Prepare
A partial fast is recommended for beginner fasters. But at one point you want to level up and do a true biblical fast.
Prepping yourself for fasting is important. Knowing the reason you fast will keep give you guidance. Prayer will keep you connected to God and will give you strength. Planning should help you focus.
This isn’t the only way to prepare for a fast. But it is what works for me. If you’re new to fasting give it a try and let me know how it works for you.
You’ll realize the more you do it the more you’ll pick up on a couple of things. You may not need to plan anymore as you’ll know what to do.
Thinking about doing a fast soon? Below is a printable fasting sheet you can download to help you get planning.
