Partial Fasting: What Type of Fasting That Pleases God?

Partial fasting in the Bible is described in the Old and New Testament. The prophet Daniel fasted for three weeks. His fasting involved abstaining from eating meat and wine. In that case, it’s not the same as the intermittent fasting that many people practice today to lose weight. In this post, let’s focus on the Biblical fasting and not the IF you may have been practicing to help you lose body fat.

Partial Fasting in the Bible: The Purpose

This type of fasting was commonly practiced by the Hebrew people. It can be abstaining from eating a certain type of food during a specific time of the day. You may also partially fast by choosing to eat once a day, or in today’s diet, it’s called one meal a day (OMAD).

Biblical fasting’s intention isn’t to help you lose weight. Rather, it was intended to focus on prayer. In Jesus’ time, religious people did fast. And it was considered weird if they didn’t (which is practically the opposite today). For instance, John the Baptist, one of the disciples of Jesus and an important prophet, fasted often. Even a group of leaders who opposed the teachings of Jesus fasted.

During His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told His followers how to fast. But. He told them not to make a show out of it.

“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. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that I will not be obvious to others that you’re fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:16-18

The hypocrites that Jesus was talking about would look haggard. But it was intentional. They disfigured their faces and appeared somber. But that was just for a show. In that way, people would know that they were making a sacrifice. And Jesus didn’t want His disciples to do it. Jesus said that if your primary purpose is to get human approval, then the only thing you would get is human applause.

That’s why He wanted His followers to wash their faces when they fasted. In that way, they’d look normal and joyful. True fasting must be kept a secret. It must be between you and the Holy Spirit. This is to ensure that your focus remains on God, instead of self-glory.

Christians Fasting

For many Christians today, fasting is no longer about earning God’s love. It’s also not a hunger strike to force His hand. Rather, it’s about spiritual growth. When Christians fast, they can hear the Spirit of God more clearly. Fasting also helps when seeking God’s assistance in times of crisis or for a spiritual breakthrough.

In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, numerous examples of people who were engaged in different types of fasts. Each fast had its own length of time, and the food intake allowed.

For instance, in the normal fast, it involves not eating any type of food. But you can still drink water. Jesus did it in the wilderness. Then, there’s the Daniel fast. He abstained from choice food, meat, and wine. But he still ate vegetables and whole grains. Daniel’s fast was done in Babylon. The absolute fast was more extreme. It means that you don’t eat food or drink water. It’s a complete fast. Queen Esther, for instance, was one of the Biblical figures who did an absolute fast.

Many Christians and Early church leaders used shorter fasts and extended fasts when they wished to seek God’s will. King David and John the Baptist practiced shorter fasts.

How to Do Partial Fasting?

If it’s your first fast, it’s a good idea not to go absolutely fast or full fast immediately. You can go for shorter fasts, like 8 hours.

For instance, you can do the Daniel Fast. It means that you avoid pleasant food for three weeks. This is a spiritual fast that focuses on clean eating. It means that you must abstain from consuming sweets and processed items. This is contrary to what the proponents of fasting today are saying, that you can eat whatever you want.

The liquid fast is another form of Biblical fasting. Juice fasts or a liquid fasts involves drinking only water and consuming only broth. You won’t be eating solid food. But to keep your energy up, you’ll drink water, juice, or broth. Corporate fasting is intended for a shared spiritual purpose. It happens when a group of God’s people fast together. This happens during the days of prayer.

It’s true that biblical fasting is designed to seek God’s will or to focus on God. However, this isn’t for everyone. Every person’s digestive system is different. When you fast, it’s important to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. But if you have a medical condition, you must not engage in a normal fast. It’s not safe for you.

Not a Hunger Strike

You may think that fasting can help boost your prayers. That is, you may assume that if you fast while praying, God will hear you more. But it doesn’t work that way. Remember that prayer is about how you bring your prayers to Him. God always favors the humble and not the proud.

Fasting was often accompanied by weeping, mourning, and lamenting. When you fast, you’re allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal your true self. Your confidence in God will also be strengthened as you’ll feel mentally and spiritually refreshed.

What Should You Do During Fasting

During Biblical fasting, you must set aside time to worship and seek God. Make this the time to enjoy the Lord. Start by repenting of your sins and asking for God’s forgiveness. This is vital to make sure that your sin doesn’t hinder your communication with God.

This is also the best time to study Scripture passages to seek His will. During this fasting period, you must not rush your time with HIm. Take your time to listen to Him. Keep a record of ideas and insights you have observed. This allows you to turn down the noise. From here, you can easily hear God because your mind isn’t busy thinking about food or drink.

For first-time fasters, you may feel hunger after a few hours of starting to fast. Don’t eat. Instead, drink plenty of water. Apple juice can boost your morale. It’s also vital that you have plenty of rest. Thus, make sure to get 8 hours of sleep. The first few days can be challenging for your mental and physical health. Motivation and perseverance are what you need throughout this period.

How to End Your Fast?

Breaking the fast also takes discipline. You may be thinking of eating a huge meal. When I fasted for 23 hours, I broke my fast with quarter pounder with cheese, large fries, and McFlurry. That was a huge mistake. I was already hungry just an hour after that. Remember that while fasting, the stomach contracts. The digestive system is busy eliminating what you have eaten prior to fasting. The longer you fast, the longer it takes for the digestive organs to function at full speed again.

That’s why it’s ideal to end your fast with a small glass of water as your first meal. Then, gradually introduce small amounts of food, like soup, yogurt, and cooked vegetables.

Difference Between a Muslim Fast and a Partial Fast

Both practices aim to devote time to the Lord. But there are differences between the two fasts. In Islam, fasting is one of the five pillars of faith. Muslims’ fasting is an absolute fast. That is, they don’t eat from dawn to sunset. They don’t eat or drink during the daylight hours. This commitment repeats for 30 days during the month of Ramadan. The fast is broken with Iftar. The goal of fasting here is for self-discipline and empathy for the poor.

For Christians, a partial fast involves the restriction of some types of food, instead of total abstinence from all food. Christians can eat throughout the day, but they can’t eat pork and beef. The menu for Christian fasting includes consuming whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. No meat, sweets, or wine. Fasting happens during Lent season. It mirrors the 40-day fasts of Jesus Christ.

For us Catholics, we don’t eat meat on Fridays of Lent. Some of us only eat once a day. But because of my medical condition, I don’t practice full fasting. I just don’t eat meat on Fridays.

Fasting is quite challenging. That’s why if you want to start practicing it, you must ensure that your body is ready for it. Remember that it’s not just about a physical fast. You’re doing it for God. Since you’re fasting for God, you must focus on prayer. Without prayer and bible study, it’s just a diet. Use your acting time to talk to God.

If you’re doing a liquid fast or skipping meals, make sure that you hydrate yourself. Don’t opt for a full fast if you have a medical condition. Most of all, don’t brag about it. As Jesus states, avoid the somber look to seek attention.

Pray for Your Journey

Fasting for spiritual growth is different from fasting for weight loss or health. When the hunger pangs set in, make sure to turn them into spiritual prompts. Focus on praying to God. Make sure to avoid the hypocrite trap. Don’t tell the world that you’re fasting. If they ask, just say you’re not hungry or that you’re taking a break. It also helps to keep a journal of the bible verses you want to focus on or study. It makes your primary purpose front and center.

Many Christians fast, but they fill their time scrolling on their phones. To make your fasting a truly biblical experience, make sure to use your fasting time for bible study or quiet reflection. Listen to the spirit. This is the best time for you to listen more than you speak. That’s because your mind isn’t busy thinking about food. It’s busy thinking about God.

To Stay on Track

Partial fast is quite easy. To ensure that you’re meeting your spiritual goals, remove all temptations. You may stay in one room with no TVs or phones. If you’re hungry, just drink water. If you’re doing an extended fast, avoid heavy exercise.

This is your time to focus on yourself and God. Use it wisely. Partial fasting in the Bible has no specific rules regarding food. But you can modify your fasting. The most important thing here is to be with God. This is the time for you to focus on Him and Him alone. Avoid those distractions. Journal what you feel. Pray faithfully. Use this partial fast to sharpen your spiritual ears. When you deny your cravings, you’re telling your soul that God’s word is enough to energize you.

Jane is a Roman Catholic on a journey of re-learning about God and deepening her understanding of the Bible. She has over a decade of experience as a copywriter. Her goal is to blend her passion for writing with her spiritual journey. She writes content that doesn’t just uplift but also connects with people who wish to seek a deeper understanding of God’s word. Follow Jane on LinkedIn or Instagram.

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