The topic of fasting is widely debated among Christians today, with some even denying the need to fast altogether. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions around this spiritual discipline. Many dismiss this sacred Christian practice as archaic or unnecessary. Others who do believe in fasting often view it purely as a form of self-denial, almost a punishment for their lack of holiness. There are even those who think that the harder and more gruelling their fast is, the more pleased God will be, turning fasting into a work that earns them "holiness points."

Our perception of fasting is vital because it directly affects our approach to the practice and the spiritual benefits we receive from it. Ever since I gained a healthier perspective on fasting, the blessings I have received during these seasons have completely transformed my life.

The most vital truth about fasting is that it must never put "I" at the centre. Scripture speaks of the necessity that we must decrease so that He may increase, and this must be the heart posture of every fast. Sadly, many believers undertake seasons of fasting armed with long lists of requests, like a child writing a letter to Santa, fully expecting that God will hand over all their desires by the end of the fast. Throughout their time of abstaining, they spend each day asking God for everything they want without taking a single moment to discover what God has to say or what is on His heart.

Imagine a child taking time away to be with their father, but the entire time, all the child talks about is what they want for their next Christmas present. All the while, the father has so many meaningful things on his heart to share, but he has no opportunity to impart them because the child’s heart isn't in a place to listen.

This is the exact posture many bring to fasting. Just like that young child, many Christians need to understand the true purpose of this season and learn how to prepare their hearts to enjoy sweet, uninterrupted fellowship with the Father.

As we quiet the world and begin to hear the voice of God clearly, He starts revealing how He wants us to live. We begin to learn His desires, aligning our hearts with His.

Consider Jesus: immediately after His baptism, He went into a 40-day period of fasting in the wilderness. He didn't enter that fast with a long list of personal prayer points that He needed answered. While this does not mean we cannot bring supplication and requests into our times of fasting, it is notable that Jesus emerged from His fast with a clear, laser-focused mission that guided the rest of His earthly ministry:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." Luke 4:18–19

Fasting should always shift our perspective from an earthly viewpoint to an eternal one. Through His fast, Jesus received and clarified the very reason for His existence. Scripture reminds us that a man may have many plans in his heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that will prevail. Our personal plans can certainly be submitted to God during a fast, but our fundamental posture must always be: "God, help me to carry out Your purpose for my life."

Fasting never changes God, moves His hands, or provokes Him to act. Rather, fasting changes us and aligns our hearts with His sovereign will. During a fast, some of the most powerful questions you can ask God are:
Where do You need me to change?

What do You need me to remove from my life?

How can I live more fully aligned with Your will?

Fasting has a remarkable way of building absolute reliance on God. On a normal day, hunger is an easy problem to solve because food is readily accessible. However, during a fast, the physical sensation of hunger teaches us to rely on God to carry us through hour by hour until it is time to break the fast.
Surprisingly, this physical discipline sinks deep into every other spiritual aspect of our lives.

As we fast, we find ourselves becoming far more reliant on God and developing a greater trust in Him across the board. We learn to live each day with active faith, confident that He will sustain us. Life inevitably brings tough moments: grief, health battles, financial stress, or struggles within our families and marriages. A strong, battle-tested faith is what carries us through those storms.

As we delve deeper into the Word, listen for God’s voice, and align our lives with His will during a fast, our faith grows significantly stronger. We gain a greater capacity to trust God when the waters get rough.

This level of faith often sets the stage for the miraculous. To see the hand of God move in our lives, what is required most is complete, unreserved trust in Him. God is always willing to heal, comfort, and bless His people, but we must position ourselves to trust Him fully. For some, God will answer a fast with an immediate breakthrough; for others, He will bless you with extraordinary strength to endure the storm, filling you with tremendous peace and inexplicable joy in the process.

Ultimately, our fasting never changes God, but it changes us. It moves us into a spiritual posture where we are finally capable of receiving and enjoying His blessings. When you strip away the legalism, the fear of punishment, and the transactional mindset of trying to earn "holiness points," fasting transforms from a gruelling duty into a sweet, life-giving encounter with the Father. By turning down the noise of the world, prioritising His will over our plans, and building our reliance on His daily strength, we step into the fullness of what fasting was always meant to be: a beautiful invitation to decrease, so that He may truly increase in us.