Power of a Non-Food Fast
by Maria Houpt
I’m going to be honest here … I have never fasted from food before. I have tried to eat healthy by relying on God but have never actually fasted from food for spiritual reasons. Now you’re probably wondering, “Why is she writing? What could she possibly know?” Good questions! Please keep reading. 😉
Biblical fasting involves abstaining from food, drink, or other comforts to focus on prayer, repentance, worship, or seeking God’s guidance. When done with the right heart and purpose, fasting can be a profoundly transformative spiritual practice that brings one closer to God in several ways. At its core, fasting is about creating space to deepen your relationship with God by intentionally setting aside other distractions, comforts, or dependencies.
Does it have to be food that you fast from? No.
Fasting something other than food is possible and can be deeply meaningful, especially in our modern world, where other distractions and dependencies often compete for our attention and affection. While traditional Biblical fasting primarily focuses on abstaining from food, fasting can widen to any area of life that can become a distraction, idol, or source of unhealthy attachment. Fasting is ultimately about setting something aside to devote more time to focus on God. Though food is the most commonly cited form of fasting in Scripture, the principle of fasting can extend to anything that might hinder a believer's walk with God. The Bible calls believers to "seek first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33), and sometimes, things other than food can be distractions that prevent us from fully focusing on God’s purposes. When we love, fear, or trust something or someone other than God, then that becomes the idol that we must abstain or fast from to put it in its right place and draw closer to God.
Some non-food ways you can fast:
Social Media and Technology: In today’s world, social media, smartphones, and constant digital communication can dominate our attention, often pulling us away from spiritual disciplines, meaningful relationships, and time spent with God. Fasting from social media or screen time can help you break free from the noise and constant flow of information. It allows space for prayer, reflection, and deeper focus on your relationship with God. It's about reclaiming your time and attention for the things that matter most—your spiritual life and relationships.
Television or Entertainment: For many, TV shows, movies, or even video games can become an idle escape or a way of passing time without much thought. While these things in moderation aren't necessarily bad, they can easily take more time and attention than they should. Fasting from entertainment helps us refocus on higher priorities, deepen spiritual reflection, and allow for greater intimacy with God.
Bad Habits or Addictions: Certain habits or dependencies (related to food, substances, or even behaviors like gossip or excessive complaining) can control our lives. Fasting from unhealthy or distracting habits can be a powerful way of surrendering those areas to God. It allows us to rely on Him for freedom and strength, and it can bring about real transformation in those areas.
The more important part of fasting is the heart. From Matthew 6:16-18, we can learn that Jesus wants our fasting to be about seeking God, not self-interests. It is about creating space for God's presence, prayer, reflection, and personal transformation.
Fasting from non-food items can create a space for intimacy with God. It offers a distraction-free time that we can use to deepen our relationship with God. When we remove things that dominate our thoughts or time (food, social media, video games…), we open our hearts to hear God more clearly. We can engage in more meaningful, uninterrupted fellowship with Him in this space. Are you reaching for the phone to endlessly scroll through social media? Instead of doomscrolling, you can use those moments to pray, worship, or meditate on God's Word. Over time, fasting can transform these moments of longing into spiritual intimacy, where God’s presence nourishes your soul.
So I began writing this by saying I have never fasted from food before. But I have performed the discipline of fasting. As you can guess, my area of fasting is social media. I have fasted from it several times and used that ‘extra’ time to read God’s Word, pray, and reflect on Him, and I think it is time for me to do it again. As we enter the biggest holiday season of the year, would you join me in spending some time fasting, whether it be from food, social media, tv, perhaps even shopping and spending for Christmas … whatever it is that you focus on more than you focus on God? What do you spend too much time thinking about? What do you spend too much time doing that you should be doing only in moderation? What habit/stronghold would you like to break? What habit/stronghold do you need to rely on God the most for you to break it? That is what I encourage you to fast from. Reflect on Scripture during your fast, and focus on passages related to repentance, prayer, and God's guidance. Prayerfully ask God to help you focus on Him, not what you are fasting from. You may have to pray continually over it, but He is reliable and true – if you keep your eyes on Him, He will guide you!
Even though I am encouraging you to fast this holiday season, fasting should always be a personal decision, prayerfully considered, and undertaken with the desire to seek God’s will more deeply. Ultimately, fasting is not about the fast itself but the relationship it fosters with God. By fasting, we take deliberate steps to prioritize Him over other things, making more room for His presence, guidance, and work in our lives. It is a powerful tool for spiritual regeneration and intimacy with God. I hope you’ll join me.
