Why We Pray When We Fast
Fasting is not a diet, and it is not a way to earn God’s favor. It is a way of saying, “Lord, I want You more than anything else, even more than my next meal.”
When you give something up, you make room. Every hunger pang becomes a reminder to turn your heart toward God. That is why fasting and prayer go together all through Scripture. One empties you out. The other fills you back up.
The Bible gives us a beautiful picture of this in a woman named Anna. She was a widow who spent her days in the temple.
“Who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day.” Luke 2:37
Anna fasted and prayed for years, waiting for God to keep His promise. And she was one of the first people to see the baby Jesus. Her faithfulness was not wasted, and yours won’t be either.
Whether you are starting a 21 day church fast, skipping one meal a week, or giving up something other than food, these prayers will help you stay focused on why you started.
How to Pray While You Fast
- Know your why. Write down what you are seeking God for. A breakthrough, direction, healing, or simply more of Him.
- Choose your fast. Decide what you will give up and for how long. It could be all food for a day, one meal, a Daniel fast, or something like social media.
- Pray when you would normally eat. Use mealtimes as your prayer times. Let hunger remind you to talk to God.
- Read Scripture every day. Feed your spirit while your body goes without.
- Keep it between you and God. Jesus said to fast quietly, not to be seen by others.
- Write it down. Keep a journal of what you pray and what God shows you.
- End with thanks. Break your fast gently and thank God for what He did.
1. A Prayer Before You Begin a Fast
“But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:17 to 18
Notice that Jesus said “when you fast,” not “if.” He expected His followers to fast. But He also warned against doing it for show. A fast is a private conversation between you and your Father. He sees it, and that is enough.
Heavenly Father, I am setting apart this time for You. I am not fasting to look holy or to earn Your love. I am fasting because I want more of You. Purify my heart and my reasons. Keep my eyes on You and not on what others think. Use this fast to draw me closer and to show me what You want me to see. I give You this time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
2. A Prayer for Strength When You Feel Hungry
“But he answered, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.”’” Matthew 4:4
Jesus spoke these words after fasting forty days in the wilderness. He was hungry, and the enemy tried to use that hunger against Him. Jesus answered with Scripture. When your stomach growls and you feel weak, you can do the same thing. God’s Word is food for your soul.
Lord, I am hungry, and I feel it. My body wants to quit. But I know I don’t live by bread alone. Feed me with Your Word right now. Give me strength for the next hour and the next meal I skip. Turn every hunger pang into a reminder to pray. When I feel weak, be my strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
3. A Prayer for Breakthrough
“Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6
God tells us the kind of fast He loves. It is a fast that sets people free. When you fast for breakthrough, you are asking God to break chains that you cannot break on your own. That might be a habit, a fear, a family pattern, or a heavy weight you have carried for years.
Father, I come to You with something I cannot fix. You know the chains in my life and in my family. I ask You to break every yoke. Loose what has held me down. Set me free from fear, from old patterns, and from anything that keeps me from You. I believe You are able. Let this fast be the season my breakthrough comes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
For more prayers like this, read these prayers to break spiritual strongholds.
4. A Prayer for Direction and Guidance
“As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.’” Acts 13:2
The early church fasted when they needed to hear from God. And while they were fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke clearly. If you are facing a big decision, a fast can quiet the noise so you can hear His voice.
Holy Spirit, I need direction. I have a decision in front of me, and I don’t want to make it without You. As I fast, quiet the noise in my head and in my life. Speak clearly. Open the right doors and close the wrong ones. Give me peace about the path You choose for me, and the courage to follow it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
5. A Prayer to Return to God With All Your Heart
“‘Yet even now,’ says the Lord, ‘turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.’” Joel 2:12
“Yet even now” may be the most hopeful words in this verse. No matter how far you have drifted, it is not too late. God invites you to come back with your whole heart. Fasting is one way to show Him you mean it.
Lord, I have drifted. I have let other things take Your place, and I am sorry. Even now, I am turning back to You. I don’t want a half hearted faith. I want all of You, and I want You to have all of me. Forgive me. Wash me clean. Renew my love for You as I fast and pray. Thank You for always welcoming me home. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
6. A Prayer for Courage in a Hard Situation
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast the same way.” Esther 4:16
Queen Esther faced a moment that could cost her everything. Before she acted, she fasted, and she asked others to fast with her. She knew she needed God’s favor more than her own courage. Her story reminds us that fasting is a powerful way to prepare for hard things.
God, I am facing something hard, and I am scared. Like Esther, I need Your favor and Your courage. Go before me. Prepare the hearts of everyone involved. Give me the right words at the right time. Help me trust You with the outcome, whatever it is. I believe You placed me here for such a time as this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
7. A Prayer When Fasting for Someone You Love
“But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting.” Psalm 35:13
David fasted for people he cared about when they were sick. Fasting for someone else is one of the most loving things you can do. It says, “Your need matters so much to me that I will give something up to pray for you.”
Lord, I am fasting for someone I love. You know their name and every detail of what they are going through. Every time I feel hungry, I will lift them up to You. Bring healing to their body, peace to their mind, and hope to their heart. Draw them close to You. Do for them what I cannot do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you are fasting for healing, pray these prayers for healing alongside it.
8. A Prayer When You Want to Quit Your Fast
“Let’s not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9
There is usually a day in every fast when you want to stop. Your head hurts, you are tired, and you wonder if any of this matters. This verse is God’s answer. The harvest is coming, but only for the one who doesn’t give up.
Father, I am tired, and I want to quit. This is harder than I thought it would be. Give me strength to keep going. Remind me why I started. Help me believe that You are working even when I can’t see it. I will not give up. I will reap in due season. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
9. A Prayer to Seek God’s Face
“I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.” Daniel 9:3
Daniel “set his face” to seek God. That means he made up his mind. He turned toward God on purpose and would not be distracted. Sometimes the goal of a fast is not an answer to a request. It is simply to know God more.
Lord, I set my face toward You. I am not here for what You can give me. I am here for You. Show me Your heart. Teach me Your ways. Let me know You more deeply at the end of this fast than I did at the start. Quiet every distraction, and let me hear Your voice. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
10. A Prayer for a 21 Day Fast
“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came meat nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, until three whole weeks were fulfilled.” Daniel 10:2 to 3
Many churches start the new year with a 21 day fast based on Daniel’s three week fast. Daniel didn’t stop eating completely. He gave up rich food and simple pleasures to focus on God. And at the end of those three weeks, God sent an answer.
Father, I am setting apart these 21 days for You. Like Daniel, I am giving up comfort to seek Your face. Help me stay faithful every single day, not just the first few. Speak to me about this new season. Show me what to let go of and what to step into. Let these three weeks change me from the inside out. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
11. A Prayer for Protection and Provision
“So we fasted and begged our God for this, and he granted our request.” Ezra 8:23
Ezra was about to lead a group of people on a long, dangerous journey. Instead of asking the king for soldiers, he called everyone to fast and ask God for protection. And God answered. Whatever you need, whether it is safety, provision, or a way forward, you can bring it to God the same way.
Lord, You are my provider and my protector. I bring my needs to You today. Watch over my family as we come and go. Provide what we need for this season. Make a way where I don’t see one. Like Ezra, I am asking You first, before I look anywhere else. Thank You for hearing my prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
For more, read these prayers for financial breakthroughs.
12. A Prayer for Breaking a Fast
“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35
The end of a fast is a time for thanks. Your body will be filled again, but this verse reminds you where true fullness comes from. As you take your first bite, thank Jesus, the bread of life, for everything He did during your fast.
Thank You, Lord, for carrying me through this fast. Thank You for every hunger pang that pulled me closer to You. Thank You for what You showed me and for what You are still doing. As I break this fast, bless this food and the body You gave me. Let the hunger I have for You never end. You are the bread of life, and You are enough. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Bible Verses About Fasting and Prayer
Use these scriptures to guide your fast. Read one each day, or pray through the whole list.
| Verse | What it teaches about fasting |
|---|---|
| Matthew 6:17 to 18 | Fast quietly. God sees and rewards what is done in secret. |
| Matthew 9:15 | Jesus expected His followers to fast after He returned to heaven. |
| Matthew 4:4 | God’s Word feeds us when our bodies are hungry. |
| Isaiah 58:6 | The fast God loves breaks chains and sets people free. |
| Joel 2:12 | It is never too late to return to God with your whole heart. |
| Acts 13:2 | Fasting helps us hear the Holy Spirit’s direction. |
| Acts 14:23 | The early church fasted and prayed before big decisions. |
| Esther 4:16 | Fast before facing something hard, and invite others to join you. |
| Ezra 8:23 | God hears and answers when we fast and ask for help. |
| Nehemiah 1:4 | Fasting is a fitting response to grief and heavy news. |
| 2 Chronicles 20:3 | When afraid, King Jehoshaphat called the whole nation to fast. |
| Daniel 9:3 | Fasting is a way to set your face toward God. |
| Daniel 10:2 to 3 | A partial fast of three weeks, the model for the Daniel fast. |
| Psalm 35:13 | You can fast on behalf of someone who is sick. |
| Luke 2:37 | Anna fasted and prayed faithfully, and she saw God’s promise come true. |
| John 6:35 | Jesus is the bread of life who truly satisfies. |
Frequently Asked Questions About Prayer and Fasting
What should I pray about when fasting?
Start with the reason you are fasting, whether that is direction, healing, breakthrough, or simply drawing closer to God. Then spend time in praise, confession, and listening. Use your normal mealtimes as prayer times, and pray the prayers above whenever you need words.
How long should a Christian fast?
The Bible does not set one rule. People in Scripture fasted for one day, three days, three weeks, and even forty days. Many women start with one meal or one day. Many churches do a 21 day partial fast in January. Choose a length you can keep with a clear heart, and ask God to guide you.
Can I drink water while fasting?
Yes, most Christian fasts allow water, and staying hydrated is important. A Daniel fast allows fruits, vegetables, and water but skips rich foods. Some people choose a juice or broth fast. The type of fast matters less than the heart behind it.
Is fasting safe for everyone?
Not always. If you are pregnant, nursing, diabetic, taking medication, or have any health condition, talk with your doctor before you fast from food. If food has been a struggle for you in the past, consider fasting from something else instead, like social media, TV, or sugar. God honors any fast offered to Him with a sincere heart.
What is the difference between fasting and dieting?
Dieting is about your body. Fasting is about your spirit. When you diet, the goal is weight or health. When you fast, the goal is to seek God and make room for Him. That is why prayer is the heart of every biblical fast.
A Closing Prayer for Your Fast
Father, thank You for inviting me to seek You in this way. As I fast, empty me of everything that does not come from You, and fill me with more of Your presence. Give me strength on the hard days and joy on the good ones. Speak to me, change me, and move in the things I have brought to You. Whatever You do through this fast, let it bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Your fast is not wasted. Every meal you give up and every prayer you pray is seen by your Father in secret. Keep going.
Save this page to Pinterest so you have these prayers ready for your next fast, or share it with a friend who is fasting with you.