How to Fast Successfully

01Why Did We Stop Fasting?

Fasting is often viewed as an extreme measure today, yet it was once a completely normal part of everyday life. We need to ask ourselves how we lost touch with such a foundational practice. In our modern culture, we are surrounded by an endless abundance of food. From brightly lit supermarkets to twenty-four-hour drive-through windows, society has organized itself around constant consumption. We eat three large meals a day, supplement them with numerous snacks, and celebrate almost every social occasion with heavy feasting. Because of this societal shift, the mere idea of skipping a meal can feel incredibly radical, even frightening, to the average person. But Derek Prince challenges this modern comfort zone by taking us directly back to the foundational texts of the Christian faith to show that fasting was never meant to be optional. If you look closely at the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus lays out the basic expectations for his followers. He speaks about giving to the poor, praying, and fasting. The specific language Jesus uses is highly revealing. He does not say, "If you give," or "If you pray." He explicitly says, "When you give," "When you pray," and "When you fast." Prince highlights this passage to point out a glaring inconsistency in modern religious practice. Most believers accept that giving and praying are non-negotiable pillars of a faithful life. Yet, somehow, fasting has been pushed aside, treated merely as an extreme activity meant only for spiritual giants or ancient monks. By removing fasting from our regular routines, we have effectively stripped away one-third of the fundamental equipment Jesus provided for spiritual growth. To fully grasp the importance of this lost art, we have to look at the historical context of the early believers. The early Christians did not have the luxury of convenience, yet they made fasting a regular, disciplined part of their weekly schedules. They understood that the physical body and the spiritual life are deeply intertwined. When the church needed to make a major decision, such as sending out Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journeys, they did not just hold a committee meeting. They worshipped, they prayed, and they fasted. They intentionally denied their physical appetites to ensure their spiritual senses were razor-sharp. They wanted to hear clear directions from God without the static of physical comfort getting in the way. How often do we find ourselves facing massive life decisions—career changes, relationship struggles, financial crises—and yet we only offer a quick prayer before moving on with our day? Prince argues that our lack of fasting directly correlates with our lack of spiritual power and clarity. We treat our bodies like engines that we never turn off, constantly fueling them and expecting them to run perfectly. Fasting is the deliberate act of hitting the reset button. It is a conscious decision to step away from the noise of the dinner table and the distraction of the refrigerator to focus entirely on a higher purpose. Furthermore, we must distinguish between a modern diet and a true biblical fast. This is a crucial distinction that Prince makes very clear. Today, intermittent fasting is incredibly popular for weight loss, longevity, and cellular health. While those physical benefits are very real and scientifically proven, a biblical fast has a completely different primary objective. A diet focuses almost exclusively on the physical body—how you look, how you feel, and what the scale says. A biblical fast, on the other hand, focuses entirely on your relationship with the divine. The physical benefits are merely a wonderful byproduct of a spiritual discipline. If you stop eating but do not direct your attention toward prayer, self-reflection, and seeking God, you are not truly fasting; you are simply starving yourself. The resistance to fasting is often deeply psychological. We have been conditioned to believe that hunger is an emergency. The moment our stomachs rumble, we feel an urgent need to fix the problem with a snack. Prince points out that this immediate gratification weakens our willpower and makes us slaves to our appetites. By rediscovering the practice of fasting, we reclaim our autonomy. We prove to ourselves that we are not controlled by our cravings. This realization alone is incredibly empowering. It shifts your perspective from being a consumer to being a master of your own physical domain. As we explore the depths of Derek Prince's teachings, we must approach the topic with an open mind and a willingness to challenge our daily habits. The loss of fasting in modern culture has left a void in our spiritual development. Filling that void requires intentional effort, education, and a desire to connect with something greater than our immediate physical needs. The journey back to this ancient discipline is not about punishing the body, but rather about liberating the soul from the heavy, lethargic chains of constant consumption.