Types of Fasts

Types of Fasts​

Five Major Types of Bible Fasting Described​

There are several types of fasting in the Bible. The one you choose is between you and God. He will honor your best sacrifice. Remember that it is the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him to which God responds with a blessing (Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 14:12, 1 Corinthians 8:8). May God greatly bless you as you fast!

For complete List of all 10 Bible Fasts, click here

Regular Fast​

Drink only liquids. Traditionally, a regular fast means refraining from eating all food. Most peoples till drink water or juice during a regular fast. When Jesus fasted in the desert, the Bible says,”After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” This verse does not mention Jesus being thirsty.

Full Fast​

These fasts are complete-no food and no drink. Acts 9:9 describes when Paul went on a full fast for three days following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus: “For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.” Esther also called for this type of fast in Esther 4:15-16:” Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ‘Go, gather to get her all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.’” It is recommended that this type of fast be done with extreme caution and not for extended periods of time.

The Daniel Fast​

Eat no meat, sweets, bread or caffeine. Drink water and juice. Eat fruits and vegetables. This type of fast generally refers to omitting a specific meal from your diet or refraining from certain types of foods. Daniel 10:2-3 says, “At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips, and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. “In Daniel 1:12, they restricted their diet to vegetables and water: “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.”

Partial Fast​

A partial fast is from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm or from sunup to sundown. You can select from three types of fasting —a Full Fast, Daniel Fast or give up at least one item of food.

3 day Fast​

This fast can be a Full Fast, Daniel Fast or give up at least one item of food.

There are 10 types of Fasts the Bible talks about.

Scripture References for Fasting:
Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 9:14-15, Luke 18:9-14

Relation to Prayer and Reading of the Word:
1 Samuel 1:6-8,17-18, Nehemiah 1:4, Daniel 9:3, 20, Joel 2:12, Luke 2:37, Acts 10:30, Acts 13:2

Corporate Fasting:
1 Samuel 7:5-6, Ezra 8:21-23, Nehemiah 9:1-3, Joel 2:15-16, Jonah 3:5-10, Acts 27:33-37

To See a Full list of 10 Bible types of Fasting, click here.