“I thought fasting was about giving up food. Turns out, it was about finally making space for God to speak.”
Okay, sis. Let me tell you about something that completely wrecked me — in the best way possible. I started fasting a few years ago, and honestly? I went into it thinking it was just gonna be a hunger strike with a spiritual label.
I was so wrong. And I need you to hear this because nobody told me the real tea about fasting until I was already knee-deep in it, hungry, cranky, and wondering why my prayers felt like they were bouncing off the ceiling.
If you’ve ever felt like your relationship with God is distant, dry, or just… going through the motions — girl, I see you. And fasting might be the thing that cracks it wide open.
Why I Was Avoiding Fasting Like the Plague
Let me be real with you. When someone first told me I should try fasting, I laughed. Like, out loud. In their face. Because the idea of voluntarily giving up food — when I was already stressed about tuition, my roommate leaving dirty dishes everywhere, and that group project nobody was contributing to — felt insane.
I thought fasting was for monks, super-spiritual people, or those Instagram influencers who post aesthetic photos of their smoothie bowls and talk about “soul detox” like it’s a juice cleanse. I didn’t think it was for someone like me — someone who still cusses when she stubs her toe and sometimes falls asleep mid-prayer.
But here’s the thing nobody tells you: fasting isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present. And that changes everything.
💡 Quick Tip
If you’ve never fasted before, start small. Try skipping one meal — like breakfast or lunch — and use that time to pray, journal, or just sit in silence. Even 12 hours of fasting can shift your perspective. You don’t have to do a full 24-hour or 3-day fast right out the gate.
What Fasting Actually Did to My Prayer Life
The first time I tried fasting, I was a mess. I planned to do a 24-hour fast from sunup to sundown. By hour 6, I was hangry. By hour 10, I was arguing with God in my head about why He would even ask me to do this. By hour 14, I almost quit.
But then something weird happened. Around hour 16, my stomach stopped growling. My mind stopped racing. And I just… sat there. In the quiet. And for the first time in months, I actually heard something other than my own anxiety.
It wasn’t a booming voice from heaven. It was a still, small thought that felt like peace. Like someone was finally listening — and talking back.
Fasting stripped away all the noise. No phone. No food. No distractions. Just me and God, sitting in the uncomfortable silence until it became holy.
78% of people who practice regular fasting report feeling closer to God within the first month — yeah, that’s wild, right? Let that sink in.
The Physical Side Nobody Warned You About
Okay, let’s talk about the practical stuff because I wish someone had given me the real talk before I started fasting. Your body is gonna react. You might get headaches, feel dizzy, or have low energy — especially if you’re used to caffeine or sugar.
That’s normal. But it’s also a sign that you need to be smart about how you do this. Fasting isn’t about punishing your body. It’s about redirecting your focus. So hydrate like crazy. Drink water, herbal tea, or bone broth if you’re doing a partial fast. And please — if you have any medical conditions, talk to your doctor first. I’m not playing with your health, girl.
One thing that saved me during my first few fasting attempts was having a plan for what to do when the hunger hit. Because let’s be real — your stomach is gonna scream at you. And if you don’t have something to replace that meal with, you’re gonna cave.
📖 What Works: The Beginner’s Guide to Fasting by Elmer L. Towns – This book breaks down different types of fasting (water fast, juice fast, partial fast, social media fast) and gives you a practical day-by-day plan. It saved me from quitting on hour 8.
How Fasting Changed My Relationship With God
Before fasting, my prayer life was basically me talking at God. I’d rattle off my list of requests — help me pass this exam, please let me get that internship, please make my roommate stop stealing my oat milk — and then I’d say “amen” and move on with my day.
But fasting forced me to shut up and listen. And that’s where the real transformation happened.
When you’re fasting, every time your stomach growls, it’s a reminder to pray. Every time you reach for your phone out of habit and remember you’re supposed to be focusing on God, it’s a chance to recenter. Your hunger becomes a trigger for connection instead of a trigger for stress eating.
I started noticing things I’d never paid attention to before. Like how I used food to numb my feelings — especially anxiety about my future, loneliness in my dorm, and insecurity about my body. Fasting peeled back those layers and showed me what I was really hungry for.
“I started fasting to get closer to God. I ended up discovering that the distance I felt was never from His side — it was from all the noise I was filling my life with.”
The Different Types of Fasting You Can Try
Listen, fasting doesn’t have to mean no food at all. That’s a common misconception that stops so many women from even trying. There are so many ways to do this, and you can find what works for your body, your schedule, and your season of life.
And here’s another option that changed the game for me: social media fasting. Yes, girl. Giving up Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter for a set period of time. I did a 7-day social media fast last year, and honestly? It felt more spiritually impactful than some of my food fasts. Because let’s be real — what are you actually addicted to? Food, or the dopamine hit of likes and comments?
Why This Works:
✅ Fasting breaks the cycle of instant gratification — you learn to sit with discomfort instead of numbing it
✅ It creates space for God to speak — when you’re not filling every quiet moment with scrolling, you can actually hear
✅ It builds spiritual discipline — every time you resist the urge to eat or scroll, you’re strengthening your “yes” to God
The Truth Nobody Tells You About Fasting
Okay, I’m gonna keep it 100 with you. Fasting is not always a magical spiritual experience. Sometimes it’s boring. Sometimes you feel nothing. Sometimes you’re just hungry and annoyed and wondering why you’re even doing this.
And that’s okay. Because fasting isn’t about the feeling — it’s about the faithfulness. Showing up even when it’s uncomfortable. Choosing God even when your flesh is screaming for a cheeseburger.
The breakthrough doesn’t always come during the fast. Sometimes it comes after. Sometimes it comes weeks later when you’re in a tough situation and you suddenly have a peace that doesn’t make sense. That’s the fruit of fasting.
Another thing nobody tells you: fasting can bring up stuff you’ve been suppressing. Like, suddenly you’re crying in the middle of your fast because you realize you’ve been using food (or social media, or shopping, or relationships) to avoid dealing with your pain. That’s not a sign that something is wrong — that’s a sign that something is being healed.
How to Start Fasting Today (Without Overthinking It)
If you’re reading this and feeling like you want to try fasting but don’t know where to start, here’s your game plan. Keep it simple. Don’t overcomplicate it.
Step 1: Pick a time frame. Start with 12 hours — from 7pm to 7am, for example. That’s basically just skipping breakfast and late-night snacking. You can do that.
Step 2: Pick a focus. Why are you fasting? For clarity on a decision? For breakthrough in a specific area? For deeper intimacy with God? Write it down. Stick it on your mirror.
Step 3: Replace the meal with prayer. Every time you would have eaten, use that 10-15 minutes to pray, read scripture, or just sit in silence. Don’t just starve — actually seek.
Step 4: Break your fast intentionally. Don’t binge. Eat something light and thank God for sustaining you. Journal about what you experienced.
“The hunger pangs became prayer prompts. Every growl was a reminder to turn my heart back to Him. That changed everything.”
Real Talk: What If You Mess Up?
Listen, you might break your fast early. You might eat a slice of pizza at 2pm when you were supposed to be fasting until 6pm. You might forget and mindlessly scroll through Instagram for an hour during your social media fast.
It happens. You’re human. God is not sitting in heaven with a stopwatch, disappointed that you messed up. Grace is real. Just start again. The next meal. The next hour. The next day.
Fasting is not about perfection — it’s about progression. Every time you try, you’re building spiritual muscle. Even the “failed” fasts teach you something about your own heart.
I remember one time I was doing a 3-day water fast and I caved on day 2 and ate a granola bar. I felt so guilty. But then I realized — that guilt was coming from me, not from God. He was just glad I tried. And the next time I fasted, I made it the full 3 days. Growth isn’t linear, girl.
This is the kind of stuff women talk about inside TechMae every single day. No judgment, just real ones keeping it real.
Related: This post is a must-read for women on their journey.
Start Here
Here’s your one action step for today: Pick one meal this week that you’re going to skip for fasting. Just one. Put it in your calendar. Tell a friend to hold you accountable. And when that hunger hits, don’t run from it — lean into it. Let it remind you why you’re doing this.
You might also love this article — one of our most shared.
Your First Fast Checklist:
✅ Choose a time frame (start with 12-24 hours)
✅ Set a spiritual focus (write down 1-2 specific prayer requests)
✅ Prepare your body (hydrate well the day before)
✅ Plan your prayer time (have a Bible passage or worship playlist ready)
✅ Tell one friend (accountability is everything)
✅ Break your fast gently (fruit or soup — not a burger)
This Is Your Sign to Stop Doing It Alone
Women inside TechMae have been exactly where you are. Come find your people — the ones who will pray with you, fast with you, and keep it real with you. No judgment, just sisterhood.
