How Fasting Went from Confusing to Life Changing

Okay sis, let’s talk about something that literally rewired my entire spiritual life: fasting. I know, I know — when you hear the word “fasting” your brain probably goes straight to “starving myself” or “that thing religious people do that sounds miserable.” I was right there with you. But listen, fasting is not about deprivation. It is about clearing the static so you can actually hear what God has been trying to tell you this whole time.

I started my first fasting experience when I was 19, broke, living off ramen, and honestly? My prayer life was trash. I would say “God please help me with this tuition bill” and then immediately open Instagram and scroll for 45 minutes. My connection felt hollow. I was talking AT God, not WITH Him. And fasting? It was the thing that flipped the whole script.

Why Your Prayer Life Feels Like You’re Talking to a Wall

Here is the thing nobody told me about fasting: it is not about what you are giving up. It is about what you are making room for. When you are constantly eating, scrolling, studying, working, stressing about your roommate leaving dishes in the sink — your spirit is drowning in input. You cannot hear a whisper when you are surrounded by a thousand screams.

I remember sitting in my dorm room after my first 24-hour fasting experience. I had skipped breakfast and lunch — not because I was trying to be holy, but because I was desperate. I was dealing with a friendship breakup, my grades were slipping, and I felt completely alone. I told God, “I don’t even know what to say anymore, so I am just going to be quiet and let You talk.” And girl — I sat there for maybe ten minutes and this overwhelming sense of peace hit me. Not a voice from the sky. Just a quiet knowing that I was seen. That I was not forgotten.

Fasting created space for that. And it changed everything.

The Real Reason You Are Avoiding Fasting

Let me be real with you. The reason most of us avoid fasting is not because we are too busy. It is because we are scared of what we will hear. When you strip away food, social media, distractions — you are left alone with your thoughts. And for a lot of us, that is terrifying. What if God is silent? What if He is angry? What if I have been doing everything wrong?

I have been there. I remember sitting in my car after a failed exam, crying and telling God I felt like a failure. I had been fasting for three days at that point — just water and prayer — and I was honestly expecting God to yell at me. Instead, I felt this gentle nudge: “You are not your grades. You are My daughter.” That was it. That was the whole message. And it hit me harder than any sermon ever did.

Fasting strips away the performance. You stop trying to earn God’s love through good behavior or perfect prayers. You just sit there, hungry and honest, and let Him meet you where you are.

What Actually Works: My Fasting Framework

Okay, let me give you the actual blueprint I use. Because fasting without a plan is just being hangry with good intentions. Here is how I structure my fasting now, and it has made my relationship with God deeper than it has ever been.

Step 1: Set an intention. Before you start fasting, ask yourself: “What am I bringing to God right now?” Maybe it is anxiety about your future. Maybe it is a relationship you need clarity on. Maybe it is just feeling distant from Him. Write it down. Be specific. Fasting is not a random spiritual exercise — it is a targeted conversation.

Step 2: Choose your fast type. You do not have to do a full food fast. You can fast from social media for a day. You can fast from complaining (this one is HARD but so good). You can fast from TV and use that time to read scripture or journal. The point is to replace the distraction with connection. My favorite is a 24-hour water fast — I start after dinner and go until dinner the next day. It is manageable and I feel spiritually sharp the whole time.

Step 3: Create a prayer schedule. When you are fasting, your body will remind you constantly that you are hungry. Every time you feel that hunger pang, use it as a trigger to pray. “God, I am hungry for You. Speak to me.” I do this every hour during my fasting days. It turns physical discomfort into spiritual fuel.

Step 4: End with gratitude. When you break your fast, do not just scarf down food. Say a prayer of thanks. Thank God for the clarity you received, the peace you felt, the strength to make it through. This seals the experience in your heart.

The Truth Nobody Tells You About Fasting

Here is the part that nobody in church wants to talk about: fasting can actually be uncomfortable emotionally. Like, really uncomfortable. When you stop numbing yourself with food, entertainment, and busyness, all the feelings you have been avoiding start surfacing. I remember one fasting session where I spent the first two hours just crying. Not even praying. Just crying. And I realized I had been holding onto grief about my dad that I never processed.

Fasting peeled that layer back. And God met me in the middle of it. He did not fix it immediately. But He sat with me in it. And that was more healing than any quick fix.

So if you start fasting and suddenly feel emotional or overwhelmed — do not run from it. That is the Holy Spirit doing deep work. Let it happen. Cry it out. Write it down. Talk to God about it. He can handle your mess.

This is the kind of stuff women talk about inside TechMae every single day. No judgment, just real ones keeping it real. We have a whole channel dedicated to spiritual growth where women share their fasting experiences, prayer requests, and breakthroughs. It is the safest space I have ever found online.

Related: This post is a must-read for women on their journey of spiritual self-discovery.

Start Here: Your First Fasting Day

I want you to try something this week. Pick one day — maybe Saturday when you do not have class or work — and commit to a 12-hour fasting experience. From 8 PM to 8 AM, no food. Just water. Then in the morning, instead of immediately grabbing breakfast, spend 20 minutes in silence with God. No phone. No music. Just you and Him.

Write down what comes to mind. Even if it feels random. Even if it is just “I feel hungry.” That is a starting point. Fasting is a practice, not a perfection. You are not doing it wrong if you feel distracted or uncomfortable. You are doing it right because you showed up.

You might also love this article — one of our most shared, about finding your people when you feel completely alone.

I know fasting can feel intimidating. I know your brain is telling you “I cannot go that long without food” or “what if I fail?” But listen to me: every single person who has ever transformed their relationship with God through fasting started exactly where you are. Hungry. Hopeful. A little scared. And completely worth the effort.

You are not behind. You are not too late. You are not too broken. God is not waiting for you to get your life together before He speaks to you. He is waiting for you to get quiet enough to hear Him. And fasting is the most powerful tool I have ever found to do that.

So here is your challenge: this week, pick one day. Try one fasting experience. Even if it is just skipping one meal and praying. Show God that you are serious about wanting more of Him. And then watch what happens. I promise you — He will meet you there.