The Bible talks about fasting in both the New and Old Testaments.
We read about Nehemiah fasting and praying for the children of Israel because they were in a time of trouble.
Daniel fasted and prayed for three weeks drawing nearer to God.
David fasted and prayed in a time of personal repentance.
Paul and Barnabas fasted and prayed before presenting leaders in the church.
There’s a close relationship between fasting and praying because fasting is a time for you to draw nearer to God. Spending time with God in prayer allows us to hear from him and discern things that may be troubling us.
Jesus spent 40 days in the desert fasting and praying before going into ministry because he knew that it was important.
How much more should we follow his example and fast the things that demand so much of our attention?
What’s a Financial Fast?
The Bible doesn’t limit fasting only to food and drinks. Anything that can be given up temporarily so that we can focus our full attention on God can be viewed as a fast.
Paul references how a husband and wife might abstain from being together for a time (yes, sexually) so they can devote themselves to prayer. So while the Bible doesn’t have a section devoted to a ‘Financial Fast,’ I think the principles can be applied to our finances.
There isn’t a lot of specific material to guide Christians in a financial fast, which is why I wanted to cover it here. Financial fasting isn’t meant to be easy or unintentional – it involves denying yourself so that you can refocus your reliance on Christ.
How to Fast with Your Finances
In holding to the principles of fasting that we see in the Bible, I think we can fast financially by practicing the following:
1. Identify necessities and luxuries.
If you already have a budget, this may be a little easier for you to do. Take some time to really focus your expenses on the things that you have to pay for – items like your house payment, term life insurance, food, etc. If you can go without it (be honest with yourself – eating out, iTunes music, going to the movies, etc) list it as a luxury and do your best to go without purchasing it during your financial fast.
The financial fast is not meant to keep you from enjoying the things you already own. It’s a practice in contentment and reliance on God to be our provider.
2. Resist the temptation to purchase luxuries.
This is the difficult part of the financial fast. It’s so easy to justify small (and sometimes large) purchases for convenience sake or because we feel that we deserve it. Yes, I’m talking about the afternoon trip to the vending machine, the morning Starbucks, and the $1 Redbox movie. The point of a financial fast is to help us to use our money with purpose and to avoid irrational purchases that only inflate our standard of living. It’s challenging and you will notice the sacrifices – which is the point of the financial fast.
3. Focus on contentment, thankfulness, and giving.
While you’re making these financial sacrifices, take a moment to reflect on all that God has blessed you with and learn to be content with what you have. Don’t be tempted to complain about what you can’t buy during the financial fast. Instead, be thankful for all the things you do have.
You may start to see a few extra dollars because of the drop in your spending habits. This is a great thing and should be used as a way to cultivate a spirit of giving. Use the extra funds to bless a ministry in your church, help a friend in need, provide for a family that needs support, or any way that you feel God leading you to give.
4. Grow in prayer.
Throughout your financial fast, prayer should be at the cornerstone of all your decisions. Yes, as Christians we should engage with God as much as possible – but fasting should involve a focused time of prayer to seek God’s will and His direction in your life.
If there was one verse to guide your financial fast, I think it would be this:
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV
A financial fast is your declaration of freedom from money and acknowledgment of your dependence on God. Whether you practice a financial fast for three days or three weeks, I think it can help you grow spiritually and further your desire to give freely.
Have you ever considered a financial fast? Do you think it would be beneficial? Leave a comment!
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Never really understood fasting until I read this. I am going to do a 30 day financial fast to help me get closer to God through prayer but also to allow God to free me of my fear and anxiety of always living paycheck to paycheck and never having enough.
Tell me how it went respond back and help ME….I too am in the same boat…doing terribly…Tell me what you accomplished and what you did…Email me!!
Wow! This is wonderful! I have never heard anything like this and I can’t wait to start my financial fast!!!
Beautiful! Never thought about it!I’m blessed,and will be on my way to start financial fasting. Thanks Bob!
A great parallel Tim!
I’ve seen people go on 30-day spending fasts – and purchasing only the household essentials. A workshop member developed a No Money Monday with her family to help recognize all the little spending they do without even thinking about it.
Lots of ways to use a Financial Fast in our lives.
I really this will help a person grow spiritually because when I have fasted before my mind is so much clearer and I do hear the lord more better and louder,
I think financial fasts are healthy for multiple reasons. Much like when you stop watching TV for a month or two and you realize you don’t NEED to watch your favorite shows like you thought you did, the same is true of a break from spending money. You’ll realize you DO have money to save for things you always felt like you’d never be able to afford and you CAN give more to causes you’ve felt unable to support in the past.
Great post!
A few years back, I have indulge myself in fasting. Fasting in my own little way to spend sometime with him and this was done through a group recollection. It has help a lot in renewing my vows to him. I set aside all the material things and forget the present world that I was used to living.
Thank you so much for your blog. I tithe but I have still struggled. I have always struggled with money. I know if I am obedient that I can ask God and He will give me the desires of my heart. I have asked him for wisdom in finances and to give me a spirit of “discipline” so I can better manage my money. I have also asked Him to help me make more money so I can save. I also need a newer vehicle-or at least airconditioning in my vehicle. I plan on reading all of your articles. Thank you!
YOU HAVE PAY 10 PER CENT OF YOUR GROSS INCOME
While I have fasted before in prayer and repentance, the concept of financial fasting is still foreign to me. I do identify with the points you raise, especially #3 about contentment, thankfulness and giving. I think sometimes we are so wrapped up with earning more and buying even more stuff that we forget the joys of being grateful for what we already have and sharing. Financial fasting is something I’ll definitely give a try!
Financial fasting sounds like a terrific idea to me. We are all living in the world of materialistic wantings, but what happened to the concept of living a simpler and happier life? In the world where we don’t have to work as hard to buy everything and anything and spend more quality time with our children?
I have never consider a financial fast. I am going to try this fast to help me make better spending decisions and also for guidance in a new business venture that my son and I are about to start. Thank you for your valuable information.
Blessings,
Mildred Curry
Bahamas
I needed this article at this exact moment!! Without too much boring detail, I have recently been put in a serious financial crunch. I have been so worried. I love the idea of a financial fast!! But more than that I love the reminder that no matter what with God it WILL be ok!! Thank you so much for the verse reminder. I think I will read it every day while I fast!
i believe in fasting, but never had any type of financial fast. your msg really aligns with God’s Word. it’s about time i started a financial fast in the name of Jesus’ Christ of Nazareth, amen. thank you
What a wonderful idea!
My wife and I have been going through this process for some time now. My awareness to this life change began when I gave my financial planning practice to God and aligned myself with Kingdom Advisors.
Without question and folks like Randy Alcorn and Larry Burkett will attest, this will strengthen your faith and bring you into a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
Wonderful article – I love Christian PF!!
The article was awesome. I will be going on a financial fast. Great idea.. I would like to share your article (giving you..credit of course) God bless ya..
This is right on time. I decided in December to do a financial fast for.the entire year of 2016 barring any luxuries and purchasing only necessities. Saving and being content as well as mindful of the material blessings that I already have. Most importantly, drawing nearer in my relationship to Christ.
Ive never really heard of the term “financial fast.” This sounds like a great concept. I a, definitely going to try this and share this with the MissCFO community. I have been building my relationship with God over the last couple of months and this will be great for me to do. Thanks for sharing!
Great article. Michelle Singletary washington post columnist has a book speaking of something similar to this. I will also follow this plan using the scripture you suggested and introduce it to my ladies group. Blessings.
Thank you for this great idea! i have heard of this in the past. I did something similar last year
during a bible study I attended.
I need a break from all the spending and I also need to know what God wants us to do in
terms of our spending habits.
Seriously thinking about applying these ideas so my spending will be in line with the Lord’s
plans for me.
We do this from time to time in various areas of spending. For instance, I am currently on a “clothing fast” — not purchasing any new clothes for the next three months.
We’ve done it with different categories at different times. Other ones I can remember are “entertainment” and “eating out”.
I am presently on strict abstinence. Did I buy luxury items recently? No. Did I get my house painted a year back? Yes.. because that was necessary– we almost had a few chunks falling off from here and there and that’s when we decided to get them repaired and repainted. Oh yes! My entertainment costs are less than half of what they used to be in 2013.. Am I on a Financial Fast too? I wonder!
Watch out if you go on a financial fast – you might get hooked and end up retiring early or being able to move into a smaller home b/c you wake up and find you don’t need as much storage space. !
I am going on a finicial fast because I want to draw nearer to God I feel Satan pressing down on me I’m n a finicial struggle family struggle I wantGod n my every move I believe if I fast and learn to do according to Gos word that I will come out of this one know God is a provider a deliverer n a healer n I believe when u fast for how ever long God honors that n your mind will be clearer read pray listen I have allowed the devil to keep me n bondage n I mean worrying how I’m gonna pay this r that if I follow Gods word I know I will come through so I started today n Jesus name
I think this a wonderful way to draw closer to the Lord. Although I am very frugal, now I can concentrate on Glorifying Him in the process.
This has come to my attention when I really need to fast and seek God for the year ahead. A financial fast would be ideal to help me exercise self control and experience God’s power in my life.
Love this, Jane!
Loved the article. Financial fasting is a beautiful thing. It helps you get your priorities in order with God. My favorite part of this whole article is “using any money we gain from the financial fast” to bless someone else and not ourselves. That makes it a true fast and glorifies God, which is the soul purpose of fasting. To draw closer to Him and do His will with a joyful heart. Thank you for this article.
Thanks, Tammie!
I have never heard of a financial fast before, but I think it makes a lot of sense.
I appreciate the insights from your articles. I will venture into a financial fast this month just to cut down luxuries and focus on God as my Source of Supply. He is Our Shepherd.
This is an awesome article. Thank you so much for this powerful teaching. May the Lord our God continue to bless you and your team, with more wisdom, to help further enrich your lives and the lives of others; and the advancement of His Kingdom.
I will do the financial fasting to learn to trust God with the money he provides to learn to let the Holy Spirit guide me financially and learn to not live paycheck to paycheck.
I’m familiar with fasting but never heard of a financial fast before. This is a challenge which I know is going to hurt but I feel may help me a lot. I just pop up to the shops to buy me snacks because I feel I earned them but I know didn’t need them. I’m rather excited as I was looking for something to fast (I usually fast certain mealtimes) but with overseas guests I was stuck as I can’t fast while my guests eat. Thank you for this! This is the answer and I’m excited to take on this fast and see how my finances look at the end of it. 🙌
Wow, this is absolutely amazing. My favorite part of the article is “A financial fast is your declaration of freedom from money and acknowledgment of your dependence on God.”
Definitely will instill these principles into my financial life.
Thank you so much and God bless
You are welcome Sindy!
This has come to my attention when I really need to fast and seek God for the year ahead. A financial fast would be ideal to help me exercise self control and experience God’s power in my life.
I really liked this article. My husband and I have been discussing how we will make this year different than last year. And one thing we are trying to focus on is cutting back on our spending of luxuries. So we have been categorizing the things we have spent money on. We want to be able to give more and honor God with what we spend our money on.
I really like the term Financial Fast. Thanks for sharing.
That financial fast is great solution for me now, thanks for your sharing!
thank you for sharing it. It is very helpful ….
I think fasting for a financial breakthrough is needed,imagine you have your bank knocking on your door every now and then for a defaulted loan,your can has broken down no money to fix it,you switch to a motorcycle to report to work,it also develops mechanical problems,the cost of taking public means to your place of work is out of question. Here you call The Almighty God to do his will and show his mercy, im hoing through all this,but i believe i will have a testimony of what a miracle from God is.kindly help me in prayers.
We are joining you in prayer!
Wow Thanks Alot For It.
Iu Has Made Me Know About Power Of a Prayer In God.