These are five common mistakes Christians make when they’re new to fasting—and how you can avoid them. Fasting is a powerful spiritual tool, but if we approach it the wrong way, we can miss the incredible breakthroughs God has for us. So let’s look at these five common traps and see what the Bible says about them.

1. Fasting without praying

The first mistake is focusing only on avoiding food. Fasting isn’t just about what you’re not eating; it’s about what you’re feeding your spirit. If you’re skipping meals but not spending time in prayer or God’s Word, then honestly, you’re just on a diet.

The Bible says in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

When Jesus fasted, He didn’t just starve himself. He spent that time connecting with his Father. So, during your fast, prioritize prayer, worship, and Bible reading to provoke real spiritual growth.

2. Trying to be a fasting superhero

The second mistake is biting off more than you can chew by setting unrealistic goals. We’re all inspired by the greats of the Bible, like Moses or Jesus fasting for 40 days. But definitely don’t start there.

Ecclesiastes 7:16 says, “Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?”

Start small. Maybe fast one meal a day or try a 24-hour fast. The goal isn’t to impress God with your endurance; it’s to grow closer to Him. Build your spiritual discipline over time. Not to mention, the Bible doesn’t command believers to fast for any set length of time. Just make sure you do it by faith.

3. Randomly coasting through the fast

The third mistake is fasting without a clear purpose. Fasting isn’t just about abstaining from food; it’s about focusing your heart and mind on a specific spiritual goal. What are you believing God for? Direction? Healing? Breakthrough?

Philippians 4:4 says, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

When you fast and pray with purpose, it aligns your heart with God’s will and opens the door for him to move powerfully in your life.

4. Fasting for bragging rights

The fourth mistake is becoming prideful and treating fasting like a badge of honor. Listen, fasting isn’t about earning points with God or showing off how spiritual you are. Jesus warned us about that in Matthew 6:16-18 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting… But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting.”

Keep your fast between you and God. Remember, humility is the key to a powerful fast. The only exception is if you’re doing a group fast with your church or study group. Obviously discussing the fast isn’t wrong. Jesus was condemning those who were bragging about their fasting and prayer.

5. Giving up too easily

The fifth mistake is throwing in the towel at the first sign of discomfort and quitting too early. Fasting isn’t always easy! You’ll get hungry, you’ll get tired, but don’t let those things stop you.

Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

When those hunger pangs hit, let them remind you to pray and lean on God’s presence. Remember, you’re not fasting in your own power—you’re relying on His.

If you’d like to learn more about fasting and how to approach it biblically, I’ve got a free resource for you: the Fasting Starter Kit. It’s packed with tips, tools, and 100 prayer points to help you grow closer to God through fasting and prayer. You can download it for free by clicking the link in the description.

And if you’re ready to go even deeper, check out my book, A Complete Guide to Biblical Fasting. In it, I break down everything you need to know about fasting, including why the Daniel Fast might be dangerous for believers.