Girls Anthem Closet: Fasting for Gen Z
How to Really Lock In
While this article was inspired by Gen Z voices, the insight reaches across generations. Whether you’re 18 or 54, these truths offer encouragement and tools for your walk with God. All images provided by Canva AI.
Fasting can sound boring — and lately, we’ve made it seem like something you can just do by deleting social media or detoxing from time-wasters. But fasting is more than a reset. It’s a sacred act that can unlock spiritual breakthroughs and bring you into deeper alignment with God’s plan for your life.
I started fasting once a week about twelve years ago. At first, it was just something I did with my church every January. But over time, I felt led to make it a consistent part of my spiritual life.
Here’s my working definition of fasting:
Turning down my plate and my desires to honor God, removing distractions to make space for Him, and praying to hear His heart.
I created this definition for this article because I want you to understand the kind of fasting God honors — not just what’s popular. Isaiah 58 lays it out clearly: a true fast isn’t about appearance or performance. It’s about humbling ourselves, repenting, helping others, and seeking God’s heart (Isaiah 58:6-9, NKJV).
While it’s okay to bring our requests to God, fasting becomes more powerful when we start by asking Him what’s on His heart before sharing what’s on ours. Here are six tips to help you lock in to a biblical fast and experience real strength and clarity:
1. Pray first.
Ask God what kind of fast He wants you to do and for how long. There are lots of how-to guides online, but none of them replace actual prayer. God will show you what to fast from — whether it’s food, habits, or distractions — so you can create more space for Him. Don’t rush into it. Let Him guide the process (Proverbs 3:5-6).
2. Do a real, biblical fast — even if just for 8 hours.
Start with what you can do, but aim for something that stretches you. My fasts are usually 12 hours (4 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 5 to 5), but I started with sunrise to sunset. A biblical fast involves abstaining from food and feeding your spirit through the Word, prayer, and worship (Matthew 6:16-18, NKJV). A social media detox is helpful, but it’s not a substitute for a true fast.
3. Make sure it’s a sacrifice.
If you never eat breakfast, skipping it isn’t a sacrifice. A true fast should cost you something (2 Samuel 24:24). God honors sacrifice that comes from the heart.
4. Ask God what He wants to free you from.
Instead of starting with your wishlist, start with your willingness to grow. Ask Him what habits, sins, or strongholds are blocking your intimacy with Him (Psalm 139:23-24). Repentance brings restoration.
5. Seek clarity about your assignment.
God used a fast to prepare Esther to save her people (Esther 4:16). What if your fast is connected to your purpose too? Ask God where you belong and how He wants to use you in this season.
6. Then bring your requests.
God cares about your dreams (Psalm 37:4), but we have to surrender our will to His. Sometimes He’ll confirm that what you want is what He wants too — but even then, it’s His way and His timing.
Fasting isn’t a trend — it’s a tool. And when done God’s way, it can shift your entire life. So don’t fast to “get” something. Fast to become someone — the kind of girl who hears God clearly, walks in purpose boldly, and lives surrendered fully.
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness… and that you break every yoke?”
— Isaiah 58:6, NKJV
Ready to Glow Up God’s Way?
Use these journal prompts during or after your fast to reflect, reset, and really tap into what God is saying:
What’s one area of my life where I’ve been settling instead of seeking God?
If God asked me to give up something I love to get closer to Him, what would be hardest to release? Why?
What habits, mindsets, or secret sins do I need to lay down so I can glow up spiritually?
What lie has the enemy been whispering to me — and what does God’s Word actually say?
What do I want, and what does God want for me? Where do those desires align — and where do they clash?
Who do I want to become by the end of this fast? Be honest, be bold, be clear.
If I fully obeyed God in this next season, what would my life look like one year from now?
What kind of legacy do I want to leave — and what do I need to fast from to start building it?
What Scripture is anchoring me in this season? Why does it hit differently right now?
What’s something I need to start praying before I fast next time?
Closing Prayer: Faith Girl Fast Reset
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for inviting me into something deeper. I don’t just want a spiritual high — I want real, lasting transformation. Teach me how to fast in a way that honors You, humbles me, and helps me hear Your heart. I surrender my schedule, my cravings, my need for control — all of it. Help me to lay down anything You didn’t give me and pick up everything You have for me. Strip away what’s fake, what’s fear-based, and what’s not fruitful. During this fast, reveal the version of me You always saw — the bold, healed, faith-filled girl You created. And when it gets hard, remind me that I’m not just giving something up — I’m gaining You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Biblical Foundations for Fasting
Isaiah 58:6-7
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness...?”
Fasting isn’t just about denying food; it’s about actively breaking chains of injustice, caring for the vulnerable, and living out God’s mercy.
Joel 2:12-13
“Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning...
True fasting is heartfelt repentance — it’s about tearing your heart toward God, not just your clothes.
Ezra 8:21-23
“I proclaimed a fast... that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a right way for us...”
Fasting humbles us and helps us seek God’s wisdom and protection, especially in uncertain or challenging seasons.
Acts 13:2-3
“While they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’”
Fasting helps us hear God’s voice clearly for direction and divine appointments.
Esther 4:16
“Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan... and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days...”
Fasting prepares us spiritually for bold steps, breakthroughs, and God-ordained missions.
Have a busy lifestyle and wondering how to incorporate biblical fasting into your life? Check out this YouTube video I did in 2024 titled, “How to Fast with a Busy Lifestyle”.
P.S. I’m releasing the Gen Z Issue a few days early just for the Girls Anthem community. Grab your copy here: Purchase Here