01/03/2026
The kind of fasting I want is this:
Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free.
Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor.
Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives.
Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed.
I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side.”
—Isaiah 58:6–8
I’ve learned so much as I’ve walked out of and found freedom from an eating disorder (ED). ED will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay. You’ve probably heard this in reference to addiction, but it’s also true for eating disorders and disordered eating.
For years, 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting was one of my favorite times of the year—but it was also a season that caused me deep pain and confusion. Over the last few years, I’ve learned why.
Fasting food can be incredibly triggering for someone who struggles with an eating disorder or disordered eating. This one word—fasting—can cause my world to fall apart completely.
We study the life of Christ and His spiritual disciplines. We learn how powerful fasting and prayer are and how they can break the chains that bind us.
And prayer truly changes everything.
However, when someone has an eating disorder or a history of disordered eating, fasting food can destroy any progress they’ve made.
Restricting is never good—under any circumstances.
Restricting triggers, even when it’s done with the best intentions.
Many people participating in 21 days of prayer and fasting in January choose the Daniel Fast, eliminate sugar, skip meals, or eat only one or two meals a day. But in my brain, even a simple suggestion to skip or restrict a meal can flip a switch that cannot be easily turned off and send me spiraling.
I remember the years when I started realizing I was struggling, but I didn’t know why—or how—or what to do to help myself. January would roll around, and I’d decide to do the Daniel Fast… and fail miserably. Enter more shame and guilt. Then I’d decide to fast sugar—same thing. More shame. More guilt. I asked myself over and over, “Why can’t I do this?”
I know people usually mean well, but there were times when I was shamed for not fasting food the way others were. That happened to me more times than I can count. Let me just say—I didn’t need anyone adding more shame and guilt. I had already done plenty of that myself.
You should never shame someone for doing something differently—or not doing what you’re doing—because you have no idea what they’re walking through.
I once read this and it stopped me in my tracks:
“In many cases, asking a recovering eating-disordered individual to fast food for a single meal would be like inviting a recovering alcoholic to drink a beer. It is absolutely disastrous.”
That is very true.
I began working with an eating disorder nutritionist in October 2019. Shortly after, the pandemic hit. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine something like that happening—but there we were. My work with my nutritionist continued virtually, and I actually began to flourish. That still amazes me, especially knowing that during the pandemic, eating disorders and other addictions were skyrocketing.
That’s not to say I didn’t face challenges—I did. But I praise God that He was moving in me and through me, leading me toward greater freedom, not less.
So as we enter this season of 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, food is not an option for me. And even though it’s taken me a long time to truly believe this—it’s okay. And if this has been your struggle too, it’s okay for you as well, sweet friend.
Yes, we are called to fast and pray—it’s all throughout Scripture. In fact, it was during a season of 21 days of fasting and prayer that God said to me, “Nicole, now is the time to deal with this secret problem you’ve been carrying.” He told me to throw out the diuretics and laxatives I had been abusing for so many years—and I was set free right there. I haven’t touched another laxative or diuretic since.
So I know fasting and prayer work. Sometimes, though, mine—and maybe yours—needs to look different. And that is okay.
We have to protect our recovery. I have worked so incredibly hard to get where I am, and I am fiercely protective of it.
Fasting is simply laying aside self. Who couldn’t benefit from that?
Fasting is clearing out the clutter we’ve allowed in and making room for God.
Fasting is about growing closer to Him.
More of Him. Less of me.
Fasting is not a diet—yet some people use it that way at the beginning of the year, focusing on weight loss instead of intimacy with God. Sometimes, at the end of 21 days of prayer and fasting, you’ll hear statements like, “As a congregation, we lost a total of X pounds.”
First, losing weight does not equal health.
Second, you never know what someone is battling, and comments like that can be deeply harmful and confusing.
Here are some ideas of things you can fast instead of food:
👉Social media
👉Gossip
👉TV
👉Video games… Pokémon Go… not speaking to myself
👉Online shopping (ouch… my husband would probably love this one)
👉Secular music
👉Negative self-talk
👉Eating out
👉I’ve even heard of women fasting makeup😱 what in tarnation?! That one benefits others😂🙈
J/K
There are so many ways to fast that don’t involve food. It’s not about what you’re giving up—it’s about dying to self so Christ can be glorified in us.
Maybe—just maybe—me walking faithfully in my recovery, following my Plate-by-Plate approach for ED healing… maybe that is my fast. Learning self-care and nourishment is a sacrifice. It takes time, intentionality, and prayer.
So yes—I am excited about 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. But I will not be fasting food in any way. My recovery is too precious, and I’ve come too far.
I’m believing for miracles, breakthroughs, and chains of bo***ge to be broken, and marriages, and families to be healed and restored in Jesus’ name, amen.
What are you believing God for? I’d love to pray for you.
I’m believing and expecting great things—for you and for me.
God bless you, and I hope you have a wonderful week.
Big hugs,
Nicole
“The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless po…
