Fasting During Lent: An Overview and the Daniel Fast
Lent is a time of fasting and reflection observed by many Christians worldwide. Are you considering fasting during Lent? Many take the Lenten season as an opportunity to engage in the spiritual practice of fasting and grow in faith.
The Lent season lasts forty days leading up to Easter and is an important time of repentance, renewal, and worship. Ultimately, the reason for Lent isn’t to follow regulations and obligations but to celebrate Jesus.
The Lenten season is a time to reflect on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This blog has readers from many different denominations and backgrounds. So, this may all be very familiar to you. Or, you may not emphasize Lent in your church or treat it any differently than other times of the year.
Either way, celebrating Resurrection Sunday is significant, and making time to intentionally reflect and prepare your heart, soul, and mind is something to consider!
This post will outline some of the history and common observances associated with Lent. Since fasting is typically part of Lent, you may find that the Daniel Fast is something you would like to incorporate during this season.
When is Lent?
Lent is the 40 day period before Easter, excluding Sundays. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes with Holy Week, which leads up to Easter.
The final days of Lent, called Holy Week or Passion Week, commemorates the last days of Jesus' life, from his entry into Jerusalem to his crucifixion and resurrection.
Many churches celebrate Holy Week with observances, services, or scripture readings.
Significant events took place in Jesus’last days with His disciples, from Palm Sunday’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the washing of the disciples’ feet and last supper.
Find Holy Week Bible reading plans covering all four gospels here.
Overview of Holy Week
Palm Sunday - celebrated one week before Easter, depicts Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.
Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday - this Monday and Tuesday may include reading gospel stories from Jesus' last days.
Holy Wednesday or Spy Wednesday - "spy" refers to Judas arranging his betrayal.
Maundy Thursday - commemorates the Last Supper; some churches host a foot-washing service and/or service with communion this Thursday.
Good Friday - the day of Jesus' crucifixion; Good Friday services may focus on the day of Jesus’ death with anticipation for His resurrection three days later.
Holy Saturday - the day Jesus was buried. Easter Vigil is conducted in some traditions after sundown on Holy Saturday and may celebrate baptism, confirmation, and Communion.
Resurrection Sunday - celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
When Did the Church Start Observing Lent?
Observing a time of fasting and preparation before Easter has likely existed since apostolic times. However, the practice was formalized after the First Council of Nicaea in 325 CE.
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Lent was initially a time to prepare people for baptism and a time of penance for serious sinners who were cut off from Communion and being restored to the church.
The practice of fasting from meat on specific days during the Lenten season originated in the early Christian Church. Over time, fasting was associated with abstinence from meat and dairy products.
Eventually, people began to abstain from other types of food such as sweets and other delicacies.
Spiritual disciplines such as self-denial, almsgiving, repentance, and worship also became a focus during Lent.
Lent is officially observed by many Christian denominations, including Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Episcopalians, and Lutherans.
Additionally, other Protestant and evangelical churches choose to observe Lent as an opportunity to focus on Christ and grow in their faith.
The "Wesley Fast" is named after John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. For part of his ministry, he advocated fasting twice weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays (and wouldn't ordain anyone who didn't).
Of course, this was a year-round practice, not just during the Lenten season. But it does echo the tradition of fasting on certain days, like Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are observed during Lent.
Purpose of Lent
As previously stated, the purpose of Lent is to reflect on Jesus Christ. It’s also about identifying with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection.
During this time, Christians are called to repentance, turning from sin and toward God. This requires a deep examination of the heart and mind.
In practice, we turn away from worldly influences and impulses, practice self-denial of fleshly desires, and stay focused on Christ. His example of suffering can strengthen us for days of fasting and other challenges we encounter living in a broken world.
The Lenten season time of reflection also calls for exercising forgiveness and extending compassion to all people, especially those in need.
Fasting during Lent is one way to humble ourselves before God and prepare our hearts for Easter. It is not meant to be a burden. Instead, it’s an opportunity to eliminate things that distract us from our highest priorities and pursuit of Christ.
In this context, we should give thanks and remember what the grace of God means for us. As 2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us, His grace is sufficient and helps us in our weakness!
What are Common Fasting Practices During Lent?
The Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic Church follows the practice of fasting and abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and continuing to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent.
The definition of fasting means "a person is permitted to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may also be taken, but they are not to equal that of a full meal."
The Conference of Bishops also recommends for people to focus on generosity to the poor, renewing their baptismal commitment and spiritual studies during this time.
Several groups are excluded from fasting, including those who fall outside the age limits, are physically or mentally ill, suffering from chronic illnesses, and nursing and pregnant women.
Giving Something Up for Lent
During Lent, there's a common idea and practice that you should "give something up." That something might be a food or beverage you are strongly attached to, or it could be a habit.
Although this isn't enforced by church leadership, many people see the benefit of separating from worldly vices and distractions and exercising self-control.
Since our lives are now inundated with digital media and devices, to abstain from social media, movies, or some form of technology during Lent is a popular choice.
A "dopamine detox" is a new trend that involves giving up stimulating and potentially addictive habits such as excessive internet usage. While there's debate about the scientific evidence and outcomes of a dopamine detox, there's no doubt that it can be helpful to cut back or eliminate technology use for a period of time.
What could you choose to abstain from during the Lenten season? It’s about more than just cutting something out of your life, it’s also about adding in practices to build up your spiritual life.
Developing a Spiritual Discipline
Along with fasting, Christians may also focus on developing their spiritual disciplines by focusing on habits such as:
Dedicated times of prayer
Bible study
Giving to those in need
Acts of service
Fasting or abstaining from certain food/activities
For more detail on how you could cultivate a new spiritual habit during this time, check out this post.
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Visit the Daily Grace Co to find an amazing Bible study for your Lenten journey, like 40 Days with Jesus.
Eastern Orthodox Fasting
As you can see in this calendar the Eastern Orthodox church designates many days of fasting throughout the year.
Many of these fasting calendars are color-coded to clarify which foods are allowed on specific days. The definitions from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America for fasting days are quoted below:
Strict Fast: Refrain from meat, fish, oil, wine, dairy, and eggs.
Wine & Oil: Wine and oil are allowed. Refrain from meat, fish, dairy, and eggs.
Dairy Allowed: Dairy, eggs, fish, oil and wine are allowed. Refrain from meat.
Fast Free: All Food Allowed
"Great Lent" in the Eastern church is the most important fast of the year. Although it has the same purpose as Lent in western Christianity, the start date is calculated differently.
Great Lent begins seven weeks before Easter on "Clean Monday" and extends through the Paschal vigil on early morning of Easter.
In Summary
Whatever tradition you come from, I hope you find it interesting to learn more about different fasting traditions throughout history and into the present day.
This isn't a call for you to follow any particular fasting regimen or ritual. Instead, it's up to you to pray, read the Bible, and seek God’s direction on what a personal spiritual discipline of fasting might look like for you.
See:
10 New Testament Scriptures on Fasting
10 Old Testament Fasting Scriptures
About the Daniel Fast - Are Christians Supposed to Fast?
Can You Do the Daniel Fast for Lent?
In sharing the history of Lent and spiritual disciplines associated with Lent, you may have noticed that partial fasting is common throughout church history.
This applies, for example, to elements of eating and fasting such as:
Schedule - fasting six days a week with a break from fasting on Sundays.
Amount - eating just one full meal or two smaller meals a day.
Type - eating certain types of food groups while abstaining from others.
A Daniel Fast involves eliminating from all meat, fish, animal products like eggs and dairy, and alcohol. In addition, most people who observe the Daniel Fast avoid packaged and processed foods, fried foods, baked goods with yeast, sugar, and all beverages other than water.
On a Daniel Fast, you do consume:
Fruits and vegetables
Unprocessed whole grains like oatmeal, rice, and quinoa
Beans and legumes
Nuts and seeds
Plant-based oils
See: What to Eat on a Daniel Fast
In summary, the Daniel Fast principles align with observing Lent and to abstain from certain food groups such as meat.
You may follow the Daniel Fast eating principles in combination with the other schedules and observances (i.e., limiting the amount of food or times you eat) as listed above.
Or, you may choose your own form and schedule of fasting as you're led by the Lord.
In a 2013 Huff Post article, someone had the following to say about fasting:
"Too many do it at the beginning of the year because it's easier as everyone wants to diet." She follows up by stating her plans to fast during Lent because that timing "makes the most sense."
I don't believe we're obligated to fast during Lent. Still, I strongly agree with the sentiment that fasting is not a diet, and it's not confined to the month of January!
Although Christians seem most disposed to fasting at the beginning of the year, taking time to fast and focus on Jesus in the days leading up to Easter is a powerful thought we can all consider.