Lindsay Blake
It’s Lent.
A season of slowing down.
Of surrender.
Of making room.
And if you’re preparing for a mission trip — whether across the street or across the world — there may not be a better time to lean in.
Before you pack your bag, raise support, or finalize logistics… consider fasting.
Not to prove something.
Not to be intense.
Not to check a spiritual box.
But to make space.
Why Fast Before a Mission Trip?
Mission trips aren’t powered by strategy alone. They’re sustained by dependence.
Fasting is one of the clearest ways we say:
“God, I need You more than I need comfort.”
Throughout Scripture, fasting was connected to:
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Clarity
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Repentance
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Breakthrough
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Preparation
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Spiritual authority
Even Jesus fasted before stepping fully into public ministry (see Gospel of Matthew 4:1–11).
If fasting mattered before He stepped into His calling, it might matter before we step into ours too.
What Is Fasting — Really?
Fasting isn’t about spiritual performance.
It’s about removing something normal in your life to become more aware of your need for God.
It’s creating intentional hunger — physical or otherwise — so your heart becomes more attentive.
And during Lent especially, fasting reminds us:
We are not self-sufficient.
We are sustained by Him.
How to Fast (Without Making It Weird)
You don’t have to go extreme to go deep.
Here’s a simple framework:
1. Ask God What to Fast
One meal?
A full day?
Social media?
Caffeine?
Sugar?
Streaming?
Start with prayer. This is about obedience, not comparison.
2. Set Your Focus
Don’t just remove something — replace it with intention.
Ask:
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Am I praying for boldness?
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Unity on our team?
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Protection?
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Open hearts?
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Personal surrender?
Write it down. Be specific.
3. Replace the Time
If you skip a meal, use that time to pray.
If you give up social media, use that scroll-time for Scripture.
Reflect on passages like:
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Psalm 69:10,13
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Joel 2:12
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Gospel of Matthew 6:16–18
Fasting without prayer is just dieting.
Fasting with prayer is dependence.
4. Expect Discomfort
You might get a headache.
You might feel irritable.
You might really miss your coffee.
That discomfort is not failure — it’s awareness.
Every time you feel it, let it become a whisper:
“God, I need You.”
And don’t be surprised if distractions increase. Spiritual focus often invites resistance. Stay grounded. Stay steady.
5. Ease Back In
If you fast from food, reintroduce it slowly. Your body will thank you.
Fasting is spiritual — but it’s also physical wisdom.
Before You Begin
Pause for a moment.
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What might God be inviting you to surrender?
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What time can you intentionally set apart for Him?
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What are you hoping to hear?
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What are you afraid He might say?
Lent is not about deprivation.
It’s about preparation.
And a mission trip is not just something you do.
It’s something God does in you.
Living Sent Starts in the Secret Place
Before public ministry comes private surrender.
Before outreach comes intimacy.
If you’re preparing for an Urban Plunge or a Global Team, don’t just prepare your suitcase.
Prepare your spirit.
Make space.
Lean in.
Let Him shape you before He sends you.
Ready to step into what God is inviting you into?
Learn more about upcoming Urban Plunges and Global Teams at:
