A Practical Look At Derek Prince Prayer And Fasting
Derek Prince wrote a short book called "Prayer And Fasting" that came out in the late 1990s, and it still gets passed around a lot in certain circles. The core idea is straightforward: you combine abstaining from food with focused prayer for a specific spiritual purpose. Prince wasn't trying to reinvent anything. He was pulling together what he'd seen work across decades of pastoral ministry and what he found woven through Scripture. Most people pick up his material because they're dealing with something heavy — a family crisis, a persistent spiritual dryness, a decision that won't seem to resolve no matter how much they pray. Prince's approach is less about mystical experience and more about discipline and intentionality. He treats fasting as a tool, not a performance.
The Derek Prince Prayer And Fasting Method
Prince outlined a few practical steps that most people can follow without overcomplicating things. Here is how it actually works in practice. Choose your fast type. Prince discussed several options. The normal fast means you eat nothing except water. The partial fast, which he also called the Daniel Fast, involves cutting out specific foods — usually meat, sweets, and rich foods — while eating vegetables and basic staples. Then there is the total fast, which is just water for a longer period. Prince generally recommended starting with a partial fast unless you have experience. A normal fast beyond two or three days is stressful on the body, and if you are new to this, you will probably regret it. Set a clear time frame. This is where most people fail. Prince stressed picking a specific duration before you begin — one day, three days, seven days, or twenty-one days depending on the situation. Writing it down matters. Saying "I will fast until something happens" is a recipe for either quitting early or pushing yourself dangerously far. He recommended beginning with one day to understand what the experience feels like before committing to anything longer.
Define the prayer focus. Fasting without a prayer target is just a diet. Prince was blunt about this. You need to know what you are asking for or what spiritual ground you are trying to cover. It could be guidance on a decision, intercession for someone, breaking a stubborn pattern in your own life, or spiritual warfare. He suggested writing the focus down and reading relevant Scripture related to it throughout the fast. Break the fast properly. This is the step most people skip and then feel terrible the next day. Prince recommended breaking a fast with something light — broth, fruit, or vegetables. You do not want to load your digestive system back up suddenly after it has been resting. If you fast for three days and then eat a heavy meal, you will likely get sick. I learned this the hard way during a five-day fast I did for a family situation a few years back. I broke it with a bowl of oatmeal and some fruit, felt fine, and then had friends over and ate a normal dinner. Bad call. I was in pain for the rest of the evening. Now I always keep it simple for the first two meals after any fast longer than a day.
What Prince Actually Said About Results
One thing that catches people off guard is that Prince did not present fasting as a guarantee machine. He was clear that God is under no obligation to respond to a fast the way you expect. The purpose is alignment, not manipulation. He framed it as submitting your will more fully to God's will through the discipline of denying yourself physical needs so you can focus on spiritual ones. He also addressed the spiritual resistance angle. Prince believed that fasting weakens certain spiritual obstacles, particularly around areas where fleshly desires and spiritual strongholds overlap. This is why he associated fasting strongly with breaking habitual sin and gaining clarity in spiritual warfare. It is a serious claim, and whether it holds true depends entirely on your theological framework.
Pitfalls And Where This Approach Falls Short
Fasting is not for everyone. People with a history of eating disorders should not attempt it. Diabetics and anyone on medication that requires food intake should consult a doctor first. Prince acknowledged these limitations, though his book was written primarily for a general Christian audience that assumed physical health. Another issue is the loneliness factor. If you are fasting during normal work or family hours, people will notice. They will ask questions. Prince suggested being honest about what you are doing rather than pretending nothing is different. But I will say that explaining to coworkers why you are not eating lunch while they order takeout gets old fast. I usually just tell people I am doing a religious fast and move on. Most people respect that enough to drop it. The longer you fast, the more likely you are to hit what Prince called the "dark night" phase — a period where prayer feels empty and God feels distant. This happens around day three or four for many people. Prince advised pushing through it rather than quitting, since that is often exactly when the discipline is doing its work. Whether you agree with that depends on your personal threshold for discomfort.
Where To Find The Material
The book "Prayer And Fasting" by Derek Prince is available through various Christian publishers and can be downloaded as a PDF from sites like LifeLight.org and DerekPrince.org. There are also free study guides and audio recordings of Prince teaching on the subject. These are not paid materials. The full book runs about 64 pages and covers the biblical basis, practical instructions, and common objections in a fairly direct style. If you want something slightly more extensive, his book "A Foundation For Fasting" expands on these ideas with more Scripture references and longer testimonies from people who have practiced it over the years. It is also available for free online through the same organizations.
The Bottom Line
Derek Prince Prayer And Fasting is not complicated, and that is partly its strength and partly its weakness. It gives you a clear method but does not promise dramatic results. It works best if you approach it as a discipline rather than a transaction. The people who get the most out of it tend to be those who already have a regular prayer life and are looking to intensify it for a specific season. If you are looking for a quick spiritual fix, this is not it. It is a slow, deliberate practice that requires planning, honesty about your limits, and a willingness to sit with discomfort without immediately reaching for food or distraction.
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