My Favorite Books on Fasting
You may have noticed that in the fasting archives I often quote from books about fasting. A book or two might be cited in a post here and there, but I’ve never compiled a list of the books . . . until now.
I purposely chose to publish this list on the second day of the fast so that if you feel led to read one of the books, you’ll have time to obtain a copy and read it during your fast.
My Favorites and Recommendations
I have a few favorite books on fasting. Therefore, I find myself recommending the same ones over and over.
What books do I recommend most often? There are five:
#1 Recommendation: Fasting by Jentezen Franklin
If someone is new to fasting, I recommend they read Fasting by Jentezen Franklin. It strikes a balance between providing information to help you and inspiration to motivate you as you fast! You’ll find yourself reading this book and longing to fast. I’m serious!
God used Jentezen Franklin’s preaching and teaching on fasting to lead me to make fasting a part of my lifestyle. So elements of Jentezen’s preaching and writing can be found throughout my written & audio fasting content. If you’ve been blessed in any way by the content here, I think you’ll be deeply blessed by his book Fasting.
- The post Dethroning King Stomach was taken from this book. Excerpts also appear in Brokenness, Part 1 and Part 2; Renewal in the Desert; and When You Fast
#2 Recommendation: A Hunger for God by John Piper
This book is rich in deep, eye-opening, life-changing truth about fasting. The first sentence in the Introduction is power-packed: “The birthplace of Christian fasting is homesickness for God.” The Introduction alone is transformational!
This is a highly, highly recommended book! You can tell how deeply it impacted me and affected my view of fasting by how often I have cited it in my fasting posts.
- The posts Hungry Handmaid of Faith; Why Does God Reward Fasting; and The Calvary Road, Part One, Two, and Three were based on sections of this book. Excerpts can also be found in For the Little Ones; Six Encouraging Reminders; Fasting, Justification, and Sanctification; and Require and Rejoice.
#3 Recommendation: Books by Elmer Towns
Equally as recommended as the above are any books by Dr. Elmer Towns. (See the list below.) Dr. Towns is a college and seminary professor, an author of popular and scholarly works (the editor of two encyclopedias), and a speaker / lecturer. He is co-founder of Liberty University, with Jerry Falwell, and is currently the Dean of the School of Religion at Liberty.
Although he is a scholar, Elmer Towns’s books do not read like a dry textbook. They are engaging, life-changing, easy to read, yet very informative! I’ve been deeply blessed by Dr. Towns’s writing, his teaching, and his heart for fasting!
- Some of the most popular, most visited posts on this site are based content from Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough by Elmer Towns—posts including The Ezra Fast; Breaking Negative Emotional Habits; Targeting Decisions, The St. Paul Fast; Lives of Influence; Breaking Bondage, The Disciples’ Fast}
#4 Recommendation: Awakening by Stovall Weems
This is a wonderful resource! It is inspiring, informative, and at the end of the book, contains The Awakening 21-Day Plan, which includes a 21-day devotional for your fast, fasting tips, a fasting calendar, and other great helps. I highly recommend it! Stovall describes in fresh, unique ways how God works through Biblical fasting.
Excerpts from Awakening are included in the posts Expecting Anointing, Part 1, and Feeding Faith, Part 1 and Part 2
#5 Recommendation:Shaping History Through Fasting and Prayer by Derek Prince
Derek Prince teaches how you can implement change—in your family, church, local, country, and the world—through fasting and prayer.
My copy of this book is highlighted and marked up. It is well worn, having blessed me, and then been used as the basis for several posts on this site.
The posts Kings & Priests: Praying with Authority, How Fasting Works, and Praying for Our Government were based on content from this book. Excerpts can also be found in The Purpose of Fasting and Returning in Power, Part 1.
List of Recommended Books
This list isn’t exhaustive, but it contains my top five recommendations plus a few more:
By Jentezen Franklin
- Fasting by Jentezen Franklin
- Fasting Edge by Jentezen Franklin
By John Piper
- A Hunger for God by John Piper
By Elmer Towns
- Fasting for a Spiritual Breakthrough by Elmer Towns
- The Beginner’s Guide to Fasting by Elmer Towns
- Fasting with the Lord’s Prayer: Experience a Deeper and More Powerful Relationship with God by Elmer Towns
- Fasting for a Miracle: How God’s Power Can Overcome the Impossible by Elmer Towns
- The Breakthrough Guide to Fasting: Three Bestsellers in One Volume by Elmer Towns
- Fasting for Financial Breakthrough by Elmer Towns
- The Daniel Fast for Spiritual Breakthrough by Elmer Towns
- Fasting Can Change Your Life by Elmer Towns & Jerry Falwell
- Knowing God Through Fasting by Elmer Towns
By Derek Prince
- Shaping History Through Fasting and Prayer by Derek Prince
- How to Fast Successfully by Derek Prince
- Fasting: The Key to Releasing God’s Power in your Life by Derek Prince
By Stovall Weems
- Awakening by Stovall Weems
By Tony Evans
- Tony Evans Speaks Out on Fasting by Tony Evans
- {For excerpts, see The Principle of Fasting}
By Arthur Wallis
- God’s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis
By Ronnie Floyd
- The Power of Prayer and Fasting by Ronnie Floyd
- {For excerpts, see Shifting Your Focus}
By Richard Foster
- Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster (See the section entitled “Fasting”)
- {For excerpts, see Six Encouraging Reminders and Hungry Handmaid of Faith}
By Wesley L. Duewel
- Mighty Prevailing Prayer by Wesley L. Duewel (See the chapters “Jesus Said We Would Fast” & “Fasting Strengthens Prayer”)
- Touch the World Through Prayer by Wesley L. Duewel (See the chapter “You Can Deepen Your Prayer by Fasting”)
By James Lee Beall
- The Adventure of Fasting by James Lee Beall
By Ron Dunn
- Don’t Just Stand There, Pray Something (See the chapter “Fasting: A Biblical Survey”)
By Jerry Falwell
- Fasting: What the Bible Teaches by Jerry Falwell
Questions:
- Have you read one of these books? If so, what content impacted you the most?
- What book on this list do you intend to read? I’d love for you to return here and share your thoughts on it afterward!
FROM THE FASTING ARCHIVES
- Fasting Day 2: So That God Will Hear
- Fasting Day 2: Set Your Mind (Part Two)
- Fasting Day 2: Shifting Your Focus
- Fasting Day 2: The Secret Teller
- Fasting Day 2: The Principle of Fasting
- Fasting Day 2: Except…
- Fasting Day 2: Dethroning King Stomach
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, Shades of Grace will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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