Fasting

Disciplines of Devotion

by Cassie Achermann, Winfree Brisley (Editor)

TGC’s Brief Guide to Fasting Helps Women Awaken Their Hearts to God’s Presence

Keeping up with our do-it-all culture is not only exhausting, it can also hinder us from seeking the Lord. How can we grow in devotion to God in a world of endless distractions? TGC’s Disciplines of Devotion series helps women cultivate a life of devotion to the Lord by building simple, biblical practices into their days.

Each volume highlights one spiritual discipline—exploring its meaning, biblical examples, and benefits—and offers accessible ways to cultivate the practice faithfully. In this volume, Cassie Achermann invites women to stir their affections for God by fasting. She considers what biblical fasting is; ways to fast prayerfully, both alone and in community; and how fasting increases our dependence on God. Brief, biblically rich, and highly practical, Disciplines of Devotion booklets are ideal for individual or small-group study.

Approachable Guide to  Explains how this biblical practice helps believers draw near to God, with reflection questions for individual study or small-group discussion  Brief and  Short enough to be read in one sitting, this booklet is designed to help busy women pursue the spiritual discipline of fasting in their daily lives  Written for any woman who is exploring faith or interested in growing deeper in relationship with Christ From the Gospel  Upcoming topics in the Disciplines of Devotion series include Sabbath rest, prayer, worship, and evangelism

Genres: Christian Non Fiction

80 pages, Paperback

Published February 17, 2026

Reviews

[Olivia Bedenbaugh]

Very helpful! For me fasting has been hard because food is hard (too much?!? lol).This book started with how to engage a healthy heart and mindset about fasting before giving good practical advice! Overall very encouraging!

[Jonathon Crump · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good primer on fasting that can be read in under an hour. This helpful little book rightly portrays fasting not as a silver bullet (it doesn’t twist God’s arm or unlock a new dimension of godliness on its own) but as a helpful handmaiden to prayer. Achermann does a great job weaving the scriptural, historical, and the personal throughout the book. I enjoyed the list of supplemental reading at the end and the encouragement to fast with others. My biggest complaint is with the series itself. Nothing in this book is necessarily geared exclusively to women. A couple lines in the intro and at the end point toward the intended female audience but otherwise, this is a great book for men and women.

[Brittany Benner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author does a great job arguing for fasting as spiritual discipline that shows us our need for God. I so appreciated her emphasis on needing fasting to be tied to prayer in humility. This is also super practical! I did not know much coming in and know a lot more coming out of reading and I am thankful.

Note: There is a footnote acknowledging that it may not be safe for everyone to participate in fasting. It is clearly there but would have fine to keep with the regular body of text so it does not get missed.

[Alexis Shippy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It wasn’t that she truly believed she had accomplished nothing; it was that the things she had done weren’t the things she had hoped to do.”

What an encouragement! Fasting has always been a discipline too intimidating and “super-Christian “ for me. This booklet left me inspired by the reminders of fasting being Spirit-led throughout the ebbing & flowing of crazy life seasons, the encouragement of engaging in it during a time of day that will most allow you to rely on the Spirit, and the reality of doing it more in faithfulness than endurance. Will be referencing this often!

[Eliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fasting isn’t reserved for those with great self-control; it’s also for those who see their need for self-control. It’s not reserved for those who walk closely with God; it’s also for those who lament their distance from him.“

This booklet is a gem of a resource. Cassie tackles a topic that is so often overlooked when it shouldn’t be. She packs an abundance of biblical wisdom into just 50 short pages and starts an important conversation. Her voice is humble, practical, and God-focused.

Highly recommend this resource if you’re like me and don’t know how to think about fasting or where to start! Cassie also offers a helpful appendix with solid reading recommendations if you want to dive further in.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another well-written contribution to the "Disciplines of Devotion" series. Fasting is often a neglected discipline, and so reading this was a good reminder. There are five chapters in this booklet which are "What Is Fasting? What are the Blessings of Fasting? Fast With Humility, Fast With a Plan, and Fast with God's People." I appreciate how Scripture is woven throughout each section. The author does a good job of being thorough, and yet concise.

[Audrey Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prayer, Sabbath Rest, and Fasting.

These 3 beautiful little booklets are a perfect introduction, refresher, or reference guide to the spiritual disciplines (disciplines of devotion). Each one of these are a short, single-sitting read, but accompanied by reflection questions to journal, pray through or discuss with a friend or small group to increase the impact.

I really enjoyed each of these practical tools and look forward the next 3 in the series— Bible Study, Evangelism, and Worship!

[Jenna Barbieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a helpful little book! Clear, fast, and to the point, with reflection questions after each chapter to help you process and consider how you can implement a practice of regular fasting in your life.

[Brittany McDaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read! Highlights what fasting is and its purpose, as well as gives a practical look at how it can be practiced. Each chapter has a couple questions at the end for personal or group discussion. I appreciated that she gave insight into how it’s looked in her own life.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't really know much about fasting before reading this but this short booklet has me intrigued to look into it more and think about doing so

[Emma Sheehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick easy read in honor of the fasting month here. Remembering what biblical fasting is and why we do it

[Dominic Matranga · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brief review for a brief book:

At 53 pages long every believer should read this and practice fasting. “Out fast becomes a feast”

[Bridget Mcgahen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick little booklet with very helpful guidance and ideas for the spiritual discipline of fasting

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short (could read it in one not-very-long sitting), practical, and well-done, with a great list of resources for anyone wanting to go deeper. This whole series seems like a great idea by Crossway.