Fasting is often treated as a phase in the life of a young believer—something done during moments of crisis or spiritual excitement. But for Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, fasting has never been seasonal. It has been a lifestyle. A sacred rhythm. A chosen way of life. Even after decades of ministry, he still fasts like it’s day one.
This is not because he is trying to earn anything from God. It is because he understands something many have forgotten: that spiritual hunger must be maintained. That intimacy with God requires consecration. That power and purity are not accidental—they are pursued.
Fasting has become one of the pillars of his personal walk and public ministry. It sharpens his spirit, humbles his soul, and keeps his heart tender before the Lord.
Keeping the Flesh Under
Bishop Dag teaches that one of the greatest enemies of a spiritual life is the flesh. The flesh is not always evil in appearance. Sometimes it shows up as comfort, ease, or distraction. But whatever form it takes, it must be subdued. And fasting is one of the biblical ways to keep the flesh in check.
He fasts because he wants to remain sharp. He fasts because he wants to hear God clearly. He fasts because he knows that ministry is not just about speaking—it is about spiritual authority. And spiritual authority flows from a life that is submitted, surrendered, and sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
Fasting is not something he outgrew. It is something he grew into. The more the ministry expanded, the more he fasted. The more responsibility he carried, the more he knew he needed the help of the Lord.
Training Others to Fast and Seek God
Bishop Dag does not only fast privately—he teaches others to do the same. His books, camps, and pastoral training emphasize fasting as part of normal Christian life. He does not treat it as optional. He teaches that those who want to walk in power must walk in sacrifice.
He trains his pastors to fast regularly, to lead their churches in fasting, and to never become comfortable in the flesh. He reminds them that ministry without fasting becomes routine, dry, and weak. But when you fast, your spirit comes alive. Your ears open. Your faith is stirred.
Even new believers in his churches are taught to fast. Not out of duty, but out of love. Not as a law, but as a longing. A longing for God, for power, for breakthrough, for revival.
Fasting That Flows From Relationship
The most beautiful thing about Bishop Dag’s fasting life is that it flows from relationship. He is not trying to impress God—he is drawing near. He fasts because he loves God. Because he longs to stay close. Because he knows how easy it is to drift.
He teaches that fasting is not just about denying food—it is about denying self. It is about emptying yourself so God can fill you. And that is why the fire on his altar has never gone out.
Through Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, we are learning again that fasting is not old-fashioned. It is essential. It is powerful. And it is a pathway to a deeper walk with God.