How to Fast from Alcohol This Lent, Get Closer to Jesus, and Drink Less When It's Over

What if this Lent wasn’t about giving something up—but about gaining peace, joy, and clarity?

Have you felt that niggle—wondering if that glass of wine (that sometimes turns into three or four) is really serving you anymore?

Lent is the perfect time to press pause on booze. With the right tools and support, these 40 days can be a total game changer for your peace, joy, and clarity.

If you’re craving my full, definitive guide on taking a 40-day break from alcohol, you can dive into every detail in my book, Love Life Sober: A 40-Day Alcohol Fast.

But since Lent is starting next week, here are some of my top tips to help you get ready….

Shut the Trapdoor

Imagine that at the back of your brain, there’s a little trapdoor—an escape hatch that, when open, makes choosing alcohol feel like the easy option.

For forty days starting March 5th, commit to shutting that trapdoor.

By consciously deciding not to drink, you effectively remove alcohol as an option during this period.

If you have alcohol in the house, consider clearing it out of your home as a physical reminder of your firm decision.

Also, take a good look at your schedule for March and April. If you see a wild girls’ night out or a boozy book club on the horizon, you might want to consider skipping those plans during your fast.

Don’t worry — not drinking will not make you a hermit (I had that fear, too) —it’s about giving yourself a break so you can gain lasting benefits.

Growth Points: Embracing Setbacks as Opportunities

If you do have a drink, don’t give up, and don’t go back to day one. Just keep going!

If you wind up having a drink, frame it as a growth point—a chance to learn more about the job you’re assigning to alcohol and unmet needs you’re hoping it will fulfill.

When you have a growth point, grab your journal and ask yourself:

• Why did I decide to drink? What was I looking for?
  Was it a stressful morning? An overwhelming moment at work? Or perhaps a challenging interaction with a loved one? Were you looking for an escape? A reward? To relax? To connect?

• How did I feel immediately after? That night? And the next day?
  Are the stressors I was looking to numb still there? How did drinking help with that problem in the long run? Did you meet the need you were drinking for?

• What can I learn from this experience?
  Reflect with oodles and oodles of grace and self-compassion.

Remember:

Every growth point is a lesson that nudges you closer to what you really need. And God’s timing is perfect!

Make the Time: Daily Practices for Transformation

Lasting transformation requires consistent effort - especially in the beginning.

Set aside time each day to read or listen to something helpful in understanding more about how alcohol affects your brain and body and how you can rewire your brain.

I recommend our podcast, of course, But Jesus Drank Wine & Other Stores That Kept Us Stuck, and also our friend

Dr. Lee Warren

podcast all about how you can change your mind to change your life — or, as we like to say, change your thinking to change your drinking!

Here’s exactly what I did when I started my alcohol fast……

I walked every morning with a podcast in my ears (either a sermon or a sobriety pod), and I finished every day by putting on a hair and face mask and getting in the bath, with my air pods where I would again listen to another testimony of a sober gal, or another podcast on neuroscience and the brain.

Love Life Sober, A 40 Day Alcohol fast, provides daily readings and short journaling exercises for the entire fast as well.

Whether you integrate this learning into your quiet time morning routine or during that challenging 5 PM wine-witching hour, these moments of stillness are key.

The new knowledge will help start rewiring decades of societal conditioning and help you view alcohol not as something that is serving you but as something that is holding you back.

Another top tip is to revisit Bible verses that speak to freedom, grace, and renewal—allowing God’s wisdom to guide you.

My sobriety verse is 2 Corinthians 12:9, and I had this on repeat during my fast…

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

The more you invest in these daily practices, the more profound your transformation will be.

It may feel like hard work in the beginning, but it will pay off big time in the long run.

An Experimental Mindset: Try Different, Not Harder

Many of us have tried Dry January or Sober October, mustering all our willpower for a month only to find ourselves slipping back into old destructive habits. (I sure have!)

Do this fast differently.

Think of it as an experimental reset—a chance to discover what life feels like without alcohol, even if only for forty days.

During this time, explore:

• Is alcohol still serving you? Even in moderation?
  How has alcohol impacted your energy, your mood, your productivity—and your relationships?

• What are the gifts here? What would be possible for you if you continued to not drink?
  Are you experiencing improved sleep, clearer skin, and an uplifted spirit? What else? What if you started viewing not drinking as the ultimate gift to yourself instead of something you have to give up?

Embrace this 40-Day Fast as a learning experience.

You don’t have to commit to never drinking again right away; instead, take one day at a time and discover what a life free of alcohol can feel like.

One Thing at a Time

During these forty days, it’s important to keep your focus.

Rather than overwhelming yourself by simultaneously launching a new diet, starting a strict exercise routine, or cutting out all sugar, choose one thing—fasting from alcohol.

By honing in on this single goal, you’re giving yourself the best chance to succeed without burnout. Researchers have found that people who set too many goals for themselves fail at all of them.

Document Your Transformation: Celebrate Every Win

The physical and emotional benefits of an alcohol fast can be truly remarkable.

Many of my clients find that after just forty days, they enjoy clearer skin, better sleep, and a newfound energy that spills over into every aspect of life.

Capture your transformation:

• Snap a selfie or two on day one:
  Wait until you see what happens to your eyes. Trust me on this one.

• Journal your wins:
  Whether it’s an unexpected burst of energy or a moment of peace, write it down. Keep track of milestones—every alcohol-free first is a win!

Fast with Women Who Truly Get It

When you combine these strategies—shutting the trapdoor, embracing growth points, dedicating time for personal reflection, adopting an experimental mindset, and celebrating the wins—you create a powerful reset for when the 40 Days are done.

And here’s the really, really good news. You don’t have to do this alone!

Starting Wednesday, March 5th, I’m going to coach you through my book in our private community.

Here’s what’s included:

• Transformative Content: Dive deep with insights from Love Life Sober, A 40-Day Alcohol Fast—explore neuroscience, Scripture, and coaching tools that reshape your thinking and habits.

• Expert Coaching: Receive guidance from three dedicated coaches—Christy, Meade, and Rina—who have empowered thousands of women to transform their relationship with alcohol. There will be two calls each week for 6 weeks, and the recordings will be posted in the private community space.

• A Private Supportive Community: Connect with a sisterhood that centers on Jesus, offering loving accountability, shared journeys, and a safe space for growth away from the distractions of social media.

This lent isn’t about giving something up; it’s about gaining everything.

You can get all the details by clicking right here:

Take one day at a time, lean into His grace, and discover the life-changing benefits of a renewed relationship with yourself, your family, and God.

Happy fasting!