Fasting in the Bible: Scripture Guide to Meaning, Importance & How-To

In biblical times, fasting was a normal and essential part of religious life. People often fasted alongside prayer and repentance, using it as a way to seek God’s favor and guidance. It was a humble act, showing their earnest desire for God's intervention. Jesus even talked about fasting as something His followers would naturally do, teaching them to do it quietly and without drawing attention to themselves (Matthew 6:16-18). 

Fasting wasn't just a ritual; it was a heartfelt practice that connected people more deeply with their faith and dependence on God. Let's take a look at some people in the Bible who used fasting and prayer to draw closer to God and receiving his wisdom and guidance.

Moses in the Book of Exodus

“So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.” ~ Exodus 34:28

Daniel in the Book of Daniel

“I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.” ~ Daniel 10:3 

David in the Book of 2 Samuel

“And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.” ~ 2 Samuel 1:12 

John the Baptist in the Book of Matthew

“Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.” Matthew 3:4 

Jesus Christ in the Book of Luke

“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.’ And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.” ~ Luke 4:1-4

The Early Church in the Book of Acts

“Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” ~ Acts 13:1-3

Fasting is a powerful way to grow closer to God by setting aside our physical needs and focusing on our spiritual growth. When we fast, we're humbling ourselves and showing that we rely on God more than anything else. Jesus highlighted this when He said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). It reminds us that our true nourishment comes from our relationship with Him.

One key reason we fast is to seek God’s guidance. Throughout the Bible, people fasted during times of need or when making big decisions. For instance, Paul and the early church leaders fasted and prayed before starting their mission: "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them'" (Acts 13:2). Fasting helps us focus on hearing God's voice and understanding His will for our lives.

Fasting is also a way to show repentance and seek forgiveness. It’s a physical expression of our sorrow for our sins. In the book of Jonah, the people of Nineveh fasted and wore sackcloth as a sign of their repentance: "When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat down in the dust. He proclaimed a fast for everyone" (Jonah 3:6-7). This act of humility led to God's mercy, showing how fasting can help us reconnect with Him.

Lastly, fasting is a personal act of worship and devotion. It allows us to spend dedicated time with God, free from daily distractions. Jesus taught us to fast without drawing attention to ourselves: "But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:17-18). Fasting is about deepening our relationship with God in a quiet, personal way.

In summary, fasting is a meaningful practice that helps us humble ourselves, seek God’s guidance, express repentance, and deepen our devotion. It’s a way to depend on God more fully and draw closer to Him.

Why Prayer is an Important Part of Fasting

Prayer is a vital component of fasting because it transforms the act of abstaining from food into a deeply spiritual experience. When we feel hunger, we are driven to pray and reminded of our need to depend on God.

Here are some key reasons why prayer is essential during fasting:

1. Strengthening Our Connection with God: Prayer during fasting helps us to focus on our relationship with God. It shifts our attention from physical needs to spiritual nourishment, allowing us to draw closer to Him. As we pray, we open our hearts to God, seeking His presence and guidance.
2. Seeking Guidance and Clarity: Fasting combined with prayer is a powerful way to seek God's direction in our lives. Throughout the Bible, people fasted and prayed when they needed wisdom or faced difficult decisions. For instance, in Acts 13:2-3, the early church leaders fasted and prayed to discern God's will for their mission: "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'"
3. Expressing Dependence on God: When we fast and pray, we acknowledge our dependence on God rather than on our own strength or resources. It is a way of humbling ourselves and recognizing that we need God's help and provision. Prayer reinforces this dependence and helps us to trust Him more fully.
4. Repentance and Renewal: Prayer is essential for expressing repentance and seeking God's forgiveness during fasting. It allows us to confess our sins and receive His grace and renewal. In the book of Joel, God calls His people to return to Him with fasting and prayer: "Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning" (Joel 2:12).

5. Empowerment and Spiritual Strength: Fasting and prayer can lead to spiritual empowerment and strength. Jesus fasted and prayed for 40 days in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry (Matthew 4:1-2). This time of fasting and prayer prepared Him for the challenges ahead and filled Him with the Holy Spirit's power.

Scripture explains to us how to fast so in order to focus on our spiritual needs over our physical. Jesus himself tells us in Matthew how we should engaging with the practice of fasting! Let's take a look - here are key scriptural teachings on how to fast:

Fasting with the Right Motives: Jesus teaches that fasting should be done with sincerity and humility, not for show or to gain the approval of others. In Matthew 6:16-18, He says:

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

Fasting with a Focus on God: Fasting should be accompanied by prayer and devotion, focusing on seeking God rather than just abstaining from food. In Joel 2:12-13, God calls His people to a sincere return to Him:

"Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."

Fasting as an Act of Humility and Repentance: Fasting is often a sign of humility and repentance, seeking God's forgiveness and mercy. In Ezra 8:21-23, Ezra proclaims a fast for humility and seeking God's protection:

"There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, 'The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.' So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer."

Fasting with Justice and Righteousness: True fasting is not just about abstaining from food but also about living righteously and caring for others. In Isaiah 58:6-7, God describes the kind of fasting He desires:

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"

Practical Steps for Biblical Fasting

1. Prepare Spiritually and Physically: Before fasting, prepare your heart through prayer and reflection. Decide the purpose of your fast and plan how long you will fast. If you have health concerns, consult with a healthcare professional.
2. Begin with Prayer: Start your fast with prayer, dedicating the time to God and seeking His strength and guidance.
3. Stay Hydrated and Focus on Prayer: Drink water to stay hydrated, especially during extended fasts. Spend the time you would usually spend eating in prayer, reading Scripture, and seeking God's presence.
4. Break the Fast Gradually: When you end your fast, do so gradually by starting with light meals. Use the end of your fast as an opportunity to thank God for His guidance and to reflect on the spiritual insights you gained.

By following these biblical principles and practical steps, fasting can become a meaningful and transformative spiritual discipline in your life that opens your mind and heart  to what God wants to tell you.

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There are many ways to experience this spiritual discipline, including various forms detailed throughout Scripture. Here are some types of fasting found in the Bible:

1. Normal Fast: This is a complete abstention from food for a specific period. An example is found in the story of Esther when she called for a fast among the Jewish people (Esther 4:15-16).

2. Partial Fast: In a partial fast, individuals abstain from certain types of food or specific meals. Daniel's partial fast, where he abstained from rich food and wine, is an example (Daniel 10:3).

3. Absolute Fast: This involves abstaining from both food and water. It is a rare form of fasting due to its intensity. The prophet Ezra engaged in an absolute fast during a time of mourning (Ezra 10:6).

4. Corporate Fast: Fasting done by a group or community of people. In the Bible, there are instances where entire communities or nations engaged in corporate fasting to seek God's guidance or repentance (Joel 2:15-16).

5. Supernatural Fast: A fast that is divinely sustained without the person consuming food or water. The prophet Elijah experienced a supernatural fast during his journey to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8).

6. Sacrificial Fast: In a sacrificial fast, individuals abstain from something they enjoy or desire as an offering to God. This could include abstaining from certain foods, leisure activities, or habits. It is not explicitly called "fasting" in the Bible, but the idea of sacrifice is present.

7. Seasonal or Regular Fast: Some fasts occur regularly or during specific seasons. The Pharisee in Jesus' parable boasted about fasting twice a week (Luke 18:12), indicating a regular practice.

8. Fasting for Repentance: Fasting is often associated with repentance and seeking God's forgiveness. The people of Nineveh fasted as a sign of repentance after Jonah's warning (Jonah 3:5-9).

9. Fasting for Guidance: Fasting is also used as a means of seeking God's guidance or discernment. The leaders in Antioch engaged in fasting before sending Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journey (Acts 13:2-3).

10. Fasting for Deliverance: Fasting can be a way of seeking God's intervention and deliverance. Jehoshaphat called for a fast when facing a threat of invasion, seeking God's help (2 Chronicles 20:3).

Return to the Lord

"Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster." ~ Joel 2:12-13

"When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach." ~ Psalm 69:10

"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?" ~ Isaiah 58:6

"Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." ~ 1 Corinthians 7:5

"But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” ~ Matthew 4:4

"So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty." ~ Ezra 8:23

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For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” ~ Romans 1:17

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ~ Galatians 2:20

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ~ Hebrews 11:1

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. ~ Hebrews 11:6

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. ~ Romans 10:17

For we walk by faith, not by sight. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. ~ 1 John 5:4

As you embark on this journey, remember that the heart of fasting is not just about abstaining from food but about seeking God's presence and aligning your life with His will. Approach fasting with sincerity, prayer, and a desire to draw closer to God. Whether you are seeking guidance, expressing repentance, or simply wanting to deepen your faith, fasting can be a profound way to experience God's grace and power in your life. 

Embrace this practice with an open heart, and trust that God will meet you in your earnest pursuit of Him. May you be strengthened and encouraged through the power of prayer and fasting!

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