There are passages throughout both the New and Old Testaments that serve as examples of fasting, commands to fast, or instructions for doing so. It is my understanding that fasting is actually one of the basic tenet practices of the Hebrew faith as well as the New Testament church. Additionally, I believe that it is a practice that many in the church of today have abandoned. While I have fasted at times in the past, I can honestly say, I have never made fasting a part of my lifestyle. It is my hope and prayer that at the conclusion of this message you will accept the call and challenge to join me in doing exactly that!
The plan is to answer 3 questions –
WHY do we fast?
HOW do we fast?
WHAT are the benefits of fasting?
The best and most clear and direct answer to that question is to humble oneself before God and to draw closer to Him. It is about a whole lot more than just abstaining from food, it’s about aligning one’s heart and actions with God’s will, showing dependence on Him, and deepening one’s relationship with Him.
Here are some these reasons with some others with some biblical backup –
- To Humble Oneself Before God:
- Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. Jeremiah 9:3
- ‘I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. Psalms 35:13
- For Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness:
- ‘“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 Joel 2:12-13
- Nehemiah fasted and prayed for repentance and confessed the sins of the people after hearing about the desolate condition of Jerusalem and and the condition of the people’s heart. Nehemiah 1:4-10
- David humbles himself fasting and repenting for his shortcomings. Psalms 69
- To Draw Closer to God in Prayer:
- ‘Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord . ‘ Joel 1:14
- ‘The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. ‘ Jonah 3:5
- To Seek God’s Guidance and Wisdom:
- [2] While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for the work to which I have called them.” [3] Then, when they had fasted, prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:2-3
- ‘Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord . They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord . And the Israelites inquired of the Lord . (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there, ‘ Judges 20:26-27
- ‘So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. ‘ Ezra 8:23
- To Express Grief:
- ‘They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. ‘ Nehemiah 1:3-4
- ‘Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. ‘ 2 Samuel 1:11-12
- ‘But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart.’ Psalms 35:13
- As a Response to National or Communal Crisis:
- ‘Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”’ Esther 4:15-16
- ‘And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?’ Jonah 3:5-9
While each of these reasons are meaningful and powerful, and each scripture more than validates it, I found one more passage from which while not specifically stated, I believe it directly implied in the passages’ context.
- ‘ “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
- But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.’ Matthew 6:5-6,16-18
So, what do I believe to be implied in this passage? In short, I believe that the positioning together of these two charges from Jesus is not coincidental. Of course, nothing in the scriptures is. There are two things that feel it is important that we take from this fact.
- Prayer and fasting are meant to be connected. As we have seen throughout many of the other verses that we looked at above, fasting and prayer go together.
- Fasting should be a part of the “lifestyle” of a believer. It is just as part of the “Christian walk” as prayer, reading the bible and going to church. Jesus did not say “if you fast” he said “WHEN, you fast.” If we need further convincing, Jesus fasted throughout his life, not just leading to his temptation.
SO, I hope and pray that these thoughts have got you thinking. I ask that you prayerfully consider how you believe the Lord would have you to respond. I urge you my friends, brothers and sisters to ask the Lord for guidance on when he would have you fast and how. You may start with one or two meals and not a whole day. The one thing I can be sure of is whatever he lays on your heart , BE OBEDIENT to it! You will be glad you did if you do, and wish you had if you don’t.
Well, what I hope to share with you all in one simple and concise message, is obviously not as simple and definitely as concise as I hoped. So with that in mind I want to get this portion out to you while I am still working to complete the rest.
As always thank you all for allowing me the opportunity to share my heart with you. If you EVER have questions or if I can be of any other assistance or support to you as you walk with Him, please reach out.
The bless you with ALL spiritual blessings,
Gary
2.5.25