Biblical Answer

The Bible's Teaching on Fasting

The Bible teaches that fasting is a spiritual discipline that can be used to draw closer to God and to seek his guidance and wisdom. In Joel 2:12-13a, God calls his people to "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." This verse suggests that fasting is a way of expressing our sorrow and repentance for our sins, and of seeking God's forgiveness and restoration. In Daniel 9:3, the prophet Daniel fasts and prays for God's mercy and forgiveness, and God answers his prayers.

The Purpose of Fasting

Fasting is not just about giving up food, but about spending time in the presence of God and seeking his guidance and wisdom. Jesus taught that the secret to fasting is not giving up food, but spending time in the presence of God (Matthew 6:16-18). He also warned against using fasting as a means of showing off or seeking to be seen by others (Matthew 6:16-18). Instead, fasting should be a private and intimate experience with God, where we seek to deepen our relationship with him and to receive his guidance and wisdom. Fasting can also be used to express our dependence on God and to seek his help in times of need.

Benefits of Fasting

Fasting has several benefits, including increasing our sense of humility and dependence on God, and helping us to focus on our relationship with him. When we fast, we are reminded of our physical and spiritual needs, and we are drawn closer to God as we seek his guidance and wisdom. Fasting can also be a means of expressing our gratitude to God for all that he has given us, and of seeking his help in times of need. As Jesus taught, "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" (Matthew 6:16). Instead, we should seek to fast in a way that is private and intimate, and that reflects our dependence on God. By doing so, we can experience the many benefits of fasting, and deepen our relationship with God.