How to fast, why Christians fast, and the spiritual power of biblical fasting
The Bible presents fasting as voluntarily abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. Jesus assumed His followers would fast, teaching "when you fast" not "if you fast" (Matthew 6:16-18). Scripture shows fasting accompanied prayer during times of repentance (Joel 2:12), seeking God's guidance (Acts 13:2-3), and spiritual warfare (Matthew 17:21). Biblical fasting focuses the heart on God rather than earning His favor.
What Jesus said about how and why His followers should fast.
"And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
— Matthew 6:16-18 (ESV)
"Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.""
— Matthew 9:14-15 (ESV)
"And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days."
— Luke 4:1-2 (ESV)
Why God's people fasted throughout Scripture and what fasting accomplishes.
""Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.""
— Joel 2:12 (ESV)
"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." Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off."
— Acts 13:2-3 (ESV)
"Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods... So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty."
— Ezra 8:21-23 (ESV)
Practical guidance on different types of fasts and how to practice this discipline.
"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? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house?"
— Isaiah 58:6-7 (ESV)
"In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks."
— Daniel 10:2-3 (ESV)
"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."
— 1 Corinthians 7:5 (ESV)
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