Fasting and prayer are deeply rooted spiritual practices observed by various religions across the world, however, the practices hold significant importance in Christianity.
These practices involve voluntary abstention from food and sometimes drink for a specific period, accompanied by devout prayer.
Biblical fasting and prayer are exemplified by prophets, apostles, and even Jesus Christ himself. Journey with me as we delve into bible verses that highlight types of fasting and the power of fasting and prayer, especially for the people of the Lord.
Matthew 6:16-18-The Spiritual Discipline of Fasting and Prayer
“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.”
Fasting and prayer are more than mere rituals; they are actual spiritual disciplines that offer the opportunity for self-reflection, spiritual growth, and a closer connection with the Lord, God.
Therefore, it should not be about great mourning and a sad countenance. When engaging in fasting and prayer, you should project a level of humility, but you should look your best as you lay aside your own righteousness which is like filthy rags, and seek God’s guidance and forgiveness.
God is more inclined to the sincerity of the heart that is engaging in fasting and prayer than he is towards your dress and appearance.
Isaiah 58:6-7- The Kind of Fasting that Pleases God
“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? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
While fasting often includes abstinence from food and other physical indulgencies for a period of time, the ultimate focus should be on spiritual matters and living a life that pleases God.
It is not enough to just go through the routine of fasting while ignoring those in need and turning a blind eye to chains of injustice.
The Lord has outlined the right way for fasting and prayer; the way that aligns our hearts and actions to the will of God.
Acts 14:23 – Seeking God’s Approval
“And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
As the apostles chose outstanding leaders for the glory of God, they sought God’s approval through fasting and prayer. These would have been young converts, but the apostles fasted and prayed for a period of time to commit them to the Son of God as elders.
These converts were given the task of leading and watching over God’s flock. This assignment was a heavy one, hence the need to seek divine approval, before proceeding.
Esther 4:16 – Fasting and Praying for Divine Guidance
“Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
In the midst of a crisis that meant life or death and with limited time at her disposal, Esther decreed a national fast among the Jews in Susa. Esther wanted to save her people, but by law, going to the King without being called, could result in her death.
As such, she called the nation of Jews to fast in a powerful way as they sought God’s direction. Esther understood the value of fasting and she exemplified this approach.
Matthew 4:1-2 – The Weapon for Spiritual Warfare
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”
Fasting and prayer are spiritual weapons against the forces of darkness and evil. Even the Son of God tapped into this powerful combination as he warded off the temptations of the devil.
We too as believers can leverage the power of fasting and prayer against the bands of wickedness as we avail ourselves of God’s strength. The blend of fasting and prayer is the recipe for overcoming spiritual battles.
Ezra 8:21-23 – A Fast for Protection
“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. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.”
Ezra found himself in a dilemma. Having declared that their God was able to deliver them, Ezra had to put God to the test. Ezra had a personal understanding of the spiritual power of fasting and prayer, and as such he called a fast at the river of Ahava.
With a single-minded demonstration of devotion to God, with humility, Ezekiel was able to declare that God answered their prayer for protection and granted them a safe journey.
Acts 13:2-3– Fasting and Prayer Unlocks Divine Direction
“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 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”
This verse describes a pivotal moment in the early Christian church’s history when the leaders in Antioch engaged in fasting and prayer. During this time, the Holy Spirit communicated to the solemn assembly, instructing them to set apart Barnabas and Saul (later known as the apostle Paul) for a specific mission.
God has a design for his church, where he has ordained, even before time, men and women who will take the gospel far and wide. Not everyone has been assigned this mission, so it is important to earnestly seek God through fasting and prayer to know his will for you.
Mark 9:29 – Fasting and Spiritual Breakthrough
“And Jesus said to him, ‘This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.'”
Fasting and prayer can pave the way for spiritual breakthroughs and miraculous interventions. There are some temptations and trials that will befall us and will need us to petition heaven through prayer and fasting, for divine intervention. It underscores the importance of not solely relying on one’s own abilities but seeking spiritual strength and divine power when faced with difficulties that might seem insurmountable through human efforts alone.
Isaiah 58:4 – Meaningless Fasting
“Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.”
This verse serves as part of a larger passage that addresses the discrepancy between outward displays of religious devotion and genuine spiritual sincerity. The verse highlights how the people’s fasting was accompanied by quarreling and conflict, which suggests that their spiritual practices had not led to personal transformation or a deeper connection with God. It is important that one lives out their faith through acts of kindness and mercy, rather than just performing religious activities, like fasting, with no meaning or sincerity.
Jonah 3:5-6 – The Ninevites Repent with Fasting
“And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. 6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.”
These verses described the response of the Ninevites to Jonah’s warning of impending judgment from God. The people of Nineveh, including the king, demonstrated a collective repentance and a genuine belief in God’s message. Their reactions are marked by humility and a willingness to change their ways as they put on sackcloth, a very coarse and uncomfortable fabric, and engaged in a fast of repentance.
Joel 2:12-13 – Call to Repentance and Fasting
“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.”
In these verses, the prophet Joel is urging the people of the house of Israel to turn back to God in sincere repentance. He emphasizes that it’s not merely external displays of sorrow, like tearing garments, that matter to God, but a genuine change of heart and a deep inner transformation.
Fasting is an avenue for repentance, seeking God’s forgiveness, and experiencing spiritual renewal. The people were then assured that God is an awesome God who is gracious and merciful and willing to relent if they repent.
Luke 8:11-12- Fasting and Self Exaltation
“The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get. “
The Pharisee’s prayer reflects a sense of self-righteousness and pride. He lists his actions and deeds, such as fasting and tithing, as reasons why he was superior to the tax collector. The message of this parable is to caution against spiritual pride and self-righteousness.
Jesus contrasts the Pharisee’s attitude with the tax collector’s humility. Jesus concludes the parable by stating that it was the tax collector who went home justified before God and not the Pharisee who was fasting without meaning.
Zechariah 8:19- Fasting as a Memorial
“Thus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.”
In this verse, the Lord is promising a transformation in the nature of certain fasts that the people of Judah had observed during their period of mourning and repentance. These fasts were commemorations of events related to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.
The Lord is expressing a hopeful vision that these solemn occasions will be turned into times of joy, celebration, and gladness as a result of His restoration and blessing upon His people.
Mark 2:18-20 – The Transformational Impact of Jesus’ Presence
Fasting and prayer can lead to spiritual transformation, renewing one’s mind and heart:
“Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19. And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.”
In this passage, the Pharisees, who were religious leaders of the time, questioned Jesus about his disciples not fasting as other disciples traditionally do. Jesus responds with a metaphorical explanation using the imagery of a wedding feast. He compares himself to a bridegroom, suggesting that his presence among the people is akin to a joyous celebration, and fasting would be inappropriate during such a time. Just as wedding guests wouldn’t fast while the bridegroom was with them, Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast because they were in his presence. These verses challenged the traditional practices of fasting just for the sake of it and highlighted the power of Jesus’ presence to bring spiritual transformation.
Ezra 10:6 – Fasting against Unfaithfulness
“Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib, where he spent the night, neither eating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles.”
In this verse, we see Ezra, a scribe and priest, in a dilemma, having discovered that the Israelites who had returned from exile were living contrary to God’s laws as they chose to marry foreign women. Ezra is very distressed and with deep mourning, he fasts and prays on behalf of the people and their unfaithfulness.
This night fasting showed the urgency of the matter and the need for divine intervention as Ezra prepared to call the community leaders to a public confession and repentance.
This verse underscored the significance of maintaining religious purity and obedience to God’s law despite cultural influences.
2 Samuel 1:10 – Fasting for the Fallen
“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.”
In this verse, an Amalekite survivor of the battle where Saul and Jonathan were killed informed David of their deaths. He even detailed that Saul was wounded and asked to be killed rather than captured alive by the Philistines.
However, even these details did nothing to soften the tragic nature of the events and the news sent the people in mourning. This verse reflects themes of honor and loyalty in spite of the tumultuous reign of King Saul. With deep sadness, the people refrained from food as they wept in honor of the fallen.
Nehemiah 9:1 – Fasting and Confession
“On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads.”
In this verse, the Israelites are described as coming together in a spirit of humility and repentance. The act of fasting, wearing, and putting dust on their heads were traditional signs of sorrow and remorse in ancient Jewish culture.
After rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, the Israelites paused to reflect on their history and their relationship with God. They saw the need for collective repentance as they cried out to God and reread the laws of God. This gathering was an opportunity for them to seek forgiveness and reconnect with their faith.