Biblical Fasting Guide (with 9 fasting in the Bible verses)
Do you want to find out more about Biblical fasting? Read on to understand when and why fasting took place in the Bible and how to apply Christian fasting today. This blog post includes 9 fasting in the Bible verses, plus ‘life application’ examples that you can use in your own life.
Biblical Fasting- A spiritual Discipline
Biblical fasting is one of the spiritual disciplines of the Christian life.
As followers of Jesus, we can look at how Jesus led his life for the example of how to lead ours. Jesus fasted with a full fast (no food or water) before his ministry started (Matthew 4: 1-11).
In Matthew 6, verse 16 Jesus says “And when you fast…’ It’s the word ‘When’ that started my own fasting journey and it’s when I began to incorporate Biblical fasting into my own routine. Reading that Jesus used the word ‘When’ and not if, challenged me. When Jesus says ‘when’ we can know that it’s something we should be incorporating into our individual faith life.
What isn’t a Biblical fast?
It’s important to understand that Biblical fasting is NOT about the physical benefits of fasting (think intermittent fasting trends). Although there may be physical benefits that come along the way, it’s about the spiritual focus and outcomes and our surrender to God. It’s also not an act we should come to legalistically.
Fasting is a personal, heart and mind decision followed by specific action.
The importance of prayer when fasting
In the Bible prayer always accompanies the fast. A Biblical fast without prayer is just a physical fast. Prayer should always go alongside your fasting period. Your prayers combined with the fast are what defines a Biblical fast. John Piper puts it this way; “That’s what I think fasting is at heart. It’s an intensification of prayer.”
JOHN PIPER
“That’s what I think fasting is at heart. It’s an intensification of prayer.”
Focus and Surrender to God
Biblical fasting is a powerful discipline that ultimately brings our focus and surrender to God in a deep and spiritual way. By looking at fasting examples in the Bible we can learn how and when to apply a Biblical fast and understand the spiritual benefits that it brings. So, with that said here are 9 examples of fasting in the bible and examples of current life application.
9 Biblical Fasting In the Bible Verses
1. Fasting for Preparation and deliverance
Matthew 4: Verses 1-11
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Life application:
Fast before entering a period when you know you will need extra focus or you know you are going to be going through a particularly challenging period. Fast before starting or preparing for something new. For example, before starting a new job, a change in career, a house move to go smoothly, or a new project. Fast to prepare yourself for a new season in your life.
2. Fasting for Understanding
Daniel 10: Verses 1-3
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.
“At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.”
In the book of Daniel, after receiving a vision, an elderly Daniel prays and fasts for three weeks to gain understanding of the vision. It’s only after this period that an angel appears to Daniel and says that his words and prayers have been heard and gives him an explanation of the vision the prophet Daniel has received.
Life application:
Fast when needing understanding or clarity
This could be better clarity on;
- A decision you need to make
- Better understanding on what you have read in the Bible (when you need wisdom or discernment)
- A spiritual dream that you need clarity on.
3. Fasting for forgiveness (to repent)
Jonah 3: Verses 4-10
“Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
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. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.”
Life application:
Fast when needing to repent (turning to God for forgiveness for any wrongs committed). God always sees your heart. This could be when you have said or thought wrong thoughts towards someone. Fast when you need to ask God for forgiveness for wrong thoughts or actions taken.
4. Fasting for a Breakthrough
Joel 2: Verses 12-13
“Even now’” declares the Lord ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
The prophet Joel urges the nation to surrender their hearts and to repent, he calls for a fast; For a nation to repent, change and receive revival (a break through). In return God in his goodness and love will hear, listen, show mercy, and ultimately give restoration.
Life Application:
Fast when you are waiting for a decision to be made, waiting for an answer, needing an answer, or needing a particular outcome and breakthrough in a situation.
5. Fasting For Protection
Ezra 8: Verses 21-23
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.
Life Application:
Fast and pray when needing God’s protection in your life or for protection for friends and family.
6. Fasting to hear and seek Gods will
Acts 13: Verse 2
“ 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’
The Holy Spirit spoke while the disciples were fasting and showed that Barnabas and Saul should be chosen.
Life Application:
Fast and pray to hear and seek God’s will for a particular situation, decision or answer, or for specific guidance. Or, when you need God to show you the way and give you the right direction.
7. Fasting for victory
Judges 2: Verse 26
“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”.
After suffering a great loss in battle and losing 18,000 Israelites, the Israelites fasted, mourned and prayed and asked God for guidance. The Lord heard their prayers and said “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.” The next battle they won.
Life Application:
Fast and pray when you need victory in a situation.
8. Fasting in worship
Luke 2: Verse 37
“Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.”
Anna the prophet fasts in worship and prayer giving thanks to God.
Life Application:
Fast and pray to thank and worship God and give God the glory.
9. Fasting with the right Attitude
Matthew 6: Verses 16-19
“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.”
Life application:
Jesus reminds us to fast with the right attitude, not to do it to please or impress others or to brag about the fact that you are fasting. Jesus urges when you fast to go about it quietly and to pray when you fast. Then God will see, hear and bless you.
Different Types of Fasting in the Bible
There are several different types of fast in the bible which can be broken down as;
- Complete fast (or absolute fasting) – No food or water (not advised for extended fasting periods)
- Partial fast– Giving up a particular food or drink – but continuing with other foods or drink during the fast
- The Daniel Fast– Only eating specific foods and drink during your fast
- Esther Fast– A 3-day fast (no food or water)
- The Ezra fast– Humbling Yourself before God/ Seeking God/ Expecting the outcome -That God’s Grace will be with you/ Belief that God will hear and listen to you
How long should you fast?
The Bible doesn’t dictate the same specific period for each fast. In each example of fasting in the Bible, there are different lengths of fasts from hours to days to weeks. Queen Esther for example fasted for 3 days, and Daniel in the example above for three weeks.
When thinking about the time period for yourself, think about your own schedule, and be mindful of your own health and limitations.
If you’ve never fasted before start slowly. You could try not having breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You can also try omitting a particular food or drink for a specific period. For example, you could fast from fruit juices, sugar, tea, coffee, or chocolate.
You can also try fasting from social media or fast food.
Define the beginning and the end
It’s good to define the beginning and end of your fast clearly. Is your fast for one day, or 8 hours? Be conscious of when you are starting and finishing your fast. Remember to pray before, during and after your fast has completed.
What can you surrender?
Think about the word surrender and what would feel like a surrender in your own fast. So if cups of tea are the one thing you feel you can’t do without, this would be a good thing to fast. Replace the tea with water. If fasting from food seems too hard to start with try a liquid fast, this can include juice fasts or vegetable juices (omitting solid food). There are many different ways to fast and you can vary the time frame and what you choose to fast from.
Seeking god’s Guidance
In many Bible examples, a common thread in the fasts is seeking God’s guidance. Seek God’s guidance and trust him for the right decision and outcome. His way is always the right way, God always wants the best for us, and as his children he wants us to walk in his will in our lives.
fast Tips
- Define the start and end time of your fast (e.g 8 hours. a morning, 2 days)
- Understand and be clear about what you are fasting for, state this in prayer
- Decide what you are fasting (e.g food, social media, a type of food/ all food)
- Pray before during and after your fast
- If you are fasting food, you can still drink water, sparkling mineral water, black coffee (with no sugar or milk) and herbal tea – these drinks won’t break your fast
- If you are able to, find time to read your Bible before, during and after the fast
- Write down thoughts/ answers that come to you during your fast
- When tempted, remember the reasons why you are fasting, lean into prayer and read your Bible.
- Fast without fuss- don’t boast about it – if you need to tell family/ partners – explain when the fast will finish so they can support you.
Spiritual Surrender
A spiritual fast with prayer brings about a mental surrender to God. The fast allows you to physically and mentally petition for a spiritual breakthrough. Whether needing victory in a decision, needing wisdom, or simply ‘humbling yourself’ to worship God fasting plays an important and powerful role.
The physical discomfort of a fast re-focuses our minds on God. It takes it away from food (or whatever you are fasting from) and puts God as the central focus.
A note on health conditions
Please note it’s important to be aware of any health issues or medical conditions that you have before undertaking a fast. It’s a good idea to seek advice from your doctor or get medical advice before going on any extended fast.
What has been your experience of Biblical fasting? Do let me know in the comments below.
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