Fasting and Prayer According to the Bible

Fasting Produces Miraculous Results

Christian fasting is the secret to a deeper intimacy with the Lord and the knowledge of God’s perfect will for your life. There are many benefits to a biblical fast, both spiritual and practical. Christians who seek God through fasting and prayer receive tremendous rewards for their personal lives and family members. A sincere time of fasting moves the hand of God! You can expect breakthroughs in any area of life such as healing, finances, addictions, and relationships.

The bottom line is this: spiritual fasting is a simple act of faith that produces miraculous results! Whether you are brand new to the concept of fasting and prayer or a seasoned Christian searching for more information on the topic, this article contains biblical facts and practical tips that will help you initiate a successful fast.

Gluttony is a Sin

I’ll be the first to admit, I love food — hot food, cold food, ethnic foods, comfort food, gourmet food, well… you get the idea. I just love food! I consider myself to be a “foodie” of sorts, so I love trying new dishes, and the more creative and unusual the ingredients and presentation the better. But with God, everything in our lives must be done in moderation and kept under control of the Holy Spirt. That includes our eating habits and desire for earthly food.

In fact, there are dozens of bible verses warning us of the sin of gluttony. Yes, habitual excessive eating or overeating is a serious iniquity in God’s eyes. Gluttony is a sin we don’t hear discussed much in churches but having an insatiable desire for food can be idolatry and it is very dangerous. God doesn’t want us enslaved by anything, including food.

Just to be clear, I’m not talking about obesity. This has nothing to do with being fat; a skinny person can be guilty of gluttony too. If we cannot control our eating habits, it’s likely we are also unable to control other habits, such as anger, lust, gossip, etc. The ability to say “no” to anything in excess is one of the fruits of the Spirit that all believers should be working towards. It’s called self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Certainly God wants us to enjoy good food, but in appropriate quantities. God calls us to control our appetites, rather than allowing our appetite to control us. Physical appetites are an analogy of our ability to control ourselves. Fasting is one of the best antidotes we have to prove that the spirit of gluttony is not at work in our lives.

But, if you’ve never fasted before, you may have some very valid questions. That’s understandable. Read on to discover:

• What Is Biblical Fasting
• Why Is It So Hard To Fast
• Some Fasts Recorded In The Bible
• Types Of Fasts Found In Scripture
• How Long Should A Biblical Fast Last
• Practical Tips For Fasting
• Medical And Physical Benefits of Fasting
• Spiritual Benefits Of Fasting

What is Biblical Fasting?

First and foremost, biblical fasting is NOT a diet. Oh sure, you’ll receive some of the same great benefits as dieting, but it’s not the same thing. A true fast according to the bible is always accompanied by prayer and seeking the Lord. If you’re not going to pray while fasting, well then you’re simply dieting. A diet is usually for physical reasons (lose weight, get healthy, doctor’s orders, etc.). But biblical fasting is for spiritual reasons. When you fast and pray you are refraining from food for a spiritual purpose. Fasting is a secret source of power that is overlooked by many Christians. Fasting and prayer is the secret key that opens the windows of heaven and slams shut the gates of hell. Fasting releases the anointing, favor, and blessing of God.

In the Gospel of Matthew fasting is mentioned as one of the three duties of every Christian (Matthew 6:16), along with giving (Matthew 6:2) and praying (Matthew 6:5). When you read this scripture regarding fasting, it’s important to note that Jesus said “when you fast,” not if you fast. The word “when” indicates fasting should be a regular part of the Christian lifestyle. In these bible verses Jesus was speaking to His disciples, so clearly we see that the practice of fasting is not limited only to pastors or priests or spiritual leaders. Fasting was meant to be a normal part of a relationship with God. In the bible, virtually every major character fasted.

Why is it So Hard to Fast?

People love food and have very little willpower! We have our favorite fast-food restaurants, our favorite full-service restaurants, our favorite coffee shops, our favorite bedtime snacks — we’re a generation who eats all day long, even if it’s not the right kind of food. My goodness, even churches have incorporated snack bars, coffee bars, and bistros into their building plans. Do you know how hard it is to walk into a church when you’re fasting and smell the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, then someone rubs shoulders with you carrying a Krispy Kreme doughnut in hand?

Christian fasting requires tremendous self-control, discipline, and willpower. It’s a huge commitment. There are food temptations with enticing aromas all around us. In fact, food was the enticement used by the devil to cause Adam and Eve to sin, resulting in the fall of mankind (lack of control over the flesh). If food was a scheme that worked so well for our adversary back then, why wouldn’t he continue using it against us? The enemy knows we could be missing our greatest breakthroughs because we fail to fast.

 

Some Fasts Recorded in the Bible

• Exodus 34:27-28  Moses received the Ten Commandments during a 40 day fast
• Esther 4:16  The Jews were spared from Haman’s plot to kill them because Esther called for a 3 day fast
• 1 Samuel 1:7  Hannah “wept and did not eat,” God heard her plea and Samuel was born
• 2 Chronicles 20:3  “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judea.”
• Ezra 8:23  “So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.”
• Jonah 3:5  “So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.”
• Nehemiah 1:4  “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”
• Daniel 6:18  “Now the king [Darius] went to his palace and spent the night fasting…”
• Acts 9:9  Paul fasted after his conversion. “And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”
• Acts 13:1-3  The church elders in Antioch fasted and prayed before sending out missionaries

Types of Fasts Found in Scripture

• Absolute Fast:  No food, no water. Very extreme. Should only be done for very short periods of time (with medical consultation).
• Normal Fast:  No food for a certain number of days. Drink plenty of water. If it’s a long fast you may choose to take clear broth and juices to maintain strength.
• Partial Fast:  Giving up specific foods and drink for an extended period of time. Example: Daniel, while in captivity, requested only vegetables and water for 10 days (Daniel 1:12). Later, during another fast, Daniel ate no sweets, no meat, and drank no wine for three full weeks (Daniel 10:2-3). He was focused in prayer over the plight of Israel. In the end, Daniel’s prayer was answered by an angel. This type of partial fast has become known in Christian circles as the “Daniel Fast.”

How Long Should a Biblical Fast Last?

According to the bible, the duration of fasts can vary. The bible mentions 3, 7, 21, and 40 day fasts. It also references half-day and 24-hour fasts.

The length of time should depend on your circumstances. Don’t bite off more than you can handle, especially if you’ve never fasted before. It’s best to start off with a shorter length fast to begin, then increase the duration as you become accustomed to fasting. Once you discover the benefits of fasting you will want to make this Christian discipline a lifestyle.

NOTE: Always check with your medical provider to receive clearance for fasting. Abstaining from food may be detrimental to some medical conditions. 

Practical Tips for Fasting

• Don’t enter into a Christian fast casually. If the fast doesn’t mean anything to you, it won’t mean much to God. Fasting has to be for a specific purpose, combined with prayer and bible reading.
• Limit your television viewing while fasting. TV shows are loaded with restaurant and food related commercials. Don’t put the temptation to eat in front of your eyes. Those food ads can be torture on an empty stomach!
• Don’t pig-out in the days before you begin a longer fast. Your mind will tell you to eat more because you won’t be having any food for a while, but in reality that will make the first few days of a fast even harder. You should eat less, and begin tapering off your food intake prior to a fast.
• Try to drink at least one gallon of purified water the first day of a fast (tap water contains impurities). Purified or distilled water flushes the toxins and poisons out of your system. Water also makes you feel full. You’ll quickly realize that water is the faster’s best friend!

Medical and Physical Benefits of Fasting

• Fasting is like spring cleaning for your body. It gives your digestive system a break.
• Headaches while fasting are a sign that you needed to fast. They are the result of the poisons and impurities the body is burning for energy. After three days the headaches usually disappear.
• During the first few days of a fast (as the toxins leave) you will likely feel tired and sluggish, have headaches, difficulty sleeping, and can’t focus on prayer and bible reading. These are all normal fasting side effects. Press through (with water and juice) and you will always find a deeper place in God.
• Fasting cleanses your body. It yields many medical benefits. As you already know, chemical preservatives, food additives, coloring, artificial flavoring, and stabilizers all build up in your body and potentially cause illness and disease. Fasting is necessary to flush out the poisons and give your body time to heal itself.
• A coating on your tongue is a sign the fast is helping to eliminate toxins.
• Fasting has been known to relieve nervousness and tension, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and gives your digestive system a rest.
• Fasting sharpens your mental process and improves sensory faculties (sight, taste, hearing, touch, smell).
• Fasting can break the addiction to junk food and an uncontrollable appetite. There are many testimonies of fasting breaking other addictions as well — like nicotine, alcohol, drugs, and pornography.

Spiritual Benefits of Fasting

• Fasting enables us to know and walk in God’s perfect will. It keeps us sensitive to His Holy Spirit.
• Fasting prepares the way for God to give you fresh revelation, fresh vision, and clarity of purpose.
• Fasting prepares you for a new and greater anointing.
• Fasting is a form of worship. There are dimensions of God that will never be revealed to a casual worshipper.
• Spiritual victories are not won in public but in private. Private devotion produces public demonstrations of God’s power.
• Fasting can break poverty from your life (Joel 2:15-16).
• Health and healing can follow fasting (Isaiah 58:8).
• Fasting can break the power of sexual addictions and demonic powers (Judges Chapters 19-20).
• Fasting can break demonic spirits off of backslidden or rebellious children.
• Satan hates when you fast. He knows Christian fasting releases the power of God!
• All the fasts recorded in the bible, whether one day or forty days, brought reward.

In Conclusion…

Fasting requires faith! Too many Christians are well fed physically, but malnourished in their spirit. One of the best ways to feed our spirit is to develop a hunger to fast. Few things make us as spiritually strong as the dynamic duo of fasting and prayer. This Christian discipline helps separate us from the distractions of the world and brings us into a closer relationship with God. Fasting allows us to hear God’s voice so much clearer.

There are so many good and valid biblical reasons to initiate a fast. Things like losing weight (although that’s always a great and healthy by-product for me!), to prove you’re more spiritual than others in your church, or to manipulate a situation, are not godly motives for fasting. A few biblical reasons for fasting would be: fasting for God’s guidance regarding an important decision, to receive deliverance from a reoccurring sin or addiction, to express repentance and gain new direction in life, to dedicate yourself to God and the work of the ministry, or to express love and worship to God.

Most Christians who have never fasted are either fearful or ignorant. They may be afraid of the unknown or afraid of feeling hunger pangs. Perhaps they’re afraid of starting but not finishing. For some, the enemy has them fully convinced they could never do it. Other Christians simply have not been taught about the importance of fasting and seeking God in this way. Many churches do not encourage fasting, and some assemblies never even mention it from the pulpit. For example, I grew up in the Methodist church, and do not recall ever hearing a message on fasting.

Here’s my advice: just do it! If you mess up midway through, God is not going to condemn you. Just pick up where you left off. God is much more concerned about humility and sincerity of heart than He is perfection. God never requires perfection from His followers, and perfection is never a prerequisite for receiving a blessing from God.

For me, the hardest part of fasting is getting started. That little voice inside my head trys hard to convince me I’ll be missing out on so much, and even starving myself. But I’ve been fasting for decades and the end result of every single fast has been breakthrough and victory in my life! And that’s my prayer for you too. If you have a specific question regarding biblical fasting that I haven’t covered, or simply need greater clarification, please reply in the comment box below or submit through the “contact me” page.

REMINDER: Always check with your medical provider to receive clearance for fasting. Abstaining from food may be detrimental to some medical conditions. 

 

QUESTION: Do you have a testimony regarding biblical fasting? You can encourage our readers by posting it in the comment box below!       

 

Recommended Books on Fasting:

Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough By Elmer L. Towns / Bethany House

 

Fasting: Opening the Door to a Deeper, More Intimate, More Powerful Relationship with God By Jentezen Franklin / Charisma House