What is fasting?

Question 11002

Fasting is one of those spiritual disciplines that many Christians know about but few practice. It sounds old-fashioned, perhaps even unhealthy. Yet fasting appears throughout Scripture, both in the Old Testament and the New. Jesus Himself fasted and expected His followers to do likewise. What exactly is fasting, and what place should it have in our lives today?

What Fasting Is

At its simplest, fasting is voluntarily going without food for a spiritual purpose. It is not a diet to lose weight or a hunger strike to manipulate others. It is a spiritual discipline that expresses and deepens our hunger for God.

In Scripture we see different types of fasts. A complete fast involves abstaining from all food and water, as Moses did for forty days on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28) and Esther called for before approaching the king (Esther 4:16). This type of fast is rare and should only be undertaken for short periods and with care. A normal fast involves abstaining from food but continuing to drink water. This is what Jesus did in the wilderness for forty days (Matthew 4:2). A partial fast involves restricting certain foods. Daniel and his friends ate only vegetables and drank only water (Daniel 1:12), and later Daniel abstained from “pleasant food” and “meat and wine” for three weeks (Daniel 10:3).

The length of fasts in Scripture varies widely. There are single-day fasts, three-day fasts, seven-day fasts, twenty-one day fasts, and forty-day fasts. There is no prescribed length. The duration depends on the purpose and the leading of the Spirit.

Why We Fast

Fasting is not a way to earn God’s favour or twist His arm. It does not make our prayers more powerful as if we were bargaining with God. So why fast?

Fasting expresses our earnestness. When the situation is serious, when we desperately need God to act, fasting demonstrates that we mean business. When Judah faced invasion, King Jehoshaphat “set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah” (2 Chronicles 20:3). When Nineveh heard Jonah’s prophecy of judgement, “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” (Jonah 3:5). Fasting says, “Lord, this matters so much that I am willing to set aside even basic physical needs to seek you.”

Fasting helps us focus. Our bodies make constant demands: feed me, comfort me, satisfy me. When we fast, we tell our bodies to be quiet for a while. Every hunger pang becomes a reminder to pray. The time we would have spent eating becomes time for prayer and meditation. Our minds become clearer as we are freed from the tyranny of physical appetites.

Fasting humbles us. There is something about going without food that reminds us of our dependence on God. “Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Fasting breaks our self-sufficiency and drives us back to God.

Fasting accompanies major decisions. The early church fasted when appointing elders and sending out missionaries (Acts 13:2-3, 14:23). When important choices face us, fasting helps us seek God’s guidance with focused attention.

Jesus’ Teaching on Fasting

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed fasting alongside giving and prayer. Notice that He said “when you fast,” not “if you fast” (Matthew 6:16). He assumed His followers would fast. His concern was not whether but how.

“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

Fasting is to be a private matter between us and God. Making a show of it defeats the purpose entirely. The Pharisees fasted twice a week and made sure everyone knew it. But fasting is not about impressing others with our spirituality. It is about drawing near to God in secret, and He rewards what is done in secret.

When asked why His disciples did not fast, Jesus replied, “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 9:15). While Jesus was physically present, fasting was inappropriate. But after His ascension, His followers would fast as they longed for His return and sought His presence through the Spirit.

Fasting in the Early Church

The book of Acts shows us that the early church practised fasting. “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). Major decisions and missionary endeavours were accompanied by fasting and prayer.

Paul speaks of being “in hunger and thirst, often without food” (2 Corinthians 11:27), which likely refers to both involuntary deprivation and voluntary fasting. The apostle knew the discipline of going without.

How to Fast

If you have never fasted, start small. Skip one meal and spend that time in prayer. Once you are comfortable with that, try a full day. Always drink plenty of water during a normal fast. If you have any medical conditions, especially diabetes, consult a doctor before fasting.

Have a purpose for your fast. Are you seeking guidance on a specific decision? Are you grieving over sin? Are you interceding for someone in need? Are you preparing for ministry? Let your purpose shape your prayers during the fast.

Fill the time with spiritual activity. Fasting creates a vacuum; fill it with prayer, Bible reading, and worship. Otherwise, you are just being hungry for no reason. The fast itself is not the point; drawing near to God is the point.

Break your fast gently. After a longer fast, do not immediately eat a large meal. Start with small amounts of easily digestible food and gradually return to normal eating.

Conclusion

Fasting is not legalism. It is not required for salvation or for God’s approval. But it is a means of grace that Christians throughout history have found valuable. It expresses our hunger for God in a tangible way. It sharpens our focus and humbles our hearts. If you have neglected this discipline, consider reintroducing it into your life. Start small, start secret, and start with a sincere heart. Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“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.” Joel 2:12-13