Many people today, even within religious communities, question the relevance of practices like fasting and prayer. It’s a fair question in a modern world that often prioritizes the tangible and immediate. You might hear someone ask, “Fasting and prayer? Didn’t those go out of style decades ago?” This sentiment, while understandable, overlooks the enduring power and purpose of these ancient disciplines.
The truth is, fasting and prayer are not relics of the past; they are profoundly relevant and powerful tools for believers today, perhaps now more than ever. This combination isn’t a trendy spiritual exercise or a human invention designed to manipulate God or circumstances. Instead, fasting and prayer are deeply rooted, Bible-based disciplines intended for all believers, across generations and cultures.
Many individuals within the church may not have received comprehensive teaching on fasting and prayer. Consequently, they might lack understanding about their significance, biblical foundations, and practical application. Fasting can seem daunting, even like a form of legalistic burden. The idea of extended fasts might evoke feelings of impossibility or even fear. It’s important to clarify that biblical fasting isn’t necessarily about extreme durations, nor is it about outward displays of piety or self-deprivation for its own sake.
This article aims to explore the core reasons why people fast, grounded in scripture and practical experience, to illuminate the true purpose and benefits of this spiritual discipline.
Key Reasons to Engage in Fasting and Prayer
There are compelling reasons for believers to incorporate fasting and prayer into their spiritual lives. Two primary motivations stand out as particularly significant:
1. Scriptural Mandate and Examples
The Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments, speaks extensively about fasting and prayer. It’s not merely suggested as a good practice; Scripture directly instructs believers to fast and pray. Beyond commands, the Bible is rich with examples of individuals who fasted and prayed, demonstrating various types of fasts undertaken for diverse purposes, all leading to positive outcomes.
Consider Jesus Christ himself. Before beginning his public ministry, Jesus fasted for forty days and nights (Matthew 4:2). His disciples, following his example, also fasted and prayed, particularly after his ascension (Acts 13:2-3, 14:23). The Old Testament is replete with figures like Moses (Exodus 34:28), David (Psalm 35:13), Daniel (Daniel 9:3), and Esther (Esther 4:16) who turned to fasting and prayer in critical times. Even the followers of John the Baptist were known for their fasting practices (Mark 2:18). The early church continued this tradition, recognizing the spiritual power inherent in these disciplines.
Alt text: Moses receiving the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai, illustrating a biblical figure known for fasting.
The consistent teaching and examples throughout Scripture underscore that fasting and prayer are not optional extras, but rather integral practices for those seeking a deeper relationship with God and desiring to live according to His will. If the Bible instructs us to do something, and provides positive examples, there’s a clear indication that it is intended for us.
2. Positioning Yourself for Spiritual Breakthrough
Fasting and prayer create an optimal environment for spiritual breakthrough. This breakthrough can manifest in various dimensions of life: the spiritual realm, emotional healing, personal habits, relationships, or even practical matters like finances. History, both biblical and personal testimonies, is filled with accounts of profound spiritual results arising from periods of fasting and prayer. Situations that seemed stagnant or impossible have shifted dramatically, problems have found solutions, and breakthroughs have occurred.
Consider moments when you feel stuck, facing a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, or longing for change in an area of your life. Fasting and prayer can be the catalyst for that needed breakthrough. It’s about breaking through spiritual barriers, emotional strongholds, or limitations in any area where you seek God’s intervention. What was once unattainable can suddenly become reality. What was ineffective can suddenly become effective. Unwanted circumstances can dissipate, and strained relationships can be restored to love and harmony. Opportunities that seemed closed off can unexpectedly open.
Everyone faces challenges and desires breakthroughs in some area of life. Whether it’s gaining clarity in a confusing situation, finding solutions to problems, receiving fresh ideas and insights, experiencing financial provision, or seeing improvement in health, fasting and prayer can be instrumental. These disciplines can “break the yoke of bondage,” ushering in a release of God’s presence, power, and provision into your life.
One powerful personal example illustrates this point. The author recounts a time at age forty-two when seeking God’s direction during a women’s retreat. Taking a day for fasting and prayer amidst a beautiful setting, she sought clarity about God’s will for her life, feeling a desire to ensure she was aligned with His best plan. During that focused time, God spoke, revealing a life purpose rooted in Isaiah 11:9, “I have called you to cover the earth with the Word.” This profound sense of direction and calling emerged directly from a dedicated period of fasting and prayer.
Woman praying in nature
If you yearn to understand God’s purpose for your life, or need direction in any area, seeking Him through prayer and fasting is a powerful step.
Principles of Biblical Fasting
To understand the practice of fasting more deeply, it’s crucial to grasp the foundational principles of biblical fasting:
Abstinence from Food
The core element of biblical fasting is abstaining from food. The terms used in Hebrew (tsom) and Greek (nesteia) literally translate to “abstinence from food” or “no food.” While some use the term “fasting” to describe giving up other things like television or social media, the primary biblical understanding centers on food. This abstinence is intentional and voluntary, undertaken for a spiritual purpose.
It’s important to distinguish between different interpretations of fasting. While giving up activities like television can be a form of discipline and refocusing, biblical fasting, in its primary sense, involves abstaining from food to heighten spiritual focus and dependence on God.
Linked with Serious Prayer
Biblical fasting is intrinsically linked with earnest prayer. It’s not simply about skipping meals; it’s about intentionally coupling food abstinence with focused, heartfelt prayer. The seriousness with which you approach both fasting and prayer often correlates with the depth of the results you experience. Fasting intensifies prayer, creating a space for deeper communion with God and heightened spiritual sensitivity.
Casual substitutions like “giving up chocolate” are not generally considered biblical fasting. While self-control in any area is valuable, spiritual fasting is specifically purposed for seeking breakthrough, guidance, or deeper spiritual connection with God regarding a particular matter. It’s about engaging your heart and demonstrating your reliance on God. It’s about seeking discernment and strength to align with God’s will and direction for your life.
While weight loss might be a secondary effect of fasting, it should not be the primary motivation for spiritual fasting and prayer. Focusing primarily on weight loss transforms fasting into a diet plan, missing the deeper spiritual purpose. The core goal of spiritual fasting is not physical transformation, but spiritual transformation and seeking God’s face.
However, controlling eating habits can be a valid secondary reason within a spiritual fast. It’s about entrusting God to help regain mastery over your appetites. As Jesus said, “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Fasting can be a tool to bring the physical body into submission to the spirit, strengthening your ability to resist temptations of the flesh, especially those related to food. It’s about spiritual discipline leading to self-mastery in all areas.
Abstaining from Food for Mastery Over the Flesh
The significance of abstaining from food in spiritual discipline is highlighted by the very first temptation in the Garden of Eden. Food was the instrument the devil used to tempt Adam and Eve. God had given them abundance, allowing them to eat freely from every tree except one – the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). The prohibition was specifically about food, not other aspects of creation.
God granted Adam and Eve dominion over creation – every living thing and every plant for food (Genesis 1:29). The single restriction, the tree of knowledge, was about choice and free will. God desired them to choose obedience and trust, to remain in pure knowledge of good, without experiencing evil.
Alt text: Eve taking the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden, representing the temptation related to food and disobedience.
This act of abstaining from one specific food was a test of their obedience and trust in God’s wisdom. God wanted to protect them from the pain and consequences of knowing evil. Similarly, God calls believers today towards good and away from evil (Philippians 4:8, Romans 12:21), offering us choices that impact our lives and spiritual well-being. Choosing wrongly, as Adam and Eve did, leads to negative consequences, mirroring the “death” they experienced – separation from God and the introduction of sin and its effects (Romans 6:23).
The temptation in the Garden reveals key tactics the enemy uses, which are relevant to understanding why abstaining from food through fasting is spiritually significant:
1. Diverted Attention
The serpent, the devil in disguise, diverted Eve’s attention to the forbidden fruit. He initiated the conversation by questioning God’s command: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1). This subtle questioning drew Eve’s focus to the one thing forbidden, potentially distracting her from the abundance and goodness surrounding her. There’s no indication Eve was preoccupied with this tree before the serpent’s intervention.
The devil uses similar tactics today. He bombards us with enticing images and messages about food and other worldly pleasures. Advertising, media, and social environments constantly present tempting visuals and suggestions, making it difficult to ignore the allure of immediate gratification. It’s like the devil whispering, “Has God really said you can’t have a taste of this?”
Just as a piece of pie might “call out” to someone, temptations can become persistent and seemingly irresistible. The devil subtly suggests we are being deprived if we resist indulging in what is harmful. The underlying lie is, “This is so good. Has God really said you can’t enjoy this good thing?”
Remember, the fruit of the tree of knowledge wasn’t purely evil; it offered the knowledge of good and evil. There was an element of perceived good, just as tempting foods today often appeal to our senses. Eve saw the fruit was “good for food and pleasing to the eye” (Genesis 3:6). She assumed visual appeal equated to overall goodness, a deceptive assumption.
Fasting is a deliberate act of turning away from this diverted attention. It’s a conscious redirection of focus back to God and His commandments. It’s about resisting the devil’s question and reaffirming, “Yes! God has called me to abstain. He has called me to give my full attention to Him.” Fasting is a declaration of obedience and a rejection of the temptation to prioritize physical desires over spiritual purpose.
2. Temptations Toward False Benefits
The devil also tempted Eve by highlighting the supposed benefits of disobedience. He always emphasizes the immediate, often short-lived, gratification of sin, while obscuring the long-term, detrimental consequences. Many harmful substances or behaviors offer temporary pleasure or a sense of satisfaction. They might promise to make us feel good, accepted, or powerful.
The devil told Eve that eating the fruit would make her wise, “like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). In a limited, twisted sense, he was right. Eve did gain a knowledge of evil, experiencing it firsthand for the first time. However, the devil conveniently omitted God’s warning: “you will surely die” (Genesis 2:17). He presented only the perceived upside, neglecting the devastating downside of disobedience.
This tactic persists today. The devil never advertises the potential for addiction, disease, or long-term harm associated with sinful choices. He focuses solely on the immediate, alluring benefits.
Fasting sharpens our awareness of both good and evil. It heightens our sensitivity not only to God’s goodness and commands but also to the pervasive presence of evil in the world. It can bring a renewed clarity, making right and wrong, godly and ungodly, blessings and curses, more distinctly visible.
During fasting, discernment often increases. It provides an opportunity to re-evaluate our lives and the world around us, to discern what aligns with God’s will and what deviates from it. This heightened discernment can persist even after the fast concludes, leading to a more vivid appreciation for God’s creation and a clearer understanding of spiritual realities. Fasting, therefore, is not just about abstaining from food; it’s about gaining spiritual clarity, renewed focus, and a deeper connection with God, empowering us to live in greater obedience and discernment.
By understanding these biblical principles and reasons, individuals can approach fasting not as an outdated ritual, but as a powerful and relevant spiritual discipline that can lead to profound personal and spiritual growth.
