Why Fasting?

Fasting Basics

Fasting is extremely beneficial to our spiritual growth and our prayer lives. Going without food helps reminds us how much we depend on God for our sustenance and, indeed, for all things.

Where is fasting mentioned in the Bible? Steven Um writes that tasing it mentioned around 78 times in the Bible and to put that in perspective, the Bible mentions baptism 75 times.

At specific and key times in Scripture we see fasting.  Of course Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before starting his ministry. [Matthew 4]. The Apostle Paul fasted after receiving the revelations and before he started his gospel ministry. [Acts 9:1-9].  Likewise, Christians should cultivate a discipline of fasting for self-control and dedicated prayer.

In the early church, fasting was common. Clement of Alexandria wrote in 195 AD “Fasting with prayer is a good thing.”

The Westminster Larger Catechism mentions fasting as a religious duty in Question 108: What are the duties required under the second commandment? Answer: “The duties required in the second commandment are, the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath instituted in his Word; particularly prayer and thanksgiving in the name of Christ; the reading, preaching, and hearing of the Word; the administration and receiving of the sacraments; church government and discipline; the ministry and maintenance thereof; religious fasting…”

Dr. Um continues  – “Fasting is a wonderful discipline and a habit that God has given to his people. There are many different spiritual purposes we see in Scripture: repentance, humility, devotion in worship, and seeking the Spirit’s guidance. We see that it’s done collectively and individually. We see complete fasts and partial fasts. And it’s not so much the different types of fasts that are important but the emphasis on recognizing fasting as a rhythm, one of the habits of grace that we ought to apply on a regular basis.”

Practicalities

  1. Plan your fast
  • Plan what day you will fast and make practical preparations.
  • Plan what you will eat or not eat during the fast.
    • A fast can look differently – it can be a complete fast from all food, or just a meal.  It can be going without a particular type of food, or something else that is important to you.
    • A common practical fast is to go 24 hours without food.  Maybe after dinner one day until dinner time the next.
    • Remember to drink a LOT of water.
  • If applicable, let your spouse know you are fasting and ask them to pray for you. Maybe they even want to join you in fasting!
  • Prayerfully consider Matthew 6:17-18 about fasting in private.
  • Get a good nights rest the night before your fast.
  • When you break your fast, eat a light meal…don’t go crazy!
  1. What to pray for?  
  • Write down some thoughts, key Scriptures on things you will be praying for. Keep in mind that you can pray for anything! “…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…”(Ephesians 6:18 ESV)
  • Pray for the faithfulness and fruitfulness of the church.
  • Pray in repentance of personal sin and desire to change, growth in Christian maturity.
  • Pray for specific situations – your marriage, your parenting, your job decisions, wisdom, discernment, etc. 
  • Pray for individuals in need, healing for those who are sick, help for those who are weary.
  1. When to pray and Scriptural mediation ideas
  • Have dedicated times of prayer, perhaps early morning, mid-day and evening for as long as you are comfortable – but PUSH yourself maybe longer than you’d usually pray. Maybe get up earlier than usual.  Consider going somewhere to pray – like outside or another room in your house.
  • Follow the ACTS model of prayer
    • Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (requests)
      • Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart to help you in confession and humble meditation [Psalm 51; 139]
  • Scripture Ideas:
    • Read and pray thru the Psalms – maybe start with the date of the month keep going adding 30. [If the date is the 11th then you’d read/pray through Psalm 11, 41, 71, etc.]
    • Read and meditate on Isaiah 58
    • Read the gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion and the events leading up to it. 
  • Consider journaling some of your thoughts and prayers to look back on later…maybe it will be an opportunity for praise as you can look back and see God’s answer to your prayers!

Additional Resources/Works Cited:

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