What is Biblical Fasting?
You have heard of fasting before. It is not some hidden tradition or family secret. Fasting is simple to understand, difficult to do, and potentially powerful for each of us. But why does staying away from food matter for anything in our spiritual lives?
Fasting is seen all throughout the Bible. You will find passages on fasting in the Old Testament and the New. There are different forms of fasting (long, certain foods, short periods, partial, etc.) and many contexts where fasting is used. What we want to talk about is what fasting is and can be for you today.
Fasting gets a bad rap as an outdated practice or lumped into a similar category to some of the Biblical topics like Israelite feasts or greeting people with a holy kiss. We just don’t think about them that often and are not really sure what to think about them when we do.
Fasting, simply put, is going without food. People use fasting in different ways today that have nothing to do with religion or spirituality in its true sense. People use fasting primarily as a dieting technique. Intermittent fasting has become an appreciated dieting technique for many good reasons. Intermittent fasting has been shown to help reduce blood pressure, to help treat diabetes and prediabetes conditions, and to help lose weight (Harvard Health).
(One important note is to always drink water, no matter how long your fast will be. God is never asking us to hurt ourselves.)
Fasting in the Bible is not specified as a weight loss technique. Fasting is designed as a faith building exercise. Biblical fasting centers around an increased focus on God. Most often, fasting is associated with humbling oneself before God out of sorrow, mourning, or a pleading for mercy (see for example - Dan 9:3, Est 4:3, Joel 2:12).
It makes sense, then, that when Jesus is with His disciples, the disciples did not fast (Mark 2:18). The disciples were with God and as Jesus explains, when we are with God, we do not fast but are rather filled with joy and His fullness. We celebrate likes guests at a wedding.
With that being said, we do see Jesus fast for forty days and forty nights while being tempted by the devil (Matt 4:2). As Jesus says to the devil during the temptations, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4). Again, fasting is shown to be a focus on God, a demonstration of devotion and reliance on the Father.
So how do we put fasting into action today? Fasting goes against the consumer society we live in. It feels unnatural and uncomfortable. But maybe fasting should feel that way. Maybe that’s part of the point. As we fast, we recognize the discomforts and we get to make a decision. Do we turn to the supplies of this world or to the God of heaven? Do we allow our actions to be determined by our surroundings and our desires or do we turn to God to sustain us and set us apart?
Fasting is an opportunity. It is not meant to be something easy. It is hard. It is challenging. But fasting is more than a mindset change and an endurance challenge. More than these things, fasting can deepen your faith through active practice and engagement with God and Scripture. In other words,we can find other things to do during our moments of hunger that draws us closer to God.
Plan out your day or hours of fasting. Think about what you are going to do instead of eating. Not only will this help you through the times of great hunger, when your stomach is not just growling but roaring, it will give you even more ways to connect to God.
One of the ways you can do this is to set up something to do each time your stomach reminds you that you are hungry. Use every grumble as a time to say a quick word of thanksgiving to God for all He provides. Use every hunger pang to ask for forgiveness and to humble your heart. Use your moments of weakness to read God’s Word and to study Scripture.
There are endless things you can do to draw closer to God. It is amazing what He can teach you in a short amount of time if you are continually turning to Him. The point is to make the times of fasting a meaningful and intentional part of your faith journey.
Before and during your fast, make the experience between you and God. Jesus gives us clear instructions about what to do when (not if) we fast. He tells us not to make this a visible thing, something to draw attention to ourselves and our struggle (Matt 6:16). This is not about gaining satisfaction or recognition from our demonstration of piety. This is about drawing closer to God. Don’t let an empty stomach make you rude or unkind. Again, turn to God and let Him take control.
Fasting is not about food, it is about a heart tuning in to God. It is about knowing Him more and being humble in His presence. Fasting should be a part of our pursuit of holiness and communion with God. It should be more than something we read about, more than a way to lose weight. Take some time to fast and rely on God. Allow Him to teach you and draw near to you.
Check out these links for more information on fasting