Guide to Biblical Fasting

Jesus said when you fast… not if you fast!  Here is a Biblical guide to help you think about this rewarding spiritual discipline.

1. Fasting Defined

Broader: Abstaining from anything that is legitimate in and of itself, for some special spiritual purpose.

Narrower: Voluntarily abstaining from physical nourishment – food and drink – for special spiritual purposes.

2. Types of Fasting

Fasting is described in terms of what is given up, who participates, the duration of the fast, and how often the fast is conducted.

Fasting from What?

• Normal Fast – Only drinking water fast (Luke 4:1-2)
• Partial Fast – Limitation of diet; not absence from all food (Daniel 1:12)
• Absolute Fast – Avoiding all food and drink (Esther 4:15-16, Acts 8:9)

Who is Fasting?

• Private Fast –Mt. 6:16-18 … not obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father in Heaven…
• Small Group Fast -Acts 13:1-3… Antioch Church Leaders
• Congregational Fast – Esther 4:16, Neh. 9:1, Joel 2:15-16 – “declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly…”

Fasting For How Long?

• Part of a day (Jdg 20:26-28), One day (Jer 36:6), Three days (Est 4:1, Acts 9:8-9), Seven days (1Sa 31:13), 21 days (Dan 10:2-3), and 40 days (Deu 9:9, 1Ki 19:8, Mt 4:1-2).

Fasting How Often?

• Regular Fast – On a schedule, e.g., Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29-31)
• Occasional Fast -Whenever a need is perceived
• Continuous Fast – Example: John the Baptist in Matthew 3:4

3. Fasting is Expected
Fasting is nowhere commanded in the New Testament, yet it seems clear Jesus did expect his followers to fast. Matthew 6:16-17 – “When you fast”

4. Purpose of Fasting

Biblical Fasting is to be done for a Spiritual Purpose and not for: weight control, medical pre-op, saving money, physical training or political protest.

Spiritual purposes for fasting in the Bible are:

• Fasting to Strengthen Prayer  Nehemiah 1:4
• Fasting to Seek God’s Guidance   Judges 20:26-28
• Fasting to Seek Deliverance or Protection   2 Chronicles 20:2-4
• Fasting to Express Grief — over sin or calamities – 2 Sam. 1:11-12
• Fasting to Express Repentance and Return to God – Joel 2:12
• Fasting to Humble Yourself Before God -1 Kings 21:27-29
• Fasting to Express Concern for the Work of God – Dan. 9:2-3, Neh 1:3-4
• Fasting to Minister to the Needs of Others – Isaiah 58:6-7
• Fasting to Overcome Temptation / Dedicate Yourself to God – Mt 4:1-2
• Fasting to Express Love and to Worship God (above food) – Lk. 2:36-38

How to begin by Bill Bright (7 Steps to Fasting)

This will largely determine your success to make your time with the Lord more meaningful and spiritual rewarding.

1. Set Your Objective – The purpose of your fast
2. Make Your Commitment – To Jesus it was matter of when, not if you would do it. (Beginners should start slowly, building up to longer fasts.) Before you fast decide how long, what type of fast, physical/social activity restrictions, how much time each day you will devote to prayer and the Word.
3. Prepare yourself Spiritually – Confession of all sins, Seek forgiveness of offenders, Ask for filling of the Holy Spirit, absolute surrender, Meditate on God
4. Prepare yourself Physically – Consult Physician if medical problems, smaller meals before starting fast. During fast – limit activity inc. exercise, get good rest, expect physical discomforts at first (i.e. hunger pains, tiredness, weakness, the ‘blahs’)
5. Put Yourself on a Schedule – Maximum benefit set alone time for word and prayer for morning, lunch, and evening.
6. End Your Fast Gradually – No solids immediately after, try several small meals and snacks, to avoid physical injury
7. Expect Results – Refreshed, empowered, and answered prayer

* Notes for this guide are borrowed and shortened from Capital Hill Baptist Church Core Seminar on Fasting and from https://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/fasting/7-steps-to-fasting.1.html