Whenever you fast, don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, so that you don’t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Mt 6:16-18)
Jesus taught us how about fasting. But let’s be honest; not sure many believers fast often … including myself. Confession time: I have never made fasting part of my regular Christian lifestyle. Well, this study has encouraged me to do it and do it more regularly. Here’s why…
Why should you fast?
It brings you closer to the Lord (Joel 2:12; 1 Sam 7:2-6), humbles you (1 Ki 21:27-29), prepares and strengthens you spiritually (Mt 4:1-2).
Even now—this is the Lord’s declaration—turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. (Joel 2:12)
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around subdued. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? I will not bring the disaster during his lifetime, because he has humbled himself before Me. I will bring the disaster on his house during his son’s lifetime.” (1 Ki 21:27-29)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. After He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, He was hungry. Then the tempter approached Him … (Mt 4:1-2)
To seek God (Dan 9:3).
So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. (Dan 9:3)
To express grief (1 Sam 31:11-13; 2 Sam 1:12):
They mourned, wept, and fasted until the evening for those who died by the sword—for Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord’s people, and the house of Israel. (2 Sam 1:12)
To seek God to answer an important prayer (Neh 1:3-4; Dan 9:3) such as for protection (Ezr 8:21-23), for guidance (Jdg 20:24-28); deliverance (2 Chr 20:1-4).
So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. (Dan 9:3)
These are just a few reasons to fast. You simply can fast just to honor God as an offering.
How should you fast?
By denying yourself food (Mt 4:1-2).
By denying yourself a pleasure or creature comfort.
In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks. I didn’t eat any rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I didn’t put any oil on my body until the three weeks were over … “Don’t be afraid, Daniel,” he said to me, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard.” (Dan 10:2-12)
Combine prayer with fasting. Fasting and prayer are mentioned together many times in Scripture, showing us a precedent to practice them hand in hand. During your fast, you should devote more time to prayer in order to seek the Lord and grow closer to Him.
When they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting … (Ac 14:23)
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. (Neh 1:4)
Instructions on fasting
Make fasting regular practice in your life. The early church fasted (Ac 13:2), John the Baptist and his disciple fasted (Lk 7:33; Mt 9:14), Jesus fasted when facing the onslaught from the devil (Mt 4:2-11), and Anna the prophetess made fasting a part of her life:
There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and was a widow for 84 years. She did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. (Lk 2:36-37)
Do it quietly and not to be noticed:
But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face (Mt 5:17)
Then John’s disciples came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests be sad while the groom is with them? The time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. (Mt 9:14-15)
Ensure you are living right:
3 “Why have we fasted, but You have not seen? We have denied ourselves, but You haven’t noticed!” “Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast, and oppress all your workers. 4 You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today, hoping to make your voice heard on high. 5 Will the fast I choose be like this: A day for a person to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the Lord? 6 Isn’t the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to ignore your own flesh and blood? (Isa 58:3-7)
Think about it…
Fasting is not just a tool to ‘get’ something from God. It is a way to humble yourself before Him, draw near to Him, and honor Him. Don’t you think you should be fasting for those reasons alone?
Since Jesus expects you to fast, the early church fasted as a lifestyle, and there is fasting in the Old Testament, don’t you think you should be fasting too?
If you don’t fast…why not? Is it too hard? Do you not think about it?
Try fasting if you can physically do it. I realize some might have health issues that prevent you from fasting, but if you are able to fast … try it. Start by skipping a meal or denying yourself that special food that you love. Get started today. Maybe after you do this successfully, graduate and do it more frequently, or give up something more than you did the last time you tried. Pray while fasting to draw near to the King. Be blessed by fasting!
