Fasting is a spiritual discipline commended throughout Scripture as a means of humbling oneself before God, seeking His face, and drawing near in prayer. In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus says, “When you fast,” not “if,” implying that fasting is expected of His followers. He warns against fasting to be seen by men, and teaches instead to fast in secret, where “your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Fasting is often connected to repentance, as in Joel 2:12-13, where God calls His people, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” It is not merely the absence of food, but a turning of the heart.
In Acts 13:2-3, we see the early church fasting as they sought direction from the Lord: “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work.’” Fasting is thus a tool for clarity and spiritual focus.
Isaiah 58 corrects false fasting and lays out what God truly desires: justice, humility, and compassion alongside the act of fasting. Verse 6 says, “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness… and that you break every yoke?”
Fasting should always be accompanied by prayer and a desire to draw closer to God, never as a ritual or outward show. It brings spiritual strength, increased dependence on the Lord, and alignment with His will.
