“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
¹⁷ But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; ¹⁸ That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:16-18).

“Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. ⁴ Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. ⁵ Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? ⁶ Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? ⁷ Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” (Isaiah 58:3-7)

A Simple Definition

Fasting can be defined as the practice of abstaining from food and other fleshly lusts, for a period of time, in order to devote oneself to intimate fellowship with God. It involves humbling the soul and the body in order to bring them in subjection to the spirit (Psalm 35:13; 1 Corinthians 9:27) so that the spirit may be properly devoted to God (Jeremiah 29:13; John 4:24)

Fasting can be private/individual or public/congregational. An example of private/individual fast can be seen in 2 Samuel 12:16, while examples of public/congregational fast can be seen in Joel 1:14 and Joel 2:15-17.

Fasting is a Holy Exercise

The Bible says in Joel 1:14, “Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,” The word “sanctify” means “set apart unto holiness”. Therefore, genuine fasting that is acceptable to God is one that involves devoting oneself to holiness before God.

Fasting is always Purposeful

True biblical fasting is always done with a clear Godly purpose in mind. For example, to seek God for guidance and protection (Ezra 8:21-23) or to seek help from God against the enemy (2 Chronicles 20:1-4). Fasting can be done to prayerfully seek God for fulfilment of any relevant promise that is contained in His Word (Daniel 9:1-3).

Some Key Truths to Understand About Biblical Fasting

• Fasting is to change the person or people doing the fasting rather than God! Such change is to align the person or people doing the fasting with God’s Will and God’s Help (Isaiah 58:1-14).

• Genuine fasting is always combined with prayer (Daniel 9:3; Mark 9:29)

• Genuine fasting is accompanied by CONFESSION OF SIN (1 Samuel 7:6; Nehemiah 9:1-2) and REPENTANCE (Joel 2:12-13; Jonah 3:5-10).

Practical Steps to Fasting

• Establish a clear Godly purpose in your heart for the fast before you begin it.

• Plan, with the help of the Holy Spirit: (a) what type of fast? For example, “dry fast” (i.e. no food and water) or “moist fast” (i.e. no food but drinking water); (b) how long to fast each day? For example, full day or half day or just a few hours; (c) duration of the whole period of fast? For example, 1 day or 3 days or 1 week or 1 month; (d) date to begin the fast?

• Prepare yourself spiritually, mentally, and physically for the fast; (a) spiritually, by confessing and repenting of your sins and sanctifying yourself to offer a holy fast to God; (b) mentally, by focussing your mind and soul on the purpose why you are fasting; (c) physically, by starting to eat healthy food and drinking plenty of water several days before you begin the fast in order to adequately prepare your body for long duration fasts.

• Begin each day of fasting with a prayer, reaffirming your purpose, to consciously consecrate a fast to God for that day.

• Spend each day’s fasting period studying and meditating the Word of God and praying in the Spirit, especially with other tongues.

• End each day’s fast with a prayer reaffirming the purpose why you have fasted for that day and thank God for accepting your fast and hearing your prayers.

Some Benefits of Fasting

• Spiritual Benefit: Fasting helps us to focus properly on God so that we may clearly receive His guidance and help (2 Chronicles 20:1-17; Isaiah 58:11).

• Soulish Benefit: Fasting helps us to subdue our fleshly lusts, and to change our ways in order to be more Godly in our character (Isaiah 58:13-14).

• Physical Benefit: Fasting helps us to offer our bodies to God as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), thereby ensuring good health (Isaiah 58:8; Proverbs 3:7-8).