With Passover coming up, a lot of people are sometimes called by the Lord to fast beforehand. Making sure that we have obedience in what he asks of us, we should also look at scripture to understand why we fast and its' significance.
Fasting and time spent heavily in prayer is quite a common thing in the word of God, so why isn't this something we see more Christians do? Well, fasting is not commanded in the bible, but it is used as a tool for growth, connection and obedience.
If we go straight to the word and learn directly, it might inspire you to do more, learn more and put more faith in the Lord.
Fasting is a way that we show God and ourselves, that we are dedicated to living for him and growing in our personal connections and relationships with him. Through fasting we are able to reaffirm and re-establish our faith and dependence in God.
First let's look at some scripture in reference to fasting:
Ezra 8:23 - "So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty."
Isaiah 58:3-7 - "Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? “Is not this the fast that I choose: to lose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"
Joel 2:12 - “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning."
Matthew 6:16-18 - “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
Psalm 69:10 - "When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach."
Exodus 34:28 - "So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments."
Esther 4:16 - “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish."
There are tons of examples and scriptures in the bible in reference to fasting here are a few more:
Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights in the wilderness where he was led to be tempted by the devil and was tested. (Luke 4:2)
Moses fasted for 40 days and nights before receiving the Ten Commandments from God at Sinai. (Exodus 34:28)
Daniel fasted from meat and wine and prayed for 21 days while seeking wisdom and closeness from God. (Daniel !0)
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When we fast, we are actively humbling ourselves in the eyes of God, staying faithful that through him, he will provide a way in all that we need, surrendering ourselves and the desires of the flesh for the bigger picture, the Lord our God and his sacrifices for us.
Through these scriptures we can see many reasons and purposes for fasting. Humbling yourself, fully surrendering, discipline, strengthening faith and trust in the lord, expressing your connection and love for him, searching for more or word and guidance from God, asking for forgiveness and repentance, through times of struggle and grief etc.!
While there are many different reasons for fasting and whether or not you feel him call you to do so, at the end of the day it's a form of worship. In Luke 2:37 it says, “She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Here we read about an elderly woman and prophet named Anna, she wasn't called to fast but used this as an expression of her dedication and love for the Father.
Now, whether the Lord calls on you to fast or not, we just need to remind ourselves that at the base of it all, we chose HIM daily, every day we need to actively praise and thank him, leading and living for him and like him.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
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