Fasting and prayer are two spiritual practices that appear throughout Scripture. While prayer involves communicating with God, fasting involves intentionally setting aside food or other legitimate comforts for a period of time in order to seek God with greater focus and dependence.
Fasting is not a way to manipulate God or force Him to answer our requests. Instead, biblical fasting is an expression of humility, surrender, spiritual hunger, repentance, and dependence upon God.
Jesus Himself taught about fasting. In Matthew 6:16–18, He instructed His followers not to fast for public recognition. Instead, fasting should be directed toward God.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:17–18 that when we fast, we should present ourselves normally so that our fasting is not performed for human applause.
This reveals an important truth: the value of fasting is found in seeking God, not impressing people.
Fasting Throughout Scripture Fasting appears in many significant moments in the Bible.
Moses fasted while receiving God's commandments (Exodus 34:28). Esther called for fasting when her people faced danger (Esther 4:16). Daniel practiced periods of fasting while seeking God for understanding (Daniel 10:2–3).
In the New Testament, Jesus fasted for forty days before beginning His public ministry (Matthew 4:1–2).
The early church also combined fasting and prayer when seeking God's direction.
Acts 13:2 says that while believers were “ministering to the Lord, and fasting,” the Holy Spirit spoke concerning the calling of Barnabas and Saul.
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