Fasting

For the past few months, I’ve been encouraged by a friend to include fasting in my prayers, and I have done that a few times.  While thinking about this I started to wonder what the Bible actually says about the reasons for fasting.  It seems like we mostly hear about people fasting as a “desperation move” when they have an urgent need or deep grief.  I thought there must be other reasons for fasting.  Well, I know there are other reasons, but I thought I’d take a bit of time and look up some verses and see why people were fasting.  Wow.  There are a lot more reasons than I expected.  Good ones, too.  (Of course.)

In his book Revival Starts Here, Dave Clayton writes:

Fasting is a physical declaration regarding a spiritual longing.  It is a moment where we raise a white flag and surrender the notion that the fleeting pleasures of the world are an adequate substitute for the infinite goodness of God.  It is a declaration that what we really need is not of this world.  It is about our spiritual feasting, not our bodily famine.  Fasting is not about what we let go of, but Who we will let take hold of us.

I looked up some passages that mention fasting and found there are, indeed, a lot of reasons people fasted, and a lot of reasons I think we would benefit from this practice – not the least of which, as Dave describes, raising a white flag to declare that I am surrendering to God.

Of course, as you would expect, there are numerous passages that describe fasting as part of mourning and grieving – 2 Samuel 1:12 and Daniel 10:2-3 are two good examples.

There are times when people fasted as they were pleading with God in prayer and using fasting as a way to emphasize that prayer – 2 Samuel 12:15-17 is a good example as David prayed for his son to be healed.

David’s pleading and prayer was part of his grief.  There are also times people pleaded with God to hear their prayers for strength, protection, and deliverance from enemies or struggles.  See Ezra 8:21-23 and Esther 4:16.

We are also familiar with times people were fasting as they were seeking God’s wisdom and guidance as in Judges 20:24-28.  (Note: there is also a clue here about alternative ways to fast – more on that later.)  Acts 14:23 also describes a time of fasting while seeking God’s blessing.

Up to this point, I’m seeing all the reasons I’m familiar with where people were fasting when they prayed – mourning and grieving, pleading with God, begging for His mercy, and seeking His wisdom, guidance, blessing, and protection.

I also found several other really great reasons to fast.  Reasons you may be familiar with, and maybe I’ve heard of them before, but they just were not the reasons that came to mind when I considered fasting.  These, I think, are reasons that can really bring us closer to God.

Fasting and prayer can be a pure and simple form of worship to God.  Just simply saying to God that you recognize Him as God.  Luke 2:36-37 (some versions use the word “serving,” while others use “worshiping”) and Acts 13:2 (again, some versions use the word “ministering” while others use “worshiping.”)  Clearly we can see that fasting is part of worship.

Fasting is a also good time to slow down and step away from the distractions of life and simply listen to God. Listen for His answers to your prayers (we ask a lot of God – how often do we stop to listen for His answer?).  Listen for His guidance, His love.  In Exodus 34:27-28 Moses spent 40 days fasting and listening.

1 Corinthians 7:5 describes a time of sacrifice – a form of fasting – so you can devote yourself to prayer.  (Clue #2 – it’s not always about food.)

The beginning of Matthew 4 and Luke 4 both describe a time of fasting during a time of temptation.  Times of hardship also bring temptation and lead us to prayer for God’s deliverance.  Fasting with that prayer can be a time we say to God “Only You can see me through a time of fasting, and only You can deliver me from this hardship and temptation.”

A common theme of fasting throughout scripture is repentance and confession.  I think most of us are familiar with returning to God, saying to Him “I know I have sinned, I know I have left You, I know I must walk with You, and I want to walk with You.”  But we don’t often, if ever, fast when making that confession.  In Joel 2:12-13 God declares that he wants us to return to Him, to rend our hearts to him with prayer and fasting.  1 Samuel 7:6 also describes a time of fasting and confession.

Daniel 9:3-5 includes a whole range of reasons for fasting – prayer and petition, pleading, confession, mourning, praise to the God Most High.

So, there are a LOT of reasons people fasted, and good reasons for us to follow their example.  To be clear – God hears our prayers whether we fast or not.  Fasting is not about screaming a little louder so God can hear us, or know that our hearts are in distress.  Fasting, instead, forces us to focus and lean on Him for His strength.  It changes us and our relationship with Him.

Clearly, we should be fasting when we pray.  The unanswered question is how?  And when?

There is no single answer to those questions.  In fact, the scripture includes different ways and different times that people fasted.  Jesus and Moses spent 40 days without food and water.  I’m pretty sure that is NOT an example we should follow (I’m not sure it’s possible to survive, but I am sure it’s not medically safe for us to do that.)

In Daniel 10:2-3, Daniel says he did not eat any tasty (or choice) foods, and no meat or wine.  He also avoided ointments or lotions.  So fasting isn’t always about avoiding all food, and can even involve non-food sacrifices (back to 1 Cor 7:5 again).

Typically, when we fast or think of fasting, we think about avoiding food and maybe only drink water for a day or two.  Some people have medical issues that make that a bad idea.  That’s okay.  You can still find a way to fast from certain foods, or from other comforts and pleasures.  Anything that forces you to focus and depend on God.

You can fast for a day and eat only a small meal in the evening (see Judges 20:26), or you can fast for an entire day, or maybe two or three days.  When you do that, don’t gorge yourself a day or two ahead of time – that will actually backfire (remember those times you had a huge dinner and woke up ravenously hungry the next morning?).  This is about learning to lean on God.

Whatever you choose to do, it should involve some sort of sacrifice.  I am considering fasting for two days because when I have fasted for one day, it doesn’t seem to be very difficult (My son says “If it didn’t hurt, did you really try?”).  I do spend more time in prayer, and I do focus on God to help me through the day, but it’s really not much of a struggle.  I also suspect that fasting on a work day is a bit of a distraction for me – I keep busy with work, which helps me avoid thinking about food, and helps me get through the day (i.e. not depending on God as much as maybe I should).

When should you fast?  In The Didache, the apostles reportedly instructed new Christians to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays – twice a week, every week.  (They also suggested fasting before being baptized – hmmm….that’s a pretty good idea, I think.)  You could fast once a week, every week. Or twice a week, or once every other week, or once a month, or once a year for several days in a row (our congregation is currently preparing to fast together for 21 days).  You could establish a regular routine, and also fast and pray whenever a great need arises (confession and repentance, grief, pleading, etc.).  Whenever you fast, it should be a time that requires sacrifice.  Choose a day or a time that forces you to focus on God and your reason for fasting.

And finally,

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  (Matthew 6:16-18)

You don’t have to go out of your way to avoid having anyone know you are fasting, but don’t make a big show of it.

Fasting when you pray is not commanded, but it was clearly a common practice throughout scripture.  A common practice that was simply an expected part of our prayer life.  And I am convinced that if we are not fasting, we are not experiencing the full blessings God can rain down upon us.