Fasting is a great tool to seek God, in which we stop eating for a while to focus on the spiritual. In a fast we try to feed the spirit, ignoring the things that normally attract our attention, such as food. By fasting we say that we are totally dependent on God.
Fasting is to pray and seek God’s guidance, it is not to endure hunger. In the Bible it is also a sign of sadness or regret. Fasting strengthens spiritually and can bring us closer to God.
Attention: if you have any health problems, consult your doctor before fasting. If it’s dangerous to your health, don’t do it. You must be responsible before deciding to start a fast. There is also a type of partial fast, eating only the essentials.
bible verses about fasting
1. The Lord wants a people who love him
Therefore, now, says Jehovah, turn to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and lamentation. Joel 2:12
The Lord’s desire is that his people have a heart that loves him in Spirit and truth.
2. No one should notice your fast
When you fast, do not be austere, like the hypocrites; because they change their faces to show men that they fast; I swear you that the have already got their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not show men that you fast, but your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you in public. Matthew 6:16-18
Jesus told the disciples that when we fast we should not tell anyone, so that no person will reward us for our spirituality, but God will truly reward our fasting.
3. A real reason to fast
And they even claim me: “Why do we fast, if you don’t take it into account? Why do we grieve if you don’t notice it?” But on the day you fast, you do business and exploit your workers. You only fast to fight and quarrel, and punch each other out. If you want heaven to answer your prayers, fast, but not like you do now! Isaiah 53:3-4 NIV.
Something that the Lord claimed from the people of Israel was the reason for which they fasted, because they did it for carnal purposes, therefore when you fast you must be sure that you have a reason that is in accordance with God’s will.
4. For an important decision, fasting is key
And they appointed elders in each church, and having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. Acts 14:23
When you are going to make an important decision, you can fast so that the Lord is the one who guides your path, this was done by the church in the acts of the apostles.
5. Fasting brings us closer to the presence of God
While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said: Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. So, having fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them away. Acts 13:2-3
When we fast, the Lord can speak to us and give us an answer to the reason for fasting, this is because when we do it, we humble our hearts, recognizing that it is the Lord who should direct our lives.
6. God’s will can be found through a fast
And I published a fast there by the river Ahava, to afflict ourselves before our God, to request from him a straight path for us, and for our children, and for all our goods. Ezra 8:21
The people of Israel led by Ezra fasted in order to know what God’s will was, so if you want to know God’s will in an area of your life, fasting may be the way.
7. God responds in fasting
We fasted, then, and we asked our God about this, and he was propitious to us. Ezra 8:23
God can answer the requests we make in a fast and supply the needs exposed in it. Therefore with humility and meekness ask the Lord to be propitious to your prayer and in his mercy to answer you.
8. God’s people must fast
Proclaim fasting, call an assembly; Assemble the elders and all the inhabitants of the land in the house of the LORD your God, and cry to the LORD. Joel 1:14
Fasting must be a practice of the people of God, as the Lord’s church when the Holy Spirit directs it through the pastors and/or elders or leaders of the church; a fast must be proclaimed as a congregation for one or more specific reasons.
9. God is merciful in a true fast
And the Ninevites believed God, proclaimed fasting and, from the oldest to the youngest, dressed in mourning as a sign of repentance. When the king of Nineveh heard his message, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robe, mourned, and covered himself with ashes. Then he commanded that it be proclaimed in Nineveh: “By decree of the king and his court:” No person or animal, nor sheep or cattle, shall taste any food, nor shall they graze or drink water. Instead, the king commands that every person, along with his animals, mourn and cry out to God with all his might. He likewise commands each one to turn from his evil path and from his violent deeds. Who knows! Perhaps God will change his mind, and appease the burning of his anger, and we will not perish ». When God saw what they did, that is, that they had turned from their evil way, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction that he had announced to them. Jonah 3:5-10 NIV
God in a true fast can change his mind in his sovereign designs, a great example is the city of Nineveh, which was going to be destroyed, but because of the fasting of the entire city, God had mercy.
10. Fasting is part of the believer
Then I began to pray and direct my supplications to the Lord my God. In addition to praying, I fasted and dressed in mourning and sat on ashes. Daniel 9:3 NIV
In addition to our prayers, fasting should also be part of our lives as believers.
11. We can fast for someone
Go and assemble all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me, and do not eat or drink for three days, night and day; I also with my maidens will fast likewise, and then I will go in to see the king, even though he is not according to the law; and if I perish, may he perish. Esther 4:16
Fasting does not necessarily have to be done by ourselves, but we can also fast for someone else. So if the Lord directs you to fast for someone, do it and the Lord will bless you for it.
12. Fasting frees us from fear
Hearing this, I sat down to cry; I mourned for a few days, fasted and prayed to the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4 NIV
In moments of sadness, difficulty, oppression or fear, fasting is a very liberating instrument in the hands of God. Therefore, when you find yourself in a difficult situation, fast and ask the Lord for salvation.
13. Jesus fasted
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. And after having fasted for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Matthew 4:1-2
Jesus being God fasted. And he told us to imitate me because I am meek and humble of heart, therefore we must fast and imitate the Lord and we will be blessed.
14. Fasting is important for your spiritual growth
When he entered the house, his disciples asked him aside: Why couldn’t we throw him out? And he said to them: This gender can come out with nothing, but with prayer and fasting. Mark 8:28-29
Fasting can make you have a higher spiritual level, so if you want to grow in the knowledge of the Lord, fast and ask the Lord to allow you to grow in his knowledge and wisdom.
15. Fasting is an instruction from the Lord
Then they said to him: Why do John’s disciples fast many times and pray, and also those of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink? He said to them: Can you make those who are at the wedding fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the husband will be taken from them; then, in those days they will fast. Luke 5:33-35
Today this promise is already fulfilled, Christ rules from heaven; he was taken from us and we are waiting for his second coming. Therefore we are in the days in which the Lord’s people fast.
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