August 28, 2025
Fasting
Being picked last for a kid’s game is an awful feeling as a child. I imagine that’s how fasting feels today. Were we to pick a robust team of biblical (spiritual) disciplines, fasting would likely be picked last. Who wants to deny themselves by giving up food? We’d much rather study, sing, and sit in solitude. However, despite fasting’s draft stock, it was employed throughout the Old and the New Testament on various occasions.1
The Heart of Fasting
Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights in the wilderness. At that point Satan tempted Him to turn stones into bread. What was Satan’s aim here? He wanted Jesus to forsake God and rely on Himself. Jesus’ answer is instructive for understanding the heart of fasting. Jesus said (Matt. 4:2), “Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Bread (food) is important for humans; we need it to survive. Nevertheless, there is something greater that human beings need—the living words of God.
When we fast, we are acknowledging the even more important living words of God and leaning upon God for life. The suspension of food and/or drink for a time sets aside the physical for special attention to the even more important spiritual realities of God’s sustaining grace and presence.2
The Context for Fasting
When people fast in the Bible, purposeful prayer is not far away. Thus, fasting is closely associated with prayer before God. Eugene H. Merrill says that fasting is “an expression of personal devotion linked to three major kinds of crisis in life: lamentation/penitence, mourning, and petition.”3 During times of fasting we see confession of sin (such as Daniel (9:3)), mourning (Zechariah 7:6), and petition (David on behalf of his sick child (1 Samuel 12:16)).4
When we fast we lean on God through purposeful prayer, trusting Him with our sins, our losses, and our needs. In New Testament examples we witness, “The godly prophetess Anna looked for the redemption of Israel with supplicatory prayer and fasting (Luke 2:37). Before Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for the various churches, they committed them to the Lord with prayer and fasting (Acts 14:23). In all these instances there is the clear implication that fasting is an effective adjunct to petition.”5
The Service of Fasting
Fasting may become hypocritical. In Jesus’ day there were people who fasted for the wrong reasons—they wanted to be perceived by other people as holy. They would disfigure their faces and look gloomy. Jesus reveals that they have already received their reward—human praise.
As for the true service of fasting, it is for God. Jesus teaches us to wash the gloom off our face so that God may see our fasting and not men (Matt. 6:16–18). And to top it off, Jesus promises reward from the Father. Bass states, “Jesus taught…a robust faith that sought genuineness of relation to God through a pure heart. Jesus…give[s] it a new meaning. Fasting is service to God.”6
The Object of Fasting
Scriptural fasting is always centered on food and drink. There are no examples of fasting other objects. Thus, I would encourage fasting to center on food and drink. However, I would not dismiss a contextualized principled approach. In other words, if someone was unable to fast food and drink, I would not discourage them from fasting something else. If someone felt the need to fast from video games, screens, or unhealthy activities, then I would not discourage them either. Nevertheless, I would encourage food and/or drink to be option number one.
The Care of Fasting
Fasting should be done with mindful intention and care for one’s own body. I do not recommend diving into any period of fasting without wise counsel.
Consider starting off simple. Fast one meal and give yourself to God. Then progress over time as you are wisely and medically able. As we seek to practice fasting as a church for September 2025, consider progressive fasts each of the four weeks. For example, maybe one meal the first week, two meals the second week, three meals the third week, and four meals the fourth week.
The Result of Fasting
Fasting sets you apart for a time so that you may be set apart for all of time. Amidst the noise and bustle of life, dependence on God will speak louder and lead you. How much you need God will be clearer and that need will encourage faithful abiding in Jesus for all things. Fasting helps break bonds and strengthen bonds. The Lord will become even more our all in all.
1Fasting may only be commanded on the Day of Atonement. M. G. Easton states, “The sole fast required by the law of Moses was that of the great Day of Atonement (q.v.), Lev. 23:26–32. It is called “the fast” (Acts 27:9).” See M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893), 253. However, the literal command to afflict yourself, may be something either than fasting. Eugene H. Merrill says, “Fasting is nowhere commanded in the Torah and, in fact, is never attested earlier than the time of the judges of Israel (cf. Judg. 20:26). The fact that Jesus and the disciples sanctioned it by their own example (Matt. 4:2; Acts 13:2–3), however, is sufficient justification for its practice in biblical times and, in fact, in modern times as well.” See Eugene H. Merrill, “Fast, Fasting,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, electronic ed., Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996), 245.
2Clarence B. Bass states, “In the midst of his temptation, he fasted and prayed, quoting from Deuteronomy 8:3 and Psalm 91:11, 12. His fasting is associated with dependence upon God.” See Clarence B. Bass, “Fast, Fasting,” in Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 780–781. Kenneth Boa says, “The spiritual discipline of fasting is abstention from physical nourishment for the purpose of spiritual sustenance.” See Kenneth Boa, Conformed to His Image: Biblical, Practical Approaches to Spiritual Formation, Revised Ed. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Academic, 2020), 73.
3Eugene H. Merrill, “Fast, Fasting,” 246.
4Ibid.
5Ibid., 246.
6 Clarence B. Bass, “Fast, Fasting,” 781.