What is fasting?
To go without food for a set time as part of one’s spiritual discipline as a follower of Jesus
Do we have examples of Christians fasting in the New Testament?
Yes there are numerous examples of fasting in the early church. One example is in the church at Antioch.
Acts 13:2: While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
From this example we can see that fasting was a normal practice in the early church. We also see that it was practiced here by the church as a whole and was accompanied in this case by worship.
What is notable in this account is that there was a significant experience of the presence of God while they were fasting, as we read how the Holy Spirit spoke to them as a church about sending off some of their leaders on mission.
Is fasting in the New Testament different to that practiced in the Old Testament?
Fasting in the Old Testament generally was associated with either pleading with God to come near to help or pleading with God to avert judgment for evil. This aspect of fasting has completely changed under the New Covenant Jesus brought in through the Cross.
In the New Testament followers of Jesus no longer fast to bring God near or to avert judgement because Jesus has achieved this for us already. He has brought us near to God and at the Cross He has born God’s judgment on behalf of those who believe in Him.
There are however principles from Old Testament fasting that have a measure of application for us in the New Covenant. For example the association of prayer with fasting is followed through from the Old Testament into the New Testament.
What are some of the main reasons a follower of Jesus should fast?
Fasting is assumed by Jesus to be part of our Christian spiritual disciplines
Matthew 6:16: 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.
Fasting is an aid to prayer
It helps us to humble ourselves
Fasting is a very humbling practice because it exposes the weakness of our human frame and shows us how reliant we actually are on God for our mere existence. Yet at the same time humility is a powerful aid to prayer.
Matthew 23:12: Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
It helps us to focus on prayer
As we hunger and skip meals we find we are constantly being reminded to pray.
It increases awareness of the serious nature of the needs one is fasting and praying about
Going without food is a difficult experience for our bodies and this helps us to feel more involved in the seriousness of the matter being prayed for.
Fasting is associated in the Bible with increased effectiveness of prayers
The example above of the church at Antioch shows a major breakthrough in world evangelism that began while the church was fasting. There were other factors also but one of them was that the believers were fasting together in unity. Another example is how leaders were set in office in the early church with prayer and fasting.
Acts 14:23: And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
It helps us to soften our hearts towards the needs of others
As we feel weak during our fast it helps us to have compassion on others who are in all manner of need, especially those who do not have enough to eat on a regular basis.
Isaiah 58:6-7:
Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose 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?
Practically speaking
- It is good to fast with your Christian community as has been mentioned above, but you can also fast on your own.
- Fast with consideration of your health – one can fast from only selected food items if it is unwise for you to abstain from food altogether.
- It is generally advised to drink lots of water when fasting.
- If you are planning on a longer fast, research well about how to break your fast at the end.
In the New Testament we fast knowing Jesus is with us by the Holy Spirit as we fast. We do not fast to bring Him near but we fast to emphasize our need and our longing for Him to work more in us and through us.