top of page
OSC Logo Final Draft (2).png

Why People Fast in the Bible

 

1. To Seek God’s Guidance

  • Before appointing leaders, the early church prayed and fasted (Acts 13:2-3).

2. To Humble Themselves Before God

  • Ezra proclaimed a fast to humble themselves before God and seek His protection (Ezra 8:21).

3. To Repent and Return to God

  • The people of Nineveh fasted in repentance, and God showed mercy (Jonah 3:5-10).

4. For Strength in Crisis or Battle

  •  King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast when Judah was threatened by enemies (2 Chronicles 20:3-4).

5. To Draw Near to God

  •  Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before His ministry (Matthew 4:1-2).

5e6dc14a-ee6c-425b-9cc4-8ff4943dea67_edited.jpg
greeting.jpg

Types of Fasts in Scripture

  • Normal Fast: No food, but water allowed (Jesus in Matthew 4).

  • Partial Fast: Restricting certain foods (Daniel 10:2-3).

  • Absolute Fast: No food or water (Esther 4:16; usually short, urgent situations).

  • Corporate Fast: Groups fasting together for a purpose (Joel 2:15-16).

 

Jesus’ Teaching on Fasting

In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus commands His followers to fast regularly (“When you fast…”), and teaches:

  • Do it in secret, not for show.

  • Your reward comes from God, not people’s approval.

IMG_4351 (1) - Edited.jpg

PRAYER AND FASTING

What is Biblical Fasting? Biblical fasting is the spiritual practice of abstaining from food (and sometimes drink) for a set time with the purpose of seeking God’s presence, guidance, or breakthrough. Unlike dieting or cleansing, fasting in Scripture is always connected to prayer, repentance, and dependence on God.

Practical Tips for Fasting Today

 

1. Prepare Spiritually: Enter with prayer, humility, and a purpose.

2. Start Small: If new to fasting, try fasting one meal or one day while focusing on prayer.

3. Stay in Scripture & Prayer: Fasting without prayer is just skipping meals.

4. Guard Your Heart: It’s about God, not legalism or proving holiness.

5. Break Fast Wisely: Gently reintroduce food, especially after longer fasts.

IMG_5756 - Edited.jpg
huddle 2.jpg

Spiritual Benefits of Fasting

 

  • Clearer sensitivity to God’s voice

  • Greater self-control and dependence on Him

  • Freedom from distractions and idols (food, media, etc.)

  • Breakthrough in prayer and spiritual battles

1. One-Day Fasts-

Often connected to repentance, mourning, or urgent prayer.

  • Israel fasted a day after suffering defeat in battle (Judges 20:26).

  • Samuel and Israel fasted one day as a sign of repentance (1 Samuel 7:6).

  • David and his men fasted a day after Saul and Jonathan died (2 Samuel 1:12).

  • The people proclaimed a fast day to seek the Lord (Jeremiah 36:6).

2. Three-Day Fasts

Usually tied to urgent intercession, major life changes, or seeking deliverance.

  • Esther and the Jews fasted for three days before she went to the king (Esther 4:16).

  • Paul fasted three days after his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:9).

3. Seven-Day Fasts

Often expressions of deep mourning or seeking God’s mercy.

  • The men of Jabesh-Gilead fasted seven days after Saul’s death (1 Samuel 31:13).

  • David fasted seven days for his sick child (2 Samuel 12:16-18).

4. Twenty-One-Day Fast

Known today as the “Daniel Fast,” it was a partial fast for spiritual insight and used to strengthen our relationship with God through prayer, reflection, obedience, and physical discipline..

  • Daniel refused the king’s rich food and wine, choosing instead to eat vegetables and drink water. After 10 days, he and his companions appeared healthier than those who ate the royal food (Daniel 1:8–16).

  • Daniel entered a period of mourning and refrained from “pleasant food,” meat, and wine for three weeks (Daniel 10:2–3).

Forty-Day Fasts

Always connected to major spiritual encounters, revelation, deep consecration or preparation for ministry.

  • Moses fasted for 40 days on Mount Sinai without food or water while receiving the Law (Exodus 34:28; & Deuteronomy 9:9, 18).

  • Elijah endured 40 days on the strength of the food the angel gave him (1 Kings 19:8).

  • Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness before beginning His ministry (Matthew 4:1-2; & Luke 4:2).

​

Other Fasting Patterns

  • Annual Fasts: The Day of Atonement was a yearly fast for Israel (Leviticus 16:29-31).

  • Regular Fasts: Pharisees fasted twice a week (Luke 18:12), though Jesus corrected their wrong motives.

  • Ongoing Lifestyles: Some, like Daniel, practiced fasting regularly to stay humble before God.

IMG_6830 - Edited.jpg
bottom of page