How Many Times Is Fasting Mentioned in the Bible: 11 Spiritual Lessons

Fasting, a practice deeply rooted in spiritual disciplines across various cultures and religions, holds profound significance throughout the Bible.

From the Old Testament to the New Testament, fasting is depicted as a solemn act of devotion, repentance, and seeking divine guidance.

This article looks into the biblical references of fasting, exploring its spiritual lessons and timeless relevance for believers today.

How Many Times Fasting Mentioned in the Bible

1. Old Testament Foundations

In the Old Testament, fasting is prominently portrayed as a means of expressing repentance, seeking God’s mercy, and intervening in dire circumstances. The prophet Joel urges the people to return to God wholeheartedly, combining fasting with weeping and mourning:

• Joel 2:12: “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”

This verse underscores the deep spiritual significance of fasting as a heartfelt expression of turning back to God in times of national or personal crisis. Similarly, Nehemiah, upon hearing distressing news about Jerusalem, responds with fasting and prayer:

• Nehemiah 1:4: “As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”

Nehemiah’s fasting exemplifies seeking divine intervention and guidance in the face of overwhelming challenges, reflecting the Old Testament emphasis on fasting as a response to urgent spiritual needs.

2. Spiritual Discipline

Fasting serves as a spiritual discipline that disciplines the body and focuses the spirit on prayer and seeking God’s will. Jesus Himself teaches on the practice of fasting in His Sermon on the Mount, highlighting the importance of sincerity and humility in fasting:

• Matthew 6:16-18: “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. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Jesus contrasts the genuine practice of fasting, done in humility and seeking God’s presence, with the hypocritical display of fasting to gain approval or recognition from others. This underscores the spiritual discipline of fasting as a private and sincere act of devotion.

3. Seeking God’s Direction

Throughout the Bible, fasting is linked with seeking God’s direction and discernment. In the book of Acts, fasting precedes significant decisions and missions in the early Church:

• Acts 13:2-3: “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.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”

This passage illustrates how fasting is coupled with prayer in seeking divine guidance and commissioning for ministry. It underscores the spiritual discipline of fasting as a catalyst for hearing God’s voice and discerning His will in critical decisions.

4. Spiritual Warfare

Fasting is depicted as a spiritual weapon in the arsenal of believers against spiritual forces of darkness and temptation. Jesus teaches His disciples about the potency of fasting when confronting spiritual challenges:

• Matthew 17:21: “But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting.”

Jesus’ statement underscores the role of fasting in spiritual warfare, highlighting that certain spiritual battles require intensified prayer and fasting to overcome. This verse emphasizes the necessity for believers to engage in disciplined fasting as a means to strengthen their spiritual resolve and dependence on God in times of spiritual warfare.

5. Humility and Dependence

Fasting cultivates humility and genuine dependence on God. The prophet Isaiah rebukes superficial fasting that lacks sincerity and fails to address social injustice, contrasting it with fasting that pleases God:

• 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?”

Isaiah’s rebuke emphasizes that true fasting involves not only abstaining from food but also actively pursuing justice, compassion, and righteousness. This passage underscores God’s desire for fasting that leads to practical actions of love and mercy, demonstrating humility and a sincere reliance on God’s transformative power to bring about societal and personal change.

6. A Call to Repentance

Fasting is often associated with a call to repentance and a turning back to God. The story of Jonah and the city of Nineveh provides a vivid illustration of fasting as a response to the proclamation of God’s judgment and a sincere turning towards Him in repentance:

• Jonah 3:5-10: “And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.”

The repentance of Nineveh, accompanied by fasting and sackcloth, led to divine mercy and forgiveness. This narrative underscores fasting as a visible expression of contrition and humility before God, signaling a genuine desire for spiritual renewal and reconciliation with Him.

7. Purification and Renewal

Fasting serves as a means of spiritual purification and renewal, preparing individuals and communities to seek God’s guidance and favor. In the Old Testament, Ezra proclaims a fast before embarking on a significant journey to Jerusalem, symbolizing their humility and reliance on God:

• Ezra 8:21-23: “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.”

Ezra’s call for fasting demonstrates the spiritual discipline of seeking God’s protection and guidance during times of transition and undertaking significant endeavors. It underscores fasting as a preparation for encountering God’s presence and aligning one’s heart with His will.

8. Expressing Grief and Sorrow

Fasting is often associated with expressions of grief, sorrow, and repentance. When King David learns of his son’s illness, he fasts and prays earnestly for God’s mercy:

• 2 Samuel 12:16-23: “David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.”

David’s fasting reflects a heartfelt plea for God’s intervention and mercy in the face of personal sorrow and anguish. It illustrates how fasting can serve as a sincere expression of humility, repentance, and dependence on God’s grace during times of emotional distress and crisis.

9. Preparation for Spiritual Encounters

Fasting prepares individuals spiritually for significant encounters with God and moments of divine revelation. In the book of Daniel, the prophet fasts for three weeks in preparation for understanding a vision:

• Daniel 10:2-3: “In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.”

Daniel’s fasting underscores the spiritual discipline of abstaining from food to focus solely on seeking God’s wisdom and understanding. His fasting posture signifies readiness and openness to receive divine communication and guidance, illustrating fasting as a means to deepen spiritual sensitivity and communion with God.

10. Cultivating Spiritual Discipline

Fasting is instrumental in cultivating spiritual discipline and self-control, as exemplified by the apostle Paul’s teachings and personal practices:

• 1 Corinthians 9:27: “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

Paul’s words emphasize the rigorous self-discipline required to live a life that honors God fully. Fasting is portrayed here as a means to restrain bodily desires and focus more completely on spiritual matters. By denying his physical appetites through fasting, Paul underscores the importance of maintaining spiritual integrity and perseverance in his ministry. This discipline of fasting serves as a reminder that spiritual growth often necessitates intentional efforts to align one’s actions with God’s will, fostering greater spiritual maturity and reliance on God’s strength.

11. A Time of Seeking God’s Face

Ultimately, fasting in the Bible is about seeking God’s face, aligning one’s heart with His will, and experiencing His presence more deeply and intimately:

• Psalm 27:8: “You have said, ‘Seek my face.’ My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek.'”

This verse from Psalm 27 encapsulates the essence of fasting as a spiritual practice. It reflects a profound desire to draw near to God, seek His guidance, and to cultivate a relationship characterized by intimacy and communion. Fasting serves as a deliberate act of devotion and surrender, where believers set aside physical comforts to prioritize spiritual communion with God. It underscores the importance of seeking God wholeheartedly, acknowledging His sovereignty, and trusting in His faithfulness. Through fasting, individuals express their earnest longing for God’s presence and guidance, demonstrating their faith and dependence on Him alone.

Conclusion

The Bible portrays fasting as a solemn and revered practice undertaken by individuals seeking spiritual closeness with God.

Its numerous mentions across the Old and New Testaments illustrate its enduring relevance and varied interpretations throughout history.

Understanding these references not only enriches our knowledge of biblical teachings but also highlights the enduring spiritual values associated with fasting in Christian traditions.