New Year, New Discipline … Fasting!

Fasting is the most puzzling of all disciplines for Christians. In today’s world, it is seen primarily as a means to lose weight. The latest buzz about intermittent fasting has definitely piqued the interests of people all over the world. However, for a Christian, fasting, like praying, should be a discipline for sanctification and godliness.

Fasting in the Bible

Fasting is one of the oldest practices in the Bible. Most often, it was a means to humble oneself before the Lord.

There are numerous instances of people fasting including Samuel (1 Sam 7:6), David (2 Sam 12:16), Jehoshaphat (2 Chron 20:3), Nehemiah (Neh 1:4), Esther (Esther 4:16), Daniel (Dan 9:3), the people of Nineveh (Jonah 3:5-8) and many others. However, there is no greater example than Jesus, when He spent 40 days and 40 nights fasting in the wilderness (Matt 4:2). His disciples also fasted after Jesus’ ascension (Acts 13:2-3, 14:23).

If the Bible has so many examples of people fasting, then why are Christians so confused about it and, sometimes, even averse to this discipline? How many of us know fellow-Christians who fast regularly? How often is there a sermon in our churches about the need to fast and the ways to fast? Unless you are doing it to lose weight, it seems like a ridiculous idea to deny oneself food in today’s world when instant gratification and self-indulgence is the norm. However, fasting is one of the things that Jesus expects us to do as His followers for our growth and sanctification.

Jesus Expects we will Fast

Christians will agree that they are expected – in fact, required – to pray regularly and also give regularly. We know this because Jesus Himself said so. Matthew 6 is a favorite passage for everyone when it comes to these disciplines. Jesus teaches us about how to pray and how to give by contrasting what the hypocrites do with what the Father truly desires. He first addresses the practice of giving, and in verses 2 & 3, He said, “when you give to the poor.” He didn’t say “if you give to the poor.” That is, Jesus assumed that His followers would give to the poor. And when they do, they were expected to give in the way Jesus taught them. Similarly, when it comes to praying, Jesus spoke about it similarly in verses 5-7 - “when you pray,” and not, “if you pray.” Again, Jesus expected His followers to pray and, in fact, He gave us “The Lord’s Prayer” to help us pray.

In the same chapter, in verses 16 & 17, Jesus said, “when you fast.” He said it in the same way as He did about giving and praying. Jesus is teaching us how to fast unlike the hypocrites. Similar to His teaching about giving and praying, Jesus expects that we will fast; and that we will fast as the Father desires. We cannot choose to ignore Jesus’ teaching on fasting when we accept His teaching on giving and praying.

Another clear passage where Jesus expects His followers to fast is found in Matt 9:14-15. At Matthew’s house, when the disciples of John (the Baptist) asked Jesus why His disciples did not fast, He said that as long as the Bridegroom (Jesus) is with them, there is no need to fast. However, when the Bridegroom is taken from them, then they will fast. The Bridegroom was taken away from us in His ascension. He is now seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. And, now is the time for His followers to fast, as He said they will.

But, how exactly do we fast? What are things we should do, or not do?

How do we Fast?

Before we discuss how to fast, let us look at what fasting is. Fasting is typically understood as abstinence from a particular desire or need. We may give up different things including food, TV, social media, etc. While these may be helpful and even legitimate abstinences, the Bible considers fasting primarily with respect to food. It is a believer's voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes. It is voluntary and for spiritual purposes.

First of all, fasting should have a purpose. Without a purpose, it becomes an exercise in testing one’s will-power. It will be something one simply endures. Without a purpose, fasting can be compared to running a race without a finish line.

Secondly, fasting without a spiritual purpose does not produce godliness. The hunger we feel during our fast should remind us of our purpose in fasting, and consequently, push us to seek God.

We can see many purposes of fasting in the Bible. However, none of them are to earn God’s favor. There is nothing we can do to manipulate God. Our works are filthy rags before Him (Is 64:6). Jesus is the only one who lived a perfect life and paid the debt we owed for our sins. In Him alone, we are found acceptable before God (Learn more here). His righteousness is our righteousness. We fast for various reasons but not to earn our way into God’s grace.

Fasting can be practiced for the following reasons. (Detailed explanations of these can be found in Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life)

To strengthen prayer (Ezra 8:23, Dan 9:3, Acts 13:3) – it does not twist God’s arm but it intensifies our desire.
To seek God’s guidance (Judges 20:26, Acts 14:23) – it helps us to be more receptive.
To express grief (1 Sam 20:34, 2 Sam 1:11-12).
To seek deliverance or protection from God (2 Chron 20:3-4, Esther 4:16) – what would it look like if we first fasted in light of imminent adversity?
To express repentance and return to God (1 Sam 7:6, Joel 2:12, Jonah 3:5-8).
To humble oneself before God (1 Kings 21:27-29, Ps 35:13) – just as kneeling or prostrating in prayer.
To express concern for the work of God (Neh 1:3-4, Is 58:6-7, Dan 9:3).
To minister to the needs of others (Is 58:6-7) – share your food with someone who cannot afford it.
To overcome temptation and dedicate oneself to God (Matt 4:1-11) – fasting can teach us to fight the desires of our flesh.
To express love and worship to God (Luke 2:37) – Anna expressed her love for God through fastings and prayer. John Piper said: “what we hunger for most, we worship.”

How often should we Fast?

The Bible does not give us instructions on how often we should fast. However, as explained above, God expects us to fast on a regular basis. It is up to the individual to discern how often he/she should fast.

Note: Please seek medical advice before fasting to ensure no adverse effects.

How long should we Fast?

The Bible does not give us instructions on how long we should fast either. However, as noted above, there are many examples of fasts in the Bible. People have fasted for one day or part of a day, three days, seven days, fourteen days, twenty one days, forty days and unspecified duration. Again, it is up to the individual to discern how long he/she should fast.

A common practice is to fast one day once a month and to dedicate that time for a spiritual purpose.

We should Fast!

We need endurance to run the race that is set before us and we cannot do it if we are easily entangled with the things of this world (Heb 12:1-2). We have to deny the natural desires of our flesh so we can set our eyes on spiritual things. Fasting is a discipline that God has given to help us achieve this.

As we begin the new year, let us include fasting as a regular spiritual discipline in order to seek the things that are above rather than things on the earth (Col 3:2).

Further Reading

Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

John Piper, A Hunger for God