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Is Fasting for Today?

By November 9, 2022No Comments

Q. Every now and then I see a leader of some Christian organization urge people to fast as well as pray for our country and/or other issues. I know fasting was done in Bible times, but is it truly for our day?

A. Fasting in the Greek (nesteuo) simply means going without food for a certain period of time. Many people go without food, though it’s not their choice. Others do it to try to reduce their weight or to improve their general health or memory. Religiously, even cults have been known to advocate fasting. But we are considering the practice of fasting among Bible-believing Christians for spiritual reasons.

Going without food may not in itself accomplish much. In fact, we are not to look down on eating when it is kept in its proper perspective (1 Cor. 10:31; 1 Tim. 4:3). What matters is that a believer is willing to do what is necessary in order to spend time concentrating on the Scriptures and prayer, getting alone with God. If this means using the time for these disciplines that would otherwise be used for preparing food and eating, that is certainly noble. True fasting involves putting God first and laying aside any “weight” that hinders the believer from a close walk with Him (Heb. 12:1).

Many professing believers seem to approach fasting as a way to bargain with God. If they will just go without food long enough, then perhaps God will be impressed, be good to them, and give them what they want. Or perhaps they are looking for some mystical experience for themselves. These attitudes are unscriptural. We are not to seek some experience from fasting; instead, we are to long so much for God that we want His power and presence in our lives. We should be so eager to have a closer walk with Him through the ministry of the Word and the Holy Spirit that we give ourselves to prayer, Bible reading, and worship rather than even take precious time to eat.

We must be careful to avoid extremes concerning fasting. Some people ignore the issue of fasting, just as some overlook the important doctrine of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8), while others overemphasize fasting, just as some give the Holy Spirit undue attention (John 16:13–14). The Holy Spirit does not glorify Himself but rather Jesus. Often people who overemphasize fasting don’t mind telling you that they fast and that you should too, and they might go to great length describing fasting’s benefits.

In studying the Bible on the subject of fasting, we see it and prayer going hand in hand; fasting without prayer is meaningless. Jesus told His disciples that certain things come about by prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). In the New Testament church the believers prayed when they fasted. Acts 14:23 reads, “So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” The Bible nowhere demands that we fast. But prayer and fasting can help us win spiritual victories over burdens, temptations, and otherwise insurmountable obstacles.

The Bible, especially Matthew 6, reveals important truths from the Savior about motives and attitudes. In Matthew 6:18, the Lord emphasized secrecy in fasting. We are not to broadcast the fact that we are fasting. Humility is important too. The Pharisees fasted, and the Lord Jesus used them to point out their phoniness. They were fasting to impress others, not because they loved God. Jesus condemned them, not for their fasting, but for their motives.

When we view fasting properly, we also keep in mind that we must never make the physical body supreme. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:27, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” Through the discipline of fasting, we acknowledge that the spiritual in our lives must take precedence over the body. Too many of us are dominated by the physical rather than the spiritual.

As we look at the many Biblical characters in the Word, we see that many of them fasted: Moses, Joshua, David, Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, Anna, the apostles, Paul, Barnabas, and others. Even the Lord Jesus fasted. Through the centuries, stalwart believers also fasted, people such as Jonathan Edwards, David Brainerd, J. Hudson Taylor, and George Mueller. We are in good company if we fast.

One word should be said about the medical aspects of fasting. Be sure fasting is safe for you, especially if you are elderly, a teen, on medications, or have physical problems such as diabetes. Consult your doctor if necessary. Children should never fast. If you do fast, stay hydrated by drinking water. Fast only with caution and after seeking advice.

This article appeared in the “Q & A” column of the Baptist Bulletin (July/August 2017) by Norman A. Olson.