How to fast—what does the Bible say?

Response

The New Testament does not command followers of Jesus Christ to fast. In the Old Testament, the Jews were only instructed to fast on one day each year, the Day of Atonement “Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.”, (Leviticus 23:27, 29, 32). Any religious leader who mandates fasting or restricts certain foods is doing so without biblical authorization. However, Jesus occasionally fasted “And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry.”, (Matthew 4:2), and He expected His followers to also fast at times (Matthew 6:16-18; Mark 2:20). Therefore, if fasting is a practice among Christians, what is the correct way to fast? What guidance does the Bible provide on fasting?

The Bible describes various forms of fasting. This includes restricting oneself to a specific type of food (Daniel 1:8-14), abstaining from all food (Daniel 10:2-3), fasting from both food and water (Luke 4:2; Acts 9:9), and even refraining from a specific activity, such as a husband and wife avoiding intimacy for a set period (Exodus 19:15; 1 Corinthians 7:5). Considering the various forms of fasting, the approach to fasting greatly depends on the context.

It depends on what type of fasting you are doing.

Always ask God for wisdom “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”, (James 1:5) regarding how and for how long He wants you to fast. Setting a time frame appears to be the biblical approach “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”, (Esther 4:16). Additionally, fasting should have a clear purpose. Individuals in the Bible fasted and prayed because they desired something specific to occur. They either sought God to transform them, alter their circumstances, or reveal something to them. Ultimately, fasting is more about focus than food. Fasting involves shifting your focus away from worldly matters to concentrate more on godly matters. Consequently, fasting can be a means of drawing nearer to God.

A word of caution regarding fasting: individuals with medical conditions, particularly those involving dietary restrictions (such as diabetes), should consult a doctor before fasting. Remember, there is no biblical mandate that followers of Jesus Christ must fast. Therefore, it is not inappropriate to consider a medical condition when deciding how to fast.

Furthermore, it is beneficial to assess your motives for fasting. Fasting is not about manipulating God. Fasting will not compel God to do something that is contrary to His will. Fasting is about transforming yourself to align with God’s plan and to be ready to fulfill your role in His plan. When determining how to fast, it is crucially important to remember the essence of fasting—transforming yourself.

Not altering the word of God.