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VERSES ABOUT FASTING
Fasting helps me grow closer to God and strengthens my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I try not to see it as something I do for my own benefit, but as a way to improve my walk with God. It's a voluntary choice, a time when I set aside the physical need for food to nourish my spirit. It's a special time to seek God's presence, which is why I find it helpful to fast in a quiet place where I can talk with Him alone.
The Bible talks about this too. Daniel 9:31 says, "So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes." It's really inspiring to see how people in the Bible sought God through fasting.
When you go without eating, don't try to look gloomy as those show-offs do when they go without eating. I can assure you that they already have their reward.Instead, comb your hair and wash your face.Then others won't know you are going without eating. But your Father sees what is done in private, and he will reward you.
I'll tell you what it really means to worship the Lord. Remove the chains of prisoners who are bound unjustly. Free those who are abused!Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don't turn away your relatives.
The Lord said: It isn't too late. You can still return to me with all your heart. Start crying and mourning! Go without eating.Don't rip your clothes to show your sorrow. Instead, turn back to me with broken hearts. I am merciful, kind, and caring. I don't easily lose my temper, and I don't like to punish.
Then, to show my sorrow, I went without eating and dressed in sackcloth and sat in ashes. I confessed my sins and earnestly prayed to the Lord my God: Our Lord, you are a great and fearsome God, and you faithfully keep your agreement with those who love and obey you.
While they were worshiping the Lord and going without eating, the Holy Spirit told them, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have chosen them.”All this happened in about 450 years. Then God gave our people judges until the time of the prophet Samuel,but the people demanded a king. So for 40 years God gave them King Saul, the son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin.Later, God removed Saul and let David rule in his place. God said about him, “David the son of Jesse is the kind of person who pleases me most! He does everything I want him to do.” God promised that someone from David's family would come to save the people of Israel, and this one is Jesus.But before Jesus came, John was telling everyone in Israel to turn back to God and be baptized.Then, when John's work was almost done, he said, “Who do you people think I am? Do you think I am the Promised One? He will come later, and I am not good enough to untie his sandals.” Now listen, you descendants of Abraham! Pay attention, all of you Gentiles who are here to worship God! Listen to this message about how to be saved, because it is for everyone.The people of Jerusalem and their leaders didn't realize who Jesus was. And they didn't understand the words of the prophets they read each Sabbath. So they condemned Jesus just as the prophets had said.They did exactly what the Scriptures said they would. Even though they couldn't find any reason to put Jesus to death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed. After Jesus had been put to death, he was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb.Everyone prayed and went without eating for a while longer. Next, they placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul to show that they had been appointed to do this work. Then everyone sent them on their way.
Beside the Ahava River, I asked the people to go without eating and to pray. We humbled ourselves and asked God to bring us and our children safely to Jerusalem with all of our possessions.I was ashamed to ask the king to send soldiers and cavalry to protect us against enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king that our God takes care of everyone who truly worships him, but that he gets very angry and punishes anyone who refuses to obey.So we went without food and asked God himself to protect us, and he answered our prayers.
Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he asked the Lord what to do. He then told the people of Judah to go without eating to show their sorrow.to invade Judah. The Lord let Jehoshaphat's kingdom be at peace.Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled from Jerusalem for 25 years. His mother was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.Jehoshaphat obeyed the Lord, just as his father Asa had done,but he did not destroy the local shrines. So the people still worshiped foreign gods, instead of faithfully serving the God their ancestors had worshiped. Everything else Jehoshaphat did while he was king is written in the records of Jehu son of Hanani that are included in The History of the Kings of Israel.While Jehoshaphat was king, he signed a peace treaty with Ahaziah the wicked king of Israel.They agreed to build several seagoing ships at Ezion-Geber.But the prophet Eliezer warned Jehoshaphat, “The Lord will destroy these ships because you have supported Ahaziah.” The ships were wrecked and never sailed.They immediately left for Jerusalem to ask for the Lord's help.
When I heard this, I sat down on the ground and cried. Then for several days, I mourned; I went without eating to show my sorrow, and I prayed:
When Jesus returned from the Jordan River, the power of the Holy Spirit was with him, and the Spirit led him into the desert.The Scriptures say: ‘God will tell his angels to take care of you. They will catch you in their arms, and you will not even hurt your feet on the stones.’ ”Jesus answered, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Don't try to test the Lord your God!’ ” After the devil had finished testing Jesus in every way possible, he left him for a while.Jesus returned to Galilee with the power of the Spirit. News about him spread everywhere.He taught in the Jewish synagogues, and everyone praised him.Jesus went back to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and as usual he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath. When he stood up to read from the Scriptures,he was given the book of Isaiah the prophet. He opened it and read,“The Lord's Spirit has come to me, because he has chosen me to tell the good news to the poor. The Lord has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners, to give sight to the blind, to free everyone who suffers,and to say, ‘This is the year the Lord has chosen.’ ”For 40 days Jesus was tested by the devil, and during that time he went without eating. When it was all over, he was hungry.
Moses stayed on the mountain with the Lord for 40 days and nights, without eating or drinking. And he wrote down the Ten Commandments, the most important part of God's agreement with his people.
Paul and Barnabas chose some leaders for each of the churches. Then they went without eating and prayed that the Lord would take good care of these leaders who had trusted in the Lord.
When they were sick, I wore sackcloth and went without food. I truly prayed for them, as I would for a friend or a relative. I was in sorrow and mourned, as I would for my mother.
Some followers of John the Baptist came and asked Jesus, “Why do we and the Pharisees often go without eating, while your disciples never do?” Jesus answered: The friends of a bridegroom aren't sad while he is still with them. But the time will come when he will be taken from them. Then they will go without eating.
Daniel wrote: For three weeks I was in sorrow.Then the angel said: Now do you understand why I have come? Soon I must leave to fight against the guardian angel of Persia. Then after I have defeated him, the guardian angel of Greece will attack me.I will tell you what is written in The Book of Truth. But first, you must realize that no one except Michael, the guardian angel of Israel, is on my side.I ate no fancy food or meat, I drank no wine, and I put no olive oil on my face or hair.
You wonder why the Lord pays no attention when you go without eating and act humble. But on those same days that you give up eating, you think only of yourselves and abuse your workers.You even get angry and ready to fight. No wonder God won't listen to your prayers!Do you think the Lord wants you to give up eating and to act as humble as a bent-over bush? Or to dress in sackcloth and sit in ashes? Is this really what he wants on a day of worship?
On the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month, the people of Israel went without eating, and they dressed in sackcloth and threw dirt on their heads to show their sorrow.You knew that the King of Egypt and his officials and his nation had mistreated your people. So you worked fearsome miracles against the Egyptians and earned a reputation that still remains.You divided the deep sea, and your people walked through on dry land. But you tossed their enemies in, and they sank down like a heavy stone.Each day you led your people with a thick cloud, and at night you showed the way with a flaming fire.At Sinai you came down from heaven, and you gave your people good laws and teachings that are fair and honest.You commanded them to respect your holy Sabbath, and you instructed your servant Moses to teach them your laws.When they were hungry, you sent bread from heaven, and when they were thirsty, you let water flow from a rock. Then you commanded them to capture the land that you had solemnly promised. *Our stubborn ancestors refused to obey— they forgot about the miracles you had worked for them, and they were determined to return to Egypt and become slaves again.But, our God, you are merciful and quick to forgive; you are loving, kind, and very patient. So you never turned away from them—not even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and insulted you by claiming, “This is the god who rescued us from Egypt.”Because of your great mercy, you never abandoned them in the desert. And you always guided them with a cloud by day and a fire at night.They refused to let foreigners join them, as they met to confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors.
The Israelites met together at Mizpah with Samuel as their leader. They drew water from the well and poured it out as an offering to the Lord. On that same day they went without eating to show their sorrow, and they confessed they had been unfaithful to the Lord.
So don't refuse sex to each other, unless you agree not to have sex for a little while, in order to spend time in prayer. Then Satan won't be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
So David went without eating to show his sorrow, and he begged God to make the boy well. David would not sleep on his bed, but spent each night lying on the floor.
“Bring together all the Jews in Susa and tell them to go without eating for my sake! Don't eat or drink for three days and nights. My servant girls and I will do the same. Then I will go in to see the king, even if it means I must die.”
Tell the leaders and people to come together at the temple. Order them to go without eating and to pray sincerely.
The people of Israel went to the place of worship at Bethel, where the sacred chest was being kept. They sat on the ground, crying and not eating for the rest of the day. Then about sunset, they offered sacrifices to please the Lord and to ask his blessing. Phinehas the priest then prayed, “Our Lord, the people of Benjamin are our relatives. Should we stop fighting or attack them again?” “Attack!” the Lord answered. “Tomorrow I will let you defeat them.”
So Elijah sat up and ate and drank. The food and water made him strong enough to walk 40 more days. At last, he reached Mount Sinai, the mountain of God,
Cornelius answered: Four days ago at about three o'clock in the afternoon I was praying at home. Suddenly a man in bright clothes stood in front of me.He said, “Cornelius, God has heard your prayers, and he knows about your gifts to the poor.
All night long the king could not sleep. He did not eat anything, and he would not let anyone come in to entertain him.
They believed God's message and set a time when they would go without eating to show their sorrow. Then everyone in the city, no matter who they were, dressed in sackcloth.
Then others won't know you are going without eating. But your Father sees what is done in private, and he will reward you.
They may even go without eating and offer sacrifices to please me and to give thanks. But when they cry out for my help, I won't listen, and I won't accept their sacrifices. Instead, I'll send war, starvation, and disease to wipe them out.”
People of Judah, I, the Lord, demand that whenever you go without food as a way of worshiping me, it should become a time of celebration. No matter if it's the fourth month, the fifth month, the seventh month, or the tenth month, you should have a joyful festival. So love truth and live at peace.
Sound the trumpet on Zion! Call the people together. Show your sorrow by going without food.Make sure that everyone is fit to worship me. Bring adults, children, babies, and even bring newlyweds from their festivities.
I keep my body under control and make it my slave, so I won't lose out after telling the good news to others.
When I heard this, I sat down on the ground and cried. Then for several days, I mourned; I went without eating to show my sorrow, and I prayed:Lord God of heaven, you are great and fearsome. And you faithfully keep your promises to everyone who loves you and obeys your commands.I am your servant, so please have mercy on me and answer the prayer that I make day and night for these people of Israel who serve you. I, my family, and the rest of your people have sinned
especially when the family went to the house of the Lord each year. One day, Elkanah was there offering a sacrifice, when Hannah began crying and refused to eat.So Elkanah asked, “Hannah, why are you crying? Why won't you eat? Why do you feel so bad? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?”
While they were worshiping the Lord and going without eating, the Holy Spirit told them, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have chosen them.”
And now she was 84 years old. Night and day she served God in the temple by praying and often going without eating.
I was still confessing my sins and those of all Israel to the Lord my God, and I was praying for the good of his holy mountain,when Gabriel suddenly came flying in at the time of the evening sacrifice. This was the same Gabriel I had seen in my vision,and he explained: Daniel, I am here to help you understand the vision.God thinks highly of you, and at the very moment you started praying, I was sent to give you the answer.
They cried all day long and would not eat anything. Everyone was sad because Saul, his son Jonathan, and many of the Lord's people had been killed in the battle.
The people of Israel went to the place of worship at Bethel, where the sacred chest was being kept. They sat on the ground, crying and not eating for the rest of the day. Then about sunset, they offered sacrifices to please the Lord and to ask his blessing. Phinehas the priest then prayed, “Our Lord, the people of Benjamin are our relatives. Should we stop fighting or attack them again?” “Attack!” the Lord answered. “Tomorrow I will let you defeat them.”
Tell the leaders and people to come together at the temple. Order them to go without eating and to pray sincerely.We are in for trouble! Soon the Lord All-Powerful will bring disaster.
You and your descendants must always remember to celebrate Purim at the time and in the way that we have said. You must also follow the instructions that we have given you about mourning and going without eating.
Shout the message! Don't hold back. Say to my people Israel: You've sinned! You've turned against the Lord.Give your food to the hungry and care for the homeless. Then your light will shine in the dark; your darkest hour will be like the noonday sun.The Lord will always guide you and provide good things to eat when you are in the desert. He will make you healthy. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water or like a stream that never runs dry.You will rebuild those houses left in ruins for years; you will be known as a builder and repairer of city walls and streets.But first, you must start respecting the Sabbath as a joyful day of worship. You must stop doing and saying whatever you please on this special day.Then you will truly enjoy knowing the Lord. He will let you rule from the highest mountains and bless you with the land of your ancestor Jacob. The Lord has spoken!Day after day, you worship him and seem eager to learn his teachings. You act like a nation that wants to do right by obeying his laws. You ask him about justice, and say you enjoy worshiping the Lord.You wonder why the Lord pays no attention when you go without eating and act humble. But on those same days that you give up eating, you think only of yourselves and abuse your workers.You even get angry and ready to fight. No wonder God won't listen to your prayers!Do you think the Lord wants you to give up eating and to act as humble as a bent-over bush? Or to dress in sackcloth and sit in ashes? Is this really what he wants on a day of worship?I'll tell you what it really means to worship the Lord. Remove the chains of prisoners who are bound unjustly. Free those who are abused!Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don't turn away your relatives.Then your light will shine like the dawning sun, and you will quickly be healed. Your honesty will protect you as you advance, and the glory of the Lord will defend you from behind.When you beg the Lord for help, he will answer, “Here I am!” Don't mistreat others or falsely accuse them or say something cruel.
The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, so that the devil could test him.Jesus answered, “Go away Satan! The Scriptures say: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ”Then the devil left Jesus, and angels came to help him.When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went to Galilee.But instead of staying in Nazareth, Jesus moved to Capernaum. This town was beside Lake Galilee in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali.So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said,“Listen, lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, lands along the road to the sea and across the Jordan. Listen Galilee, land of the Gentiles!Although your people live in darkness, they will see a bright light. Although they live in the shadow of death, a light will shine on them.”Then Jesus started preaching, “Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here.” While Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. One was Simon, also known as Peter, and the other was Andrew. They were fishermen, and they were casting their net into the lake.Jesus said to them, “Follow me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.”After Jesus had gone without eating for 40 days and nights, he was very hungry.Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him.At once they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus.Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news about God's kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness.News about him spread all over Syria, and people with every kind of sickness or disease were brought to him. Some of them had a lot of demons in them, others were thought to be crazy, and still others could not walk. But Jesus healed them all. Large crowds followed Jesus from Galilee and the region around the ten cities known as Decapolis. They also came from Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan River.Then the devil came to him and said, “If you are God's Son, tell these stones to turn into bread.”Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say: ‘No one can live only on food. People need every word that God has spoken.’ ”
If my own people will humbly pray and turn back to me and stop sinning, then I will answer them from heaven. I will forgive them and make their land fertile once again.
Just before daylight Paul begged the people to eat something. He told them, “For 14 days you have been so worried that you haven't eaten a thing.I beg you to eat something. Your lives depend on it. Do this and not one of you will be hurt.”
All night long the king could not sleep. He did not eat anything, and he would not let anyone come in to entertain him.At daybreak the king got up and ran to the pit.In order to make sure that his government was run properly, Darius put three other officials in charge of the governors. One of these officials was Daniel.He was anxious and shouted, “Daniel, you were faithful and served your God. Was he able to save you from the lions?”
Jesus answered: The friends of a bridegroom aren't sad while he is still with them. But the time will come when he will be taken from them. Then they will go without eating.
Sound the trumpet on Zion! Call the people together. Show your sorrow by going without food.
When the king of Nineveh heard what was happening, he also dressed in sackcloth; he left the royal palace and sat in dust.Then he and his officials sent out an order for everyone in the city to obey. It said: None of you or your animals may eat or drink a thing. Each of you must wear sackcloth, and you must even put sackcloth on your animals. You must also pray to the Lord God with all your heart and stop being sinful and cruel. Maybe God will change his mind and have mercy on us, so we won't be destroyed.
Then Ezra left God's temple and went to spend the night in the living quarters of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. He felt sorry because of what the people had done, and he did not eat or drink a thing.
They buried the bones under a small tree in Jabesh, and for seven days, they went without eating to show their sorrow.
On the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month, the people of Israel went without eating, and they dressed in sackcloth and threw dirt on their heads to show their sorrow.You knew that the King of Egypt and his officials and his nation had mistreated your people. So you worked fearsome miracles against the Egyptians and earned a reputation that still remains.You divided the deep sea, and your people walked through on dry land. But you tossed their enemies in, and they sank down like a heavy stone.Each day you led your people with a thick cloud, and at night you showed the way with a flaming fire.At Sinai you came down from heaven, and you gave your people good laws and teachings that are fair and honest.You commanded them to respect your holy Sabbath, and you instructed your servant Moses to teach them your laws.When they were hungry, you sent bread from heaven, and when they were thirsty, you let water flow from a rock. Then you commanded them to capture the land that you had solemnly promised. *Our stubborn ancestors refused to obey— they forgot about the miracles you had worked for them, and they were determined to return to Egypt and become slaves again.But, our God, you are merciful and quick to forgive; you are loving, kind, and very patient. So you never turned away from them—not even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and insulted you by claiming, “This is the god who rescued us from Egypt.”Because of your great mercy, you never abandoned them in the desert. And you always guided them with a cloud by day and a fire at night.They refused to let foreigners join them, as they met to confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors.Your gentle Spirit instructed them, and you gave them manna to eat and water to drink.You took good care of them, and for forty years they never lacked a thing. Their clothes didn't wear out, and their feet were never swollen.You let them conquer kings and take their land, including King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan. You brought them into the land that you had promised their ancestors, and you blessed their nation with people that outnumbered the stars in the sky.Then their descendants conquered the land. You helped them defeat the kings and nations and treat their enemies however they wished.They captured strong cities and rich farmland; they took furnished houses, as well as cisterns, vineyards, olive orchards, and numerous fruit trees. They ate till they were satisfied, and they celebrated your abundant blessings.In spite of this, they rebelled and disobeyed your laws. They killed your prophets, who warned them to turn back to you, and they cursed your name.So you handed them over to their enemies, who treated them terribly. But in their sufferings, they begged you to help. From heaven you listened to their prayers and because of your great mercy, you sent leaders to rescue them.But when they were at peace, they would turn against you, and you would hand them over to their enemies. Then they would beg for help, and because you are merciful, you rescued them over and over again.You warned them to turn back and discover true life by obeying your laws. But they stubbornly refused and continued to sin.For three hours they stood and listened to the Law of the Lord their God, and then for the next three hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord.
I have worked and struggled and spent many sleepless nights. I have gone hungry and thirsty and often had nothing to eat. I have been cold from not having enough clothes to keep me warm.
It happened during those 40 days and nights that I was on the mountain, without anything to eat or drink. He had told me to come up there so he could give me the agreement he made with us. And this agreement was actually the same Ten Commandments he had announced to you when he spoke from the fire on the mountain. The Lord had written them on two flat stones with his own hand. But after giving me the two stones,
The people of Israel went to the place of worship at Bethel, where the sacred chest was being kept. They sat on the ground, crying and not eating for the rest of the day. Then about sunset, they offered sacrifices to please the Lord and to ask his blessing. Phinehas the priest then prayed, “Our Lord, the people of Benjamin are our relatives. Should we stop fighting or attack them again?” “Attack!” the Lord answered. “Tomorrow I will let you defeat them.”
When you go without eating, don't try to look gloomy as those show-offs do when they go without eating. I can assure you that they already have their reward.
Be true to your name, Lord God! Show your great kindness and rescue me.I am poor and helpless, and I have lost all hope.I am fading away like an evening shadow; I am tossed aside like a crawling insect.I have gone without eating, until my knees are weak, and my body is bony.
Beside the Ahava River, I asked the people to go without eating and to pray. We humbled ourselves and asked God to bring us and our children safely to Jerusalem with all of our possessions.
They told the people that it was a day to go without eating, and when they all came together, they seated Naboth at the front.
Some followers of John the Baptist came and asked Jesus, “Why do we and the Pharisees often go without eating, while your disciples never do?” Jesus answered: The friends of a bridegroom aren't sad while he is still with them. But the time will come when he will be taken from them. Then they will go without eating.No one uses a new piece of cloth to patch old clothes. The patch would shrink and tear a bigger hole.No one pours new wine into old wineskins. The wine would swell and burst the old skins. Then the wine would be lost, and the skins would be ruined. New wine must be put into new wineskins. Both the skins and the wine will then be safe.
In every province where the king's orders were read, the Jews cried and mourned, and they went without eating. Many of them even put on sackcloth and sat in ashes.
Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he asked the Lord what to do. He then told the people of Judah to go without eating to show their sorrow.
The Israelites met together at Mizpah with Samuel as their leader. They drew water from the well and poured it out as an offering to the Lord. On that same day they went without eating to show their sorrow, and they confessed they had been unfaithful to the Lord.When the Philistine rulers found out about the meeting at Mizpah, they sent an army there to attack the people of Israel. The Israelites were afraid when they heard that the Philistines were coming.“Don't stop praying!” they told Samuel. “Ask the Lord our God to rescue us.”
At the time of the evening sacrifice, I was still sitting there in sorrow with my clothes all torn. So I got down on my knees, then lifted my arms,
Cornelius answered: Four days ago at about three o'clock in the afternoon I was praying at home. Suddenly a man in bright clothes stood in front of me.
“No, I wouldn't go with you, even if you offered me half of your kingdom. I won't eat or drink here either.The Lord said I can't eat or drink anything and that I can't go home the same way I came.”
Daniel, don't be afraid! God has listened to your prayers since the first day you humbly asked for understanding, and he has sent me here.But the guardian angel of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael, who is one of the strongest guardian angels, came to rescue me from the kings of Persia.
As a deer gets thirsty for streams of water, I truly am thirsty for you, my God.Even my bones are in pain, while all day long my enemies sneer and ask, “Where is your God?”Why am I discouraged? Why am I restless? I trust you, Lord! And I will praise you again because you help me, and you are my God.In my heart, I am thirsty for you, the living God. When will I see your face?
I brought everyone together by the river that flows to the town of Ahava where we camped for three days. Not one Levite could be found among the people and priests.So I sent for the leaders Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam. I also sent for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were very wise counselors.Then I sent them to Iddo, the leader at Casiphia, and I told them to ask him and his temple workers to send people to serve in God's temple. God was kind to us and caused them to send a skillful man named Sherebiah, who was a Levite from the family of Mahli. Eighteen of his relatives came with him.We were also sent Hashabiah and Jeshaiah from the family of Merari along with 20 of their relatives.Gershom of the Phinehas family; Daniel of the Ithamar family; Hattush son of Shecaniah of the David family; Zechariah and 150 other men of the Parosh family, who had family records; Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah with 200 men of the Pahath Moab family; Shecaniah son of Jahaziel with 300 men of the Zattu family; Ebed son of Jonathan with 50 men of the Adin family; Jeshaiah son of Athaliah with 70 men of the Elam family; Zebadiah son of Michael with 80 men of the Shephatiah family; Obadiah son of Jehiel with 218 men of the Joab family; Shelomith son of Josiphiah with 160 men of the Bani family; Zechariah son of Bebai with 28 men of the Bebai family; Johanan son of Hakkatan with 110 men of the Azgad family; Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah who returned sometime later with 60 men of the Adonikam family; Uthai and Zaccur with 70 men of the Bigvai family.In addition, 220 others came to help the Levites in the temple. The ancestors of these workers had been chosen years ago by King David and his officials, and they were all listed by name. Beside the Ahava River, I asked the people to go without eating and to pray. We humbled ourselves and asked God to bring us and our children safely to Jerusalem with all of our possessions.I was ashamed to ask the king to send soldiers and cavalry to protect us against enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king that our God takes care of everyone who truly worships him, but that he gets very angry and punishes anyone who refuses to obey.So we went without food and asked God himself to protect us, and he answered our prayers.
The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, so that the devil could test him.Jesus answered, “Go away Satan! The Scriptures say: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ”Then the devil left Jesus, and angels came to help him.
Some people said to Jesus, “John's followers often pray and go without eating, and so do the followers of the Pharisees. But your disciples never go without eating or drinking.” Jesus told them, “The friends of a bridegroom don't go without eating while he is still with them.But the time will come when he will be taken from them. Then they will go without eating.”
Daniel wrote: Some years later, Darius the Mede, who was the son of Xerxes, had become king of Babylonia. And during his first year as king, I found out from studying the writings of the prophets that the Lord had said to Jeremiah, “Jerusalem will lie in ruins for 70 years.”and rejected your teachings that came to us from your servants the prophets.Everyone in Israel has stubbornly refused to obey your laws, and so those curses written by your servant Moses have fallen upon us.You warned us and our leaders that Jerusalem would suffer the worst disaster in human history, and you did exactly as you had threatened.We have not escaped any of the terrible curses written by Moses, and yet we have refused to beg you for mercy and to remind ourselves of how faithful you have always been.And when you finally punished us with this horrible disaster, that was also the right thing to do, because we deserved it so much.Our Lord God, with your own mighty arm you rescued us from Egypt and made yourself famous to this very day, but we have sinned terribly.In the past, you treated us with such kindness, that we now beg you to stop being so terribly angry with Jerusalem. After all, it is your chosen city built on your holy mountain, even though it has suffered public disgrace because of our sins and those of our ancestors.I am your servant, Lord God, and I beg you to answer my prayers and bring honor to yourself by having pity on your temple that lies in ruins.Please show mercy to your chosen city, not because we deserve it, but because of your great kindness.Forgive us! Hurry and do something, not only for your city and your chosen people, but to bring honor to yourself.I was still confessing my sins and those of all Israel to the Lord my God, and I was praying for the good of his holy mountain,when Gabriel suddenly came flying in at the time of the evening sacrifice. This was the same Gabriel I had seen in my vision,and he explained: Daniel, I am here to help you understand the vision.God thinks highly of you, and at the very moment you started praying, I was sent to give you the answer.God has decided that for 70 weeks, your people and your holy city must suffer as the price of their sins. Then evil will disappear, and justice will rule forever; the visions and words of the prophets will come true, and a most holy place will be dedicated. You need to realize that from the command to rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the Chosen Leader, it will be 7 weeks and another 62 weeks. Streets will be built in Jerusalem, and a trench will be dug around the city for protection, but these will be difficult times.At the end of the 62 weeks, the Chosen Leader will be killed and left with nothing. A foreign ruler and his army will sweep down like a mighty flood, leaving both the city and the temple in ruins, and war and destruction will continue until the end, just as God has decided.For one week this foreigner will make a firm agreement with many people, and halfway through this week, he will end all sacrifices and offerings. Then the “Horrible Thing” that causes destruction will be put there. And it will stay there until the time God has decided to destroy this one who destroys.Then, to show my sorrow, I went without eating and dressed in sackcloth and sat in ashes. I confessed my sins and earnestly prayed to the Lord my God: Our Lord, you are a great and fearsome God, and you faithfully keep your agreement with those who love and obey you.
Then Nathan went back home. The Lord made David's young son very sick.So David went without eating to show his sorrow, and he begged God to make the boy well. David would not sleep on his bed, but spent each night lying on the floor.His officials stood beside him and tried to talk him into getting up. But he would not get up or eat with them.After the child had been sick for seven days, he died, but the officials were afraid to tell David. They said to each other, “Even when the boy was alive, David wouldn't listen to us. How can we tell him his son is dead? He might do something terrible!”David noticed his servants whispering, and he knew the boy was dead. “Did my son die?” he asked his servants. “Yes, he did,” they answered.The rich man owned a lot of sheep and cattle,David got up off the floor; he took a bath, combed his hair, and dressed. He went into the Lord's tent and worshiped, then he went back home. David asked for something to eat, and when his servants brought him some food, he ate it.His officials said, “What are you doing? You went without eating and cried for your son while he was alive! But now that he's dead, you're up and eating.”David answered: While he was still alive, I went without food and cried because there was still hope. I said to myself, “Who knows? Maybe the Lord will have pity on me and let the child live.”But now that he's dead, why should I go without eating? I can't bring him back! Someday I will join him in death, but he can't return to me.
Mourn, you priests who serve at the altar of my God. Spend your days and nights wearing sackcloth. Offerings of grain and wine are no longer brought to the Lord's temple.Tell the leaders and people to come together at the temple. Order them to go without eating and to pray sincerely.
I cried and went without food, but they still insulted me.They sneered at me for wearing sackcloth to show my sorrow.
Give your food to the hungry and care for the homeless. Then your light will shine in the dark; your darkest hour will be like the noonday sun.The Lord will always guide you and provide good things to eat when you are in the desert. He will make you healthy. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water or like a stream that never runs dry.
When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private and will reward you.
I brought everyone together by the river that flows to the town of Ahava where we camped for three days. Not one Levite could be found among the people and priests.
and he said to the priest, “Abiathar, let's ask God what to do.” Abiathar brought everything he needed to get answers from God, and he went over to David.Then David asked the Lord, “Should I go after the people who raided our town? Can I catch up with them?” “Go after them,” the Lord answered. “You will catch up with them, and you will rescue your families.”
You are my God. I worship you. In my heart, I long for you, as I would long for a stream in a scorching desert.Swords will run them through, and wild dogs will eat them.Because of you, our God, the king will celebrate with your faithful followers, but liars will be silent.I have seen your power and your glory in the place of worship.Your love means more than life to me, and I praise you.As long as I live, I will pray to you.I will sing joyful praises and be filled with excitement like a guest at a banquet.
So he prayed: Our Lord, I knew from the very beginning that you wouldn't destroy Nineveh. That's why I left my own country and headed for Spain. You are a kind and merciful God, and you are very patient. You always show love, and you don't like to punish anyone.
Deep in my heart I long for your temple, and with all that I am I sing joyful songs to you.
You should praise the Lord for his love and for the wonderful things he does for all of us.To everyone who is thirsty, he gives something to drink; to everyone who is hungry, he gives good things to eat.
The prophet Anna was also there in the temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. In her youth she had been married for seven years, but her husband died.And now she was 84 years old. Night and day she served God in the temple by praying and often going without eating.
Nehemiah told the people, “Enjoy your good food and wine and share some with those who didn't have anything to bring. Don't be sad! This is a special day for the Lord, and he will make you happy and strong.”
The Lord was deeply concerned about his land and had pity on his people.In answer to their prayers he said, “I will give you enough grain, wine, and olive oil to satisfy your needs. No longer will I let you be insulted by the nations.
Mordecai wrote down everything that had happened. Then he sent letters to the Jews everywhere in the provincesand told them: Each year you must celebrate on both the fourteenth and the fifteenth of Adar,the days when we Jews defeated our enemies. Remember this month as a time when our sorrow was turned to joy, and celebration took the place of crying. Celebrate by having parties and by giving to the poor and by sharing gifts of food with each other.
The church at Antioch had several prophets and teachers. They were Barnabas, Simeon, also called Niger, Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen, who was Herod's close friend, and Saul.and said, “You son of the devil! You are a liar, a crook, and an enemy of everything that is right. When will you stop speaking against the true ways of the Lord?The Lord is going to punish you by making you completely blind for a while.” Suddenly the man's eyes were covered by a dark mist, and he went around trying to get someone to lead him by the hand.When the governor saw what had happened, he was amazed at this teaching about the Lord. So he put his faith in the Lord.Paul and the others left Paphos and sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and went back to Jerusalem.The rest of them went on from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia. Then on the Sabbath they went to the synagogue and sat down.After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders sent someone over to tell Paul and Barnabas, “Friends, if you have anything to say that will help the people, please say it.” Paul got up. He motioned with his hand and said: People of Israel, and everyone else who worships God, listen!The God of Israel chose our ancestors, and he let our people prosper while they were living in Egypt. Then with his mighty power he led them out,and for about 40 years he took care of them in the desert.He destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan and gave their land to our people.While they were worshiping the Lord and going without eating, the Holy Spirit told them, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have chosen them.”All this happened in about 450 years. Then God gave our people judges until the time of the prophet Samuel,but the people demanded a king. So for 40 years God gave them King Saul, the son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin.Later, God removed Saul and let David rule in his place. God said about him, “David the son of Jesse is the kind of person who pleases me most! He does everything I want him to do.” God promised that someone from David's family would come to save the people of Israel, and this one is Jesus.But before Jesus came, John was telling everyone in Israel to turn back to God and be baptized.Then, when John's work was almost done, he said, “Who do you people think I am? Do you think I am the Promised One? He will come later, and I am not good enough to untie his sandals.” Now listen, you descendants of Abraham! Pay attention, all of you Gentiles who are here to worship God! Listen to this message about how to be saved, because it is for everyone.The people of Jerusalem and their leaders didn't realize who Jesus was. And they didn't understand the words of the prophets they read each Sabbath. So they condemned Jesus just as the prophets had said.They did exactly what the Scriptures said they would. Even though they couldn't find any reason to put Jesus to death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed. After Jesus had been put to death, he was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb.Everyone prayed and went without eating for a while longer. Next, they placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul to show that they had been appointed to do this work. Then everyone sent them on their way.
But first, you must start respecting the Sabbath as a joyful day of worship. You must stop doing and saying whatever you please on this special day.Then you will truly enjoy knowing the Lord. He will let you rule from the highest mountains and bless you with the land of your ancestor Jacob. The Lord has spoken!
Some time later, the armies of Moab and Ammon, together with the Meunites, went to war against Jehoshaphat.You can see that the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Edom are attacking us! Those are the nations you would not let our ancestors invade on their way from Egypt, so these nations were not destroyed.Now they are coming to take back the land you gave us.Aren't you going to punish them? We won't stand a chance when this army attacks. We don't know what to do—we are begging for your help.While every man, woman, and child of Judah was standing there at the temple,the Lord's Spirit suddenly spoke to Jahaziel, a Levite from the Asaph clan.Then Jahaziel said: Your Majesty and everyone from Judah and Jerusalem, the Lord says that you don't need to be afraid or let this powerful army discourage you. God will fight on your side!So here's what you must do. Tomorrow the enemy armies will march through the desert around the town of Jeruel. March down and meet them at the town of Ziz as they come up the valley.You won't even have to fight. Just take your positions and watch the Lord rescue you from your enemy. Don't be afraid. Just do as you're told. And as you march out tomorrow, the Lord will be there with you. Jehoshaphat bowed low to the ground and everyone worshiped the Lord.Then some Levites from the Kohath and Korah clans stood up and shouted praises to the Lord God of Israel.Messengers told Jehoshaphat, “A large army from Edom east of the Dead Sea has invaded our country. They have already reached En-Gedi.” Early the next morning, as everyone got ready to leave for the desert near Tekoa, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Listen my friends, if we trust the Lord God and believe what these prophets have told us, the Lord will help us, and we will be successful.”Then he explained his plan and appointed men to march in front of the army and praise the Lord for his holy power by singing: “Praise the Lord! His love never ends.”As soon as they began singing, the Lord confused the enemy camp,so that the Ammonite and Moabite troops attacked and completely destroyed those from Edom. Then they turned against each other and fought until the entire camp was wiped out!When Judah's army reached the tower that overlooked the desert, they saw that every soldier in the enemy's army was lying dead on the ground.So Jehoshaphat and his troops went into the camp to carry away everything of value. They found a large herd of livestock, a lot of equipment, clothes, and other valuable things. It took them three days to carry it all away, and there was still some left over. Then on the fourth day, everyone came together in Beracah Valley and sang praises to the Lord. That's why that place was called Praise Valley. Jehoshaphat led the crowd back to Jerusalem. And as they marched, they played harps and blew trumpets. They were very happy because the Lord had given them victory over their enemies, so when they reached the city, they went straight to the temple.When the other nations heard how the Lord had fought against Judah's enemies, they were too afraidJehoshaphat was afraid, so he asked the Lord what to do. He then told the people of Judah to go without eating to show their sorrow.to invade Judah. The Lord let Jehoshaphat's kingdom be at peace.
The king's official had put a guard in charge of Daniel and his three friends. So Daniel said to the guard,“For the next ten days, let us have only vegetables and water at mealtime.
So they went to the place of worship at Bethel and asked God, “Which tribe should be the first to attack the people of Benjamin?” “Judah,” the Lord answered.The next morning the Israelite army moved its camp to a place near Gibeah.Then they left their camp and got into position to attack the army of Benjamin.Benjamin's soldiers came out of Gibeah and attacked, and when the day was over, 22,000 Israelite soldiers lay dead on the ground.The people of Israel went to the place of worship and cried until sunset. Then they asked the Lord, “Should we attack the people of Benjamin again, even though they are our relatives?” “Yes,” the Lord replied, “attack them again!” The Israelite soldiers encouraged each other to be brave and to fight hard. Then the next day they went back to Gibeah and took up the same positions as they had before.That same day, Benjamin's soldiers came out of Gibeah and attacked, leaving another 18,000 Israelite soldiers dead on the battlefield.The people of Israel went to the place of worship at Bethel, where the sacred chest was being kept. They sat on the ground, crying and not eating for the rest of the day. Then about sunset, they offered sacrifices to please the Lord and to ask his blessing. Phinehas the priest then prayed, “Our Lord, the people of Benjamin are our relatives. Should we stop fighting or attack them again?” “Attack!” the Lord answered. “Tomorrow I will let you defeat them.”
After Jesus had gone without eating for 40 days and nights, he was very hungry.Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him.At once they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus.Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news about God's kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness.News about him spread all over Syria, and people with every kind of sickness or disease were brought to him. Some of them had a lot of demons in them, others were thought to be crazy, and still others could not walk. But Jesus healed them all. Large crowds followed Jesus from Galilee and the region around the ten cities known as Decapolis. They also came from Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan River.Then the devil came to him and said, “If you are God's Son, tell these stones to turn into bread.”Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say: ‘No one can live only on food. People need every word that God has spoken.’ ”
Tell the leaders and people to come together at the temple. Order them to go without eating and to pray sincerely.We are in for trouble! Soon the Lord All-Powerful will bring disaster.Our food is already gone; there's no more celebrating at the temple of our God.
For three hours they stood and listened to the Law of the Lord their God, and then for the next three hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord.
Then Nathan went back home. The Lord made David's young son very sick.So David went without eating to show his sorrow, and he begged God to make the boy well. David would not sleep on his bed, but spent each night lying on the floor.
All night long the king could not sleep. He did not eat anything, and he would not let anyone come in to entertain him.At daybreak the king got up and ran to the pit.In order to make sure that his government was run properly, Darius put three other officials in charge of the governors. One of these officials was Daniel.He was anxious and shouted, “Daniel, you were faithful and served your God. Was he able to save you from the lions?”Daniel answered, “Your Majesty, I hope you live forever!My God knew that I was innocent, and he sent an angel to keep the lions from eating me. Your Majesty, I have never done anything to hurt you.” The king was relieved to hear Daniel's voice, and he gave orders for him to be taken out of the pit. Daniel's faith in his God had kept him from being harmed.And the king ordered the men who had brought charges against Daniel to be thrown into the pit, together with their wives and children. But before they even reached the bottom, the lions ripped them to pieces.
For 40 days Jesus was tested by the devil, and during that time he went without eating. When it was all over, he was hungry.
Suddenly something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see. He got up and was baptized.Then he ate and felt much better. For several days Saul stayed with the Lord's followers in Damascus.
Then Ezra left God's temple and went to spend the night in the living quarters of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. He felt sorry because of what the people had done, and he did not eat or drink a thing.The officials and leaders sent a message to all who had returned from Babylonia and were now living in Jerusalem and Judah. This message told them to meet in Jerusalem within three days, or else they would lose everything they owned and would no longer be considered part of the people that had returned from Babylonia.
The Lord said: It isn't too late. You can still return to me with all your heart. Start crying and mourning! Go without eating.
In the third year of Cyrus the king of Persia, a message came to Daniel from God, and it was explained in a vision. The message was about a dreadful war, and it was true.He raised me to my hands and kneesand then said, “Daniel, your God thinks highly of you, and he has sent me. So stand up and pay close attention.” I stood trembling, while the angel said:Daniel, don't be afraid! God has listened to your prayers since the first day you humbly asked for understanding, and he has sent me here.But the guardian angel of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael, who is one of the strongest guardian angels, came to rescue me from the kings of Persia.Now I have come here to give you another vision about what will happen to your people in the future.While this angel was speaking to me, I stared at the ground, speechless.Then he appeared in human form and touched my lips. I said, “Sir, this vision has brought me great pain and has drained my strength.I am merely your servant. How can I possibly speak with someone so powerful, when I am almost too weak to get my breath?”The angel touched me a second time and said, “Don't be frightened! God thinks highly of you, and he intends this for your good, so be brave and strong.” At this, I regained my strength and replied, “Please speak! You have already made me feel much better.”Daniel wrote: For three weeks I was in sorrow.Then the angel said: Now do you understand why I have come? Soon I must leave to fight against the guardian angel of Persia. Then after I have defeated him, the guardian angel of Greece will attack me.I will tell you what is written in The Book of Truth. But first, you must realize that no one except Michael, the guardian angel of Israel, is on my side.I ate no fancy food or meat, I drank no wine, and I put no olive oil on my face or hair.
Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last, but we do it for a crown that will last forever.I don't run without a goal. And I don't box by beating my fists in the air.I keep my body under control and make it my slave, so I won't lose out after telling the good news to others.
Discover for yourself that the Lord is kind. Come to him for protection, and you will be glad.
You are my God. I worship you. In my heart, I long for you, as I would long for a stream in a scorching desert.
But we have sinned terribly by rebelling against you and rejecting your laws and teachings.We have ignored the message your servants the prophets spoke to our kings, our leaders, our ancestors, and everyone else.
Some people said to Jesus, “John's followers often pray and go without eating, and so do the followers of the Pharisees. But your disciples never go without eating or drinking.”