Prayer & FastingSample

What is fasting? A fast is a time where an individual or a group of people voluntarily chooses to go without food for a specific purpose. Within the wide array of biblical examples of fasts, a voluntary self-denial of food is the commonality. This is done in many different ways, but the common thread is a self-denial of food.

When looking at fasting, it's easy to dismiss or ignore its importance and significance. However, we see in Matthew 6:16-18 that fasting is necessary. Jesus is preaching the sermon on the mount, and when he discusses fasting, he says, “when you fast”. This is not stated as a question, but rather it is assumed that this has already been done. In this passage, Jesus is emphasizing that fasting is needed and important. The question is, why do we fast? What's the purpose? Jesus is saying that it's important, but why?

Looking at examples of biblical fasts, we see that there is a wide range of purposes, with a few being seeking guidance, expressing grief, strengthening prayer, or corporately seeking God. A couple of examples of biblical fasts are included in today's reading. The commonality within these fasts is that they have a purpose. There is a reason behind why they are fasting. It is not a discipline entered into blindly. Daniel discerns the will of God through fasting. Nehemiah expresses his grief through fasting. Ezra needed God’s deliverance and protection, so he fasted. There are many other examples throughout scripture, and each of them has a unique purpose. These are not meant to be limiters as to what you can fast for; instead, each gives us an example and shows us that there is a purpose behind fasting.

So what are you fasting for? What's the purpose behind it? Identify this purpose. Pray about it and ask God to guide you as you fast. As you are fasting, remind yourself of the purpose you are fasting for. Every time you feel hungry, remind yourself, I am hungry because I am fasting, and I am fasting for a purpose.