Five Things A Fast Can Do For You
March 31, 2022

Five Things A Fast Can Do For You

Fasting is abstaining from something, usually food, for a certain period of time. In Hebrew, the word fast means “to cover one’s mouth.” In Greek, it means to abstain from something, normally food. There are various types of fast, but the purpose of a Biblical fast is to obtain a spiritual benefit. Below are five ways the Bible teaches how fasting benefits believers in the kingdom of God.

  1. A Biblical Fast can help you God’s will.
    Judges 20:26-28
    Then all the Israelites went up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the Lord and fasted until evening. They also brought burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. 27) The Israelites went up seeking direction from the Lord. (In those days the Ark of the Covenant of God was in Bethel, 28) and Phinehas son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron was the priest.) The Israelites asked the Lord, “Should we fight against our relatives from Benjamin again, or should we stop?” (NLT)

  2. A Biblical Fast can help you humbly.
    1 Kings 21:27-29
    But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning. 28) Then another message from the Lord came to Elijah: 29) “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has done this, I will not do what I promised during his lifetime. It will happen to his sons; I will destroy his dynasty.” (NLT)

  3. A Biblical Fast can help you Protection.
    2 Chronicles 20:3-4
    Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. 4) So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help. (NLT)

  4. A Biblical Fast can help your prayer life.
    Ezra 8:22, 23
    I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” 23) So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. (NLT)

  5. A Biblical Fast can help you God’s work.
    Nehemiah 1:3, 4, 11
    They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” 4) When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. 11) O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer. (NLT)