How Biblical Fasting Helps You
November 29, 2023
How Biblical Fasting Helps You
Fasting is abstaining from something, usually food, for a certain period of time in order to accomplish a specific purpose. In Hebrew, the word fast means “to cover one’s mouth”. We cover our mouths so we can hear from God. 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 that biblical fasting can help you grow spiritually and build up the Kingdom of God.
- A biblical fast helps you
Ezra 8:21-23 (NLT)
And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to accompany us and protect us from enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king, “Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him.” 23 So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer.
- A biblical fast helps you
Nehemiah 1:2- 4, 11 (NLT)
Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem. 3) 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.
- A biblical fast helps you
Matthew 4:1-2 4,7,10 (NLT)
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2) For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. 4) But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ 7)‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands, so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. 10) Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’
- A biblical fast helps your
Luke 2:36-38 (NLT)
Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37) Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38) She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
- A biblical fast helps you
Acts 13:2, 3 (NLT)
One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. 4)So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus.