Fasting in the Bible is usually for seeking God's guidance, humbling oneself before God, seeking deliverance, or demonstrating repentance. It is a time for prayer, reflection, and drawing closer to God (e.g., 2 Chronicles 20:3-4, Daniel 9:3).

 

Types of Fasting:

Complete Fast: Abstaining from all food and drink (e.g., Esther 4:16).

Partial Fast: Abstaining from certain types of food or specific meals (e.g., Daniel 10:3).

Absolute Fast: Abstaining from all food and drink for a short period, typically no more than three days (e.g., Acts 9:9).

 

Fasting should be done with the right heart attitude, not for show or to gain praise from others. Jesus emphasized this in Matthew 6:16-18, advising people to fast privately and not appear to be fasting publicly.

 

Fasting is often combined with prayer and reading Scripture. It is a time to focus on spiritual matters and seek God's will (e.g., Ezra 8:23, Nehemiah 1:4).

 

The length of a fast can vary. Examples include a one-day fast (Judges 20:26), three-day fast (Esther 4:16), 21-day fast (Daniel 10:2-3), and 40-day fast (Matthew 4:2).

​

In the Bible, people fasted for various reasons, such as seeking protection (Ezra 8:21-23), expressing grief (1 Samuel 31:13), or asking for forgiveness (Jonah 3:5-10).

​

The Bible calls us to go beyond abstaining from food and focus on making a positive impact in the lives of others—breaking barriers of oppression, caring for the needy, and practicing selfless love as in Isaiah: 6-7. "Is this not the fasting I have chosen: to break the chains of injustice, untie the cords of the yoke, set the oppressed free, and break every yoke?" Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”

​

​

​

​

​

​