Bible Verses About Fasting

“And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.” So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request.”

Before a dangerous journey, Ezra proclaims a fast so the people can humble themselves and ask God for a safe road. He would rather depend on God than ask the king for soldiers.

“Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish! ””

Facing a decision that could cost her life, Esther asks her people to fast with her for three days before she approaches the king. Fasting here is a shared act of need.

“And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink. Furthermore, let both man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and have everyone call out earnestly to God. Let each one turn from his evil ways and from the violence in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.” When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them.”

The whole city of Nineveh fasts and turns from violence, and God responds with mercy. The fast is the outward sign of a real change of direction.

“So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.”

Daniel turns to God with prayer, fasting and mourning clothes as he pleads for his people. Fasting sits alongside prayer, never in place of it.

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”

The church in Antioch worships and fasts, and then sends Barnabas and Saul on their mission after more fasting and prayer. Important decisions are brought to God slowly and together.

“Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk,”

God says the fast he wants is one that frees the oppressed, feeds the hungry and shelters the homeless. Going without food means little if it leaves injustice untouched.

““Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.”

The call is to return to God with the whole heart, including fasting, and to tear hearts rather than clothes. God is described as gracious and slow to anger.

“When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Jesus assumes his followers will fast and warns against doing it to be admired. A fast meant for the Father is kept quiet and cheerful.

“To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.””

In Jesus' parable a proud man lists his fasting as proof of his goodness, while a humble one simply asks for mercy. The one who does not rely on his own record goes home right with God.

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.”

Jesus fasts for forty days in the wilderness before his public ministry begins and before his temptation. Fasting prepares him to face the test with full dependence on the Father.

“Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting. So people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?” Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as He is with them, they cannot fast. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”

Asked why his disciples do not fast like others, Jesus says guests do not mourn while the bridegroom is with them, but a time for fasting will come. Many Christians see in this a place for fasting in the life of the church.