Fasting on the National Day of Prayer
Fasting is the spiritual discipline of abstaining from food and/or drink for a period of time in order to draw near to God or seek God’s movement in some manner. It’s an act of worship that’s often accompanied by prayer and repentance. Someone once said, “We fast to express our ache for all the implications of Jesus’ power in the present moment.” This Thursday, some of us in the VBC community are corporately participating in a fast (on the National Day of Prayer). In the Bible, some believers fasted individually for personal reasons, and some believers fasted corporately, either because they were instructed to do so by God Himself, or by a human leader. When there was corporate participation in the fast, God moved mightily when there was unity in faith and devotion to the fast. The reason we’re fasting on Thursday is to ask God to move our nation to behold His glory and to respond through repentance and revival!
Biblical fasting is a spiritual discipline encouraged by Jesus. When questioned as to why the Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist fasted while Jesus's disciples did not, Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast” (Matthew 9:15). Jesus was indicating that fasting would become a necessity when the bridegroom (Jesus) was taken away. While Jesus, who is God, was still on earth, His followers enjoyed a close fellowship and friendship with Him. Jesus gave power and authority on them to the extent that they had limited power to preach, heal the sick, and cast out demons. Similarly, when Jesus sent them out to minister, He instructed them to take few provisions. “Then Jesus asked them, ‘When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?’ ‘Nothing,’ they answered. He said to them, ‘But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one’” (Luke 22:35-36).
Jesus was teaching that after His departure, the entire dynamic would change and the disciples would need a different type of preparation and provision. Fasting was to be part of this new preparation. The new covenant is based on the truth that we have received everything in Christ, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).
We cooperate with the Spirit in a variety of ways: through prayer, meditation, service, the use of our spiritual gifts, the study of the Word, and the discipline of fasting. It’s through all of these practices that we’re able to experience more of the benefits and blessings that God delights for us to enjoy.
Biblical fasting, unlike fasting for medical or health reasons, is to be done with an attitude of worship. When we fast, we willingly deprive our body of nourishment and the pleasure of food (or from whatever it is we're fasting). If we're fasting from food, we have to remember that the body requires food for sure; so our hearts and minds must be completely focused and directed toward God so that He will be the source of our strength during our period of fasting. Some people fast regularly (e.g., weekly) and others fast occasionally. How and when you fast should be a matter to be decided between you and the Lord. But a corporate fast in which many believers are called to fast together is also taught in Scripture.
Below are other biblical examples of fasting to help us understand when and why a believer should worship through fasting:
Ezra proclaimed a fast when the Jews faced a hazardous travel situation as they returned to Jerusalem from their exile in Babylon (Ezra 8:21-23). While the desire for safe travel was the immediate reason for the fast, Ezra stated the ultimate goal in verse 21: “…that we might humble ourselves before God, to seek from Him the right way for us.” The fast of Esther 4:15-16 provides another example of drawing near to God when asking Him for protection.
In 2 Samuel 12:14-16, David fasted to seek God’s healing for his sick child. It was during this intense seven-day fast that David wrote Psalm 51, one of the most heartfelt expressions of repentance in the entire Bible. The overall purpose of David’s fast was not to get God to do what he wanted, but rather to be humbled and reconciled with God as he sought Him in prayer. Even though God chose not to save the child’s life, the fast still served its purpose of bringing David closer to God after being separated by sin. Isaiah 58:3-9 further elaborates on the proper attitude we should have when fasting.
When Jonah preached to the Gentile city of Nineveh, the whole city came together and fasted in an incredible act of repentance (Jonah 3:7-10). The king of Nineveh ordered every person and their animals to fast and “…cry mightily to God; yes, let everyone turn from his evil way” (Jonah 3:8). God was moved by their reverence and showed mercy by not destroying the city.
Luke 2:36-37 records a righteous woman, Anna, who “served God with fasting and prayers night and day” as she awaited the promised Messiah. Her ongoing testimony shows that fasting is an act of worship and service before God.
The book of Acts documents the apostles fasting to seek God’s will when making decisions within a congregation, such as in Acts 13:2-3 and Acts 14:23. On both occasions, the apostles fasted to seek sound, godly judgment when appointing local leaders.
Paul stated that he fasted “often” as he listed the various ways he had suffered for the gospel (2 Corinthians 11:27). The indication is that Paul fasted because he constantly felt the need for God’s help in facing his many trials, and fasting strengthened him spiritually. Paul also references “fasting and prayer” as a regular part of Christian life in 1 Corinthians 7:5.
The most well-known account of fasting in the Bible is when Jesus fasted for 40 days. This fast was done in preparation for His earthly ministry and confrontation with Satan (Luke 4:1-13, Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus’s [or without the extra “s”—just be consistent] own example teaches us that fasting can be instrumental in preparing us for future trials and helping us to overcome temptations.
Fasting has been widely used by God’s people throughout history, and it continues to be a powerful way for believers to deepen our relationship with and connection to God. According to biblical examples, we fast when we're faced with temptations, trials, or potentially dangerous situations. Fasting can also accompany heartfelt repentance, enhance prayer, or be offered as an act of deep worship and praise. It’s also used to seek the heart of God to respond to the hearts of His people who long to see Him move by protecting, providing, restoring, and redeeming. If there's any concern about the medical safety for you and fasting, please contact your doctor for input. Otherwise, we hope you’ll join us in our fast this Thursday as we seek God to move our nation to behold His glory and respond through repentance and revival!