Prayer and Fasting - A Definition
Prayer and fasting is defined as voluntarily going without food in order
to focus on prayer and fellowship with God. Prayer and fasting often go
hand in hand, but this is not always the case. You can pray without
fasting, and fast without prayer. It is when these two activities are
combined and dedicated to God's glory that they reach their full
effectiveness. Having a dedicated time of prayer and fasting is not a
way of manipulating God into doing what you desire. Rather, it is simply
forcing yourself to focus and rely on God for the strength, provision,
and wisdom you need.
Prayer and Fasting - What the Bible Says
The Old Testament law specifically required prayer and fasting for only
one occasion, which was the Day of Atonement. This custom became known
as "the day of fasting" (Jeremiah 36:6) or "the Fast" (Acts 27:9). Moses
fasted during the 40 days and 40 nights he was on Mount Sinai receiving
the law from God (Exodus 34:28). King Jehoshaphat called for a fast in
all Israel when they were about to be attacked by the Moabites and
Ammonites (2 Chronicles 20:3). In response to Jonah's preaching, the men
of Nineveh fasted and put on sackcloth (Jonah 3:5). Prayer and fasting
was often done in times of distress or trouble. David fasted when he
learned that Saul and Jonathan had been killed (2 Samuel 1:12). Nehemiah
had a time of prayer and fasting upon learning that Jerusalem was still
in ruins (Nehemiah 1:4). Darius, the king of Persia, fasted all night
after he was forced to put Daniel in the den of lions (Daniel 6:18).
Prayer and fasting also occurs in the New Testament. Anna "worshipped
night and day, fasting and praying" at the Temple (Luke 2:37). John the
Baptist taught his disciples to fast (Mark 2:18). Jesus fasted for 40
days and 40 nights before His temptation by Satan (Matthew 4:2). The
church of Antioch fasted (Acts 13:2) and sent Paul and Barnabas off on
their first missionary journey (Acts 13:3). Paul and Barnabas spent time
in prayer and fasting for the appointment of elders in the churches
(Acts 14:23).
Prayer and Fasting - Required or
Recommended?
The Word of God does not specifically command believers to spend time in
prayer and fasting. At the same time, prayer and fasting is definitely
something we should be doing. Far too often, though, the focus of prayer
and fasting is on abstaining from food. Instead, the purpose of
Christian fasting should be to take our eyes off the things of this
world and focus our thoughts on God. Fasting should always be limited to
a set time because not eating for extended periods can be damaging to
the body. Fasting is not a method of punishing our bodies and it is not
be used as a "dieting method" either. We are not to spend time in prayer
and fasting in order to lose weight, but rather to gain a deeper
fellowship with God.
By taking our eyes off the things of this world through prayer and
biblical fasting, we can focus better on Christ. Matthew 6:16-18
declares, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for
they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the
truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put
oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to
men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and
your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Prayer and Fasting - What Does it
Accomplish?
Spending time in prayer and fasting is not automatically effective in
accomplishing the desires of those who fast. Fasting or no fasting, God
only promises to answer our prayers when we ask according to His will. 1
John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching
God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if
we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what
we asked of him." In the prophet Isaiah's time, the people grumbled that
they had fasted, yet God did not answer in the way they wanted (Isaiah
58:3-4). Isaiah responded by proclaiming that the external show of
fasting and prayer, without the proper heart attitude, was futile
(Isaiah 58:5-9).
How can you know if you are praying and fasting according to God's will?
Are you praying and fasting for things that honor and glorify God? Does
the Bible clearly reveal that it is God's will for you? If we are asking
for something that is not honoring to God or not God's will for our
lives, God will not give what we ask for, whether we fast or not. How
can we know God's will? God promises to give us wisdom when we ask.
James 1:5 tells us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who
gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to
him." |
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