Fasting is the practice of deliberately abstaining from food for a certain period of time. Fasting often accompanies prayer in the Bible and is an outward demonstration of how serious someone feels about the particular matter being prayed about. Often this is a time of crisis, as in the case of the Jewish genocide in Esther 3-4, or coupled with repentance, as in Jonah 3. It is also a regular part of the Jewish festival of the ‘Day of Atonement’ (Yom Kippur) as described in Leviticus 16. In the New Testament there are no commands to fast but it is assumed by Jesus Christ that fasting is a normal part of life for one of His people. In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus instructs His disciples that ‘when you fast’ (not ‘if’), it must be a private act of devotion to God, not something you do to gain praise for yourself. Fasting is described as a part of worship in Luke 2:37 and in Acts 13:2-3, where during a group fast the church in Antioch receives a word from the Holy Spirit to send Paul and Barnabas on mission work. Fasting, then, is to be a response to times of great need but also a regular part of the life of a believer in worship, repentance and when seeking God’s will for the future.
