What is Fasting?
Armando Palazzo
This blog is the first part of a message series titled All Things New, designed to help you go deeper in your faith—love Jesus more—love people more. We are anchoring into His promises that He is making all things new. (Revelation 21:5). We will first try to answer: why should I fast (abstain from food or drink), and what is a biblical fast?
Let's start with what Jesus said when questioned about fasting:
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?” Mark 2:18 NIV
The people were looking for the reason Jesus’ disciples did not fast.
Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. Mark 2:19-20 NIV
Many other people in the Bible fasted:
Moses (Deuteronomy 9-10)
David (2 Samuel 12:16)
Apostles (Acts 13:1-3, Acts 14:23)
Paul (2 Corinthians 2:5-11, 1 Corinthians 17:27)
Fasting is a powerful spiritual discipline that can be:
Life-changing
Future-directing
A shake-up
Fasting is NOT a diet, nor should it be considered a “dieting method” either. Fasting has a Spiritual Purpose. The purpose of a biblical fast is to gain deeper fellowship with God.
Fasting directs us from our hunger for food to our hunger toward God. It clears the mind and body of earthly attention and draws us closer to God. Jesus gives us a huge clue into what fasting is for (Mark 2:19-20 NIV). It's about drawing near to God!
Fasting is about discovering where your breakthrough begins!
In the Old Testament, we find Daniel, who practiced fasting. Who was Daniel?
We can read about the life of Daniel in his writings in the book of Daniel and also in Ezekiel 14:14, 20, and 28:3.
Daniel was a righteous man of princely lineage and lived about 620–538 B.C.
He was carried off to Babylon in 605 B.C. by Nebuchadnezzar.
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took royal families, nobility, and the best of the best as hostages back to Babylon.
Here, the Babylonians taught them their language, literature, and education.
They would be trained for three years and then enter the king's service.
The Babylonians took four men: Daniel, Hannah, Mishka, and Azariah. Their names were changed, and Daniel was given the name Belteshazzar.
Daniel’s Two Fasts at Two Inflection Points
Daniel’s first inflection point (a time of significant change in a situation, a turning point) is in Chapter 1: The Babylonians took him captive.
Daniel’s second inflection point is in Chapter 10: He had a disturbing dream and sought the Lord for wisdom.
Daniel’s Inflection Point 1: Taken into Captivity
Either I (Daniel) keep my eyes set on the Lord, double down in faith, seek the face of God and fight, or
Be filled with the best that the world has to offer (distractions), go with the Babylonians, and lose my identity, faith, and purpose.
Daniel decided to fight spiritually, hold on to God, and push away the choice foods of the Babylonians.
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel. Daniel 1:8-9 NIV
At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. Daniel 1:15-16 NIV
To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. Daniel 1:17-20 NIV
Daniel’s Inflection Point 2: Needed Wisdom
Do I (Daniel) sit disturbed by a dream, or
Do I seek God for wisdom?
In Chapter 10, Daniel had a disturbing dream.
The fast was a time of mourning for Daniel and also part of how he “set [his] mind to gain understanding and to humble [himself] before [his] God” (Daniel 10:12).
Daniel spent 21 days in prayer & fasting.
Then, Daniel learned in a vision how messengers of God had acted on his behalf to answer his prayers.
Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.” Daniel 10:12-14 NIV
It must have been hard for Daniel, like for many of us today, who can’t understand why God seems to ignore our prayers. Nevertheless, from God’s point of view, He answers Daniel’s prayer immediately. It shows us that there is a war going on for our souls. Daniel knows God is faithful and will answer, if he doesn’t lose faith and give up.
Our answers to prayer may take years, but we should learn from that story to be faithful in our prayer (don’t give up) and trust in God to answer.
Q & A’s before we go on
1. What is Biblical Fasting?
Abstain from food or something else that gives us comfort for some time, and focus on prayer instead.
We can fast from social media, television, food, and even a negative mindset.
Fasting may be total or partial.
Anything given up temporarily to focus all our attention on God can be considered a fast (1 Corinthians 7:1-5).
2. How Long Should I Fast?
Limit it to a set time, especially when fasting from food.
Extended periods without eating can be harmful to the body.
Use common sense.
3. Does the Bible Require Fasting?
No
Tradition is in the Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT)
Jesus' references to it, the NT teachings do not require fasting, and neither Jesus nor His disciples made fasting obligatory.
Is it all about punishing our flesh?
Punishing our flesh is a misconception about fasting. We should not intend to punish our flesh but to redirect our attention to God.
What a Fast Does
A fast redirects us from physical things to God. The believer's focus is removed from the physical things of this world and intensely concentrates on God.
A fast reawakens what is numb (or has become numb) to the things of God.
From a spiritual perspective, a Daniel Fast can be a helpful way to:
Focus on God.
Change our habits and not rely so much on food comforts, which can be a physical reminder that we rely on God.
Know that true satisfaction is found only in Him.
Spiritual Benefits of Fasting
Gain spiritual clarity of thought
Hear God's voice more clearly
Demonstrate a profound need for God's help
Have complete dependence on Him
Humble ourselves
Fasting is about strategically positioning yourself where you’re going to meet God.
What Inflection Point are you at? Do you want to:
Start the new year off with the proper habits
Save more money & spend less
Exercise, eat healthier, & lose weight
Spend more time with family
Reduce stress
Grow closer to God
Read the Bible more
Dangerous Place To Be
It’s dangerous to be at an inflection point and not invite God into the process.
Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14 ESV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
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Closing Remarks
God doesn’t want something from you; He wants something for you. The book of Acts records believers fasting before they made important decisions (Acts 13:2; 14:23).
Too often, when fasting, we have the wrong focus on the lack of food—giving up stuff. Instead, the purpose of fasting should be to take your eyes off the things of this world to focus entirely on God.
Fasting better equips us to deal with trials to align ourselves with God and the power of the Holy Spirit.
A challenge for you: Fast something to position yourself to hear or receive something from God.
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