Fasting: What is it? How do we do it? Why should we do it?

By Elizabeth Prata

We read much of fasting in the Old Testament. We read a bit in the New Testament. In Matthew (4x), Mark (3x), Luke (5x), Acts (4x). We are told that Anna fasted, the disciples fasted before a big decision, and Jesus mentioned fasting. He explained how to pray, but did not explain how to fast.

In any narrative, if there are blanks or gaps, people will tend to fill it in with their own notions and opinions. With Bible concepts they fill it in with false notions. A “Daniel Fast” for example is often used as a diet, or it’s used as a way to gain favor with God, or it’s used as a way to lord it over peers. Yet, Daniel fasted because the king’s food was not kosher, and he fasted another time because he was in mourning over the vision given to him.

Fasting is a serious discipline, just as praying is. In fasting, when mentioned in the Bible, it’s always lined with prayer. People seemed to have prayed without fasting, but when fasting, prayer is always mentioned.

Fasting is not a huge Christian book topic. There aren’t many resources explaining what it is or how to do it I’ve found that are solid. Paul Washer did write about fasting, in this book that I own and I’ve read,

Understanding the Discipline of Fasting (Biblical Foundations for the Christian Faith), Part of: Biblical Foundations for the Christian Faith (5 books) by Paul David Washer.

There is also The Doctrine of Fasting and Prayer, and Humiliation for Sin by Arthur Hildersham.

Why Should I Fast? – Cultivating Biblical Godliness Series, by Daniel R. Hyde.

The Duty, the Benefits, and the Proper Methods of Religious Fasting by Samuel Miller, unavailable at present as a short pamphlet but can be read online here.

Paul Washer answers the question “How Should I Fast?” in this 20 minute video.

Fasting is an important spiritual discipline. I hope these few resources and encouragement has prompted you to try it on occasion- and always WITH prayer.