This coming week, we will take time out to fast and pray. Sometimes, when we say certain words, we can take it for granted that everyone understands what we mean and how to do it.
This article is meant to help navigate through what fasting means for followers of Jesus, why we fast and how it differs from other religions.
Fasting refers to refraining from eating food. But what makes fasting different from starving? A fast is when we couple it with prayer; Fasting is not intended to punish the flesh but to redirect attention to God.
Therefore, fasting without a focus on gaining a deeper fellowship with God is simply denying yourself food. It is not a dieting method, nor a way to lose weight and get in shape.
Followers of Jesus fast to take time to pray and fellowship with God, laying aside food for a period as an act before God in the privacy of one’s prayer and fellowship with God (Exodus 34:28; 1 Samuel 7:6; 1 Kings 19:8; Matthew 6:17).
Anyone can fast; however, some may desire to fast but could be unable to because of a medical condition (i.e. diabetics). But this does not mean that those who cannot abstain from food cannot fast either; they could opt to temporarily give up something and commit that time to prayer and fellowship with God.
A note of caution: If one has a medical condition that could prevent them from abstaining from food, they should consult their doctor before fasting.
The Bible does not command followers of Jesus to fast; it is, therefore, prudent to consider a medical condition when determining how to fast.
It is important to note, however, that fasting is not a way to get God to do what we want; it is not a tactic to arm-twist God into our will; fasting changes us, not God.
Fasting is also not a way to appear more spiritual than others. If you are fasting, do it with a deep sense of humility and joy. Matthew 6:16-18 declares, “When you fast, do not look sombre 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.”
The Bible describes two primary forms of fasting.
1. The standard fast describes total abstinence from food. Luke 4:2 reveals that Jesus “ate nothing”; afterwards “He was hungry.” Jesus abstained from food but not from water.
2. In Acts 9:9, we read of an absolute fast where, for three days, Paul “did not eat or drink. The abstinence from food and water lasted no more than three days (Ezra 10:6; Esther 4:16).
Being in the Middle East, the concept of Fasting is not foreign to the people who reside here; the question that may come to mind for some is what differentiates fasting between followers of Jesus and Muslims. Both Muslims and followers of Jesus fast, but their purposes for fasting differ.
Followers of Jesus are not commanded to fast; however, for a Muslim to keep one of the Five Pillars, there is an obligation to fast during Ramadan.
For followers of Jesus, we must remember that the Bible teaches that fasting merits neither God’s favour nor a place in paradise. Jesus remains the only way to the Father.