God’s Heart in Fasting

by Dr. Richard Fisher

Why should we fast? Obviously, it is not about trying to manipulate God, or gaining some spiritual advantage over people, or losing weight by dieting. Although there are physical aspects to fasting, it is essentially a spiritual matter. Let’s take a look at why people fasted in the Bible.

• 2 Chronicles 20:1–4 — to seek God and ask for help against their enemies.
• Ezra 8:21–23 — Israel asked for God’s protection as they journeyed from Babylon and Persia to Jerusalem.
• Jeremiah 36:6 — The prophet declared a day of fasting, so the people could read the Word of God, repent, and turn from their evil ways.
• Daniel 9:3 — We fasted in sackcloth and ashes and prayed for God to forgive -us and restore Jerusalem, its temple, and its people — to keep his promise.
• Joel 2:12 — “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” The outward rituals for fasting were taken from these verses.
• Jonah 3:5–10 — The Ninevites fasted and prayed for mercy and salvation from God. They believed the Word of God, humbled themselves, and vowed to turn from their wicked ways. True fasting always leads to (1) confession of sin, and (2) life change that believes God and conforms to God’s moral code.
• Acts 13:2–3; 14:23 — The early Church fasted often, especially for God’s wisdom and guidance when appointing leaders to take the Gospel abroad or guide the local churches. They had a passion for lost souls and the advancement of the Kingdom of God — God’s vision of reconciliation.

We can draw several principles about fasting from these passages.

First and foremost, fasting begins by seeking God. The most important thing to see in the verses is that these people wanted God to be involved in their life — every part of their life. So, when the tough times came, and they did, their first response was to turn to God for his help, for his guidance, for his comfort. They trusted God.

Secondly, they prepared themselves to stand in the presence of God and interact with God. They not only put on the clothing of humility and mourning. They actually went through the spiritual journey of humility and mourning. Psalm 139:23–24, Hebrews 4:12–13, and I John 1:5–9 explain the spiritual preparation that takes place during fasting. — (a) inviting God and his word to search our hearts, (b) going through self-examination and understanding, (c) confessing our sin and being cleansed of all unrighteousness, (d) trusting God and holding fast to his plan.

Thirdly, they prayed (asked) God for help, guidance or blessing concerning a specific need in times of difficulty.

We fast because we need God’s help and guidance . . . in a very important matter, and we want God to know how desperately we need Him. And since we are expecting to be in God’s presence, we prepare ourselves spiritually to meet God. This preparation always involves a conforming to the character of God. Fasting then leads to spiritual transformation, because we want our lives to align with God. We want his work and blessing in our lives to be an ongoing reality.

• “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11–13
• Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7–10

The more we understand God’s love and watch care over us, the more we trust his leadership. The more we trust him, the more we call upon him and appreciate the fasting response. The more we call upon and wrestle with God through the trials of life, the closer our relationship becomes. We welcome God’s working in and through our lives. My advice — hold fast to God through the difficult times. You will find him faithful and trustworthy.