A Biblical Perspective on Fasting
Fasting is not a common practice in our day and time. For many people fasting may even seem strange or ancient. However, God's Word assumes that fasting will be a regular activity in the part of a believer's life. Let's take a moment to look at what true Biblical Fasting is, and how we should respond to what the Bible has to say about fasting.
What Biblical Fasting is Not
Some people struggle with biblical issues, some people just twist them into something they can benefit from themselves. Fasting has become one of those issues which can easily be misunderstood, or practiced with the wrong motives. Let's take a moment to look at what fasting should not be:
A physical or psychological discipline -- God does not want us to fast purely as a physical discipline. (For example, dieting for the purpose of losing weight or for some other physical benefit.) Dieting is obviously not wrong, however a spiritual fast should not be motivated by a desire just to loose weight. It should also be noted that most nutritionists agree that fasting is a very ineffective weight loss option. If weight loss is your goal, then other diet plans actually function much more effectively long term. When the Bible uses the term "fasting" it has spiritual goals in mind.
A weapon of manipulation ? Sometimes people use fasting as a means to try talk God into something, or try to get their way with some issue in their lives. Be aware that your fast does not obligate God to respond to your needs in the manner in which you desire. Fasting opens the door for God to pour more of Himself into you, not vice-versa.
Take a look at this story recorded in the New Testament:
"In the morning some of the Jews made a plan to kill Paul, and they took an oath not ...