Do I Have to Fast?
At the beginning of each calendar year, our local church (and many others) has an event called 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer. Some people do a full food fast for all 21 days. Others fast one or more meals each day, or they fast something else. The point of fasting is simple, it is to give you both more time and more capacity to grow closer to God.
But do you have to fast? Let’s dig in!
Fasting Isn’t New
Before we get into some of what Jesus said about fasting, I just want to point out that fasting did not start in the New Testament. There are multiple examples of fasting in the Old Testament. I’ll share just one. In the book of Esther, the title character is about to go before the king in order to find a way to save the Jewish people from destruction based on an edict that the king put into place.
Did I mention that going before the king without him summoning you was illegal and could result in your death? Did I mention that Esther wasn’t just anyone, she was the queen? Oh, and did I also mention that her being the queen didn’t give her any special privilege with her husband in relation to the “you could be sentenced to death if you go to the king unbidden” rule?
So, when she was about to put her life on the line to do this thing that was for the salvation of her people, here is what she told her uncle Mordecai, who had encouraged her to act.
“Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
-Esther 4:16 ESV
Esther asked them all to fast, and she fasted, to draw close to God and pray that He would grant her favor with the king. Not to spoil the story, but Esther is granted what she seeks from the king, and more! Feel free to read the entire book, it’s incredibly gripping!
Did Jesus Fast?
Next, let’s look not at what Jesus said, but what He did. Just before the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. By the way, this is part of what Hebrews is referencing when it says that He was tempted in every way we were, but He did not sin. But look at what Jesus did just before this time of temptation from the devil.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
-Matthew 4:1-2 ESV
Jesus went through a grueling 40 day fast just before He experienced the temptation of the enemy. And then Jesus used scripture to crush every attempt of the enemy to get Him to sin against God. Why? Because He spent that time fasting and in complete communion with the Father. The fact that He was hungry from fasting didn’t make Him spiritually weaker, even though He was physically hungry.
On the contrary, He purposely fasted, making it clear that He ruled over every appetite of His human body. Beloved, that’s part of what fasting will do for you. It will show you that through the power of the Holy Spirit, no appetite of this world has the ability to control you without your consent.
Jesus fasted, and we are to imitate Him…and through it our spirits will be strengthened against the assault of the enemy.
What Did Jesus Say about Fasting?
Jesus also spoke about fasting, and I want to show you one passage related to it.
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
-Matthew 6:16-18 ESV
Did you see the first four words? “And when you fast.” Jesus is making the assumption that His followers WILL fast. There’s no “if you fast” no, it’s “when you fast.” Now, do I think people who follow Jesus in every other way but do not fast will go to Hell? I’d say no, because fasting doesn’t show up as a commandment from Jesus. But since Jesus fasted, therefore setting the example, and assumed we would fast, I would suggest we should fast as well.
Also note that we aren’t to go around publicly bragging about fasting. If I didn’t mention it on here, no one, outside of my wife and the people at my local church who ask, would have any idea when I’m fasting. And that’s true of others who fast as well. This is between you and the Lord.
How Do I Fast?
Well, there are many kinds of fasts, and Jesus didn’t give us specifics about those kinds. The kind of fast Jesus was talking about was likely a complete fast from food. That is certainly the most commonly understood type of fast. When our church does the 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer, many people do a complete food fast for all or part of the 21 days. Some (like me this year) skip one or more meals each day. Others fast things like the news (also me this year) or social media. You can fast any number of things.
But the point is this, you aren’t fasting and giving something up just for the sake of giving it up. No, the point of the fast is to draw closer to God by spending the time with Him that you would have given to whatever you’re sacrificing. And that leads to the next, very important, point.
Fasting Alone Isn’t Ideal
Did you notice our church doesn’t do “21 Days of Fasting”? We do “21 Days of Fasting AND Prayer!” Fasting is powerful, but if we’re not also praying it’s just a diet plan (or a social media hiatus or whatever). The growing closer to God part is accomplished as we take the time of fasting and we use it to increase how much we are with Him.
Your relationship with the Holy Spirit, with Jesus, and with the Father are directly tied to how much quality time you spend reading His word and in prayer.
I will say this about fasting, and I’ve seen it borne out in the lives of other Jesus followers who have fasted, whether it’s food (which I HIGHLY recommend experimenting with if your health allows it), or something else that distracts you from God. People who pray AND fast grow closer to God in ways that happen through no other spiritual discipline.
Do you have to fast? Probably not. But if you want more of God, then regular fasting should be part of your spiritual growth plan!
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Love you Jesus follower!