“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” —Joel 2:12
Fasting is a theme throughout all of Scripture. While it’s never commanded for all believers, the Bible does give lots of good reasons to fast, including:
• Fasting before making an important decision (Acts 13:2; 14:23).
• Fasting for God’s intervention (2 Sam. 12:15–17).
• Fasting to show humility (Psalm 35:13).
• Fasting in response to grief or mourning (Psalm 35:14; Est. 4:3).
• Fasting to request God’s protection (Est. 4:15–16; Ezra 8:21–23).
• Fasting with repentance (Joel 2:12–15).
It may be a temptation while fasting to convince yourself that God will be highly pleased with your fast. The truth is God is already pleased with you (Rom. 8:1). He accepts you, not because of anything you do or don’t do but because He created you and He ransomed you through His sacrifice. Because of this, fasting isn’t a gift we give to God but a gift He gives to us. Ultimately, we fast under grace not under the law. It’s not about rules; it’s about our relationship with God.
Make it Personal
Have you ever fasted? Why or why not? Ask God to show you if fasting is a spiritual discipline that you should pursue.