Biblical Fasting: Drawing Near to God

Introduction

Friend, fasting is one of those words that makes many of us pause. We’ve heard about it in church, maybe even in health magazines, but what does it truly mean in the life of a believer? Is it just about skipping meals—or is there something deeper God invites us into?

At its core, Biblical fasting is not about food—it’s about focus. It’s a voluntary choice to set aside what we depend on (food) so we can depend fully on God. It’s about emptying ourselves of distraction and filling ourselves with His presence.

Why Do We Fast?

Scripture gives us many reasons why God’s people fasted:

• To humble themselves before God (Ezra 8:21).
  

• To seek wisdom and direction (Acts 13:2–3).
  

• To intercede for others (Esther 4:16).
  

• To prepare for God’s calling (Matthew 4:2).
  

• To express repentance and return to God (Joel 2:12–13).
  
  

Fasting was never meant to earn God’s love. Instead, it’s a way of saying, “Lord, I need You more than I need bread today. I am desperate for You.”

Who Fasted in Scripture & For How Long?

• Moses fasted 40 days as he received the Law (Exodus 34:28).
  

• Esther and the Jewish people fasted for 3 days to intercede for their nation (Esther 4:16).
  

• Daniel fasted for 21 days, seeking understanding and revelation (Daniel 10:2–3).
  

• Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before His public ministry (Matthew 4:2).
  
  

Some fasted a single day, some three, some forty. The length varied, but the heart was the same: surrender and seeking God.

🌸 Bonus Note: The Significance of 40

In the Bible, the number 40 often represents a season of testing, preparation, or transition:

• Moses fasted 40 days as he received the Law on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28).
  

• Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness before beginning His ministry (Matthew 4:2).
  

• Israel wandered 40 years in the desert, being prepared to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33–34).
  

• Noah’s flood lasted 40 days and nights, leading to a new beginning (Genesis 7:12).
  
  

✨ Key Insight:

When we see 40 in scripture, it points to more than a number—it symbolizes God’s process of shaping, refining, and readying His people for what comes next.

So when Moses and Jesus fasted for 40 days, it wasn’t coincidence. It was divine preparation for covenant and calling.

🌸 Word Spotlight: Fasting

Hebrew Word – Tsuwm (צוּם)

• Meaning: “to cover the mouth, to abstain from food.”
  

• Used in the Old Testament for humbling oneself before God (Ezra 8:21, Joel 2:12).
  
  

Greek Word – Nēsteia (νηστεία)

• Meaning: “abstinence from food.”
  

• Rooted in ne- (not) and esthō (to eat).
  

• Used in the New Testament (Matthew 6:16–18, Acts 13:2–3).
  
  

📖 Key Insight: In the Bible, fasting always refers to abstaining from food. Today, some Christians choose to set aside media or other distractions as a spiritual discipline. While helpful, this is not the same as the Biblical fasts we see in scripture.

The Fruit of Fasting

When God’s people fasted, they experienced:

• Spiritual clarity – heightened awareness of God’s voice.
  

• Breakthrough and freedom – “Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: to set the oppressed free…?” (Isaiah 58:6, NLT).
  

• Renewal of strength – “The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.” (Isaiah 58:11, NLT).
  

• Intimacy with God – a deeper hunger for Him than for the things of this world.
  
  

Fasting and the World

It’s interesting that nearly every religion recognizes fasting as sacred. Muslims observe Ramadan. Jews fast on Yom Kippur. Buddhists and Hindus include fasting in their rituals. Even secular studies show that fasting sharpens focus, brings mental clarity, and resets the body.

But here’s the difference: only in Christ does fasting find its ultimate purpose. It is not about self-denial for its own sake—it’s about drawing close to the living God and aligning with His will.

How Do We Fast Today?

You don’t need to start with forty days in the wilderness. A Biblical fast might look like:

• Skipping one meal and using that time to pray.
  

• Fasting a day each week to intercede for family or community.
  

• Joining your church in a corporate fast at the beginning of the year.
  
  

The important thing is not the length but the heart. Each time hunger rises, let it become a prayer: “Lord, I hunger for You more than anything else.”

Closing Reflection & Prayer

Friend, fasting is not about deprivation—it’s about devotion. It’s about creating space for God to speak, move, and renew us in ways nothing else can.

Prayer:

“Father, teach me the beauty of fasting—not as a duty, but as a delight. Help me set aside what distracts me so I can hear Your voice clearly. May my hunger for You grow stronger than my hunger for anything else. Amen.”

🌿Reflection Questions & Journaling Prompts

1. When you think of fasting, what emotions or thoughts come to mind?
   

2. Which Biblical example of fasting (Moses, Esther, Daniel, Jesus) speaks most to your current season? Why?
   

3. What is one area of your life where you feel God calling you to depend more fully on Him?
   

4. How might fasting (whether one meal, one day, or longer) create space for God’s voice in your life right now?
   

5. Write a prayer of surrender, asking God to deepen your hunger for His presence.

✨ For more devotionals and printable resources, visit HisWordsMinistry.com.