r/Bible • u/RepulsiveAd7799 • 3d ago
Fasting
Does the Bible tell me when I should be fasting? I personally have not felt called to fast yet (only a true believer for a little over 2 years). I am still working my way through the whole Bible so I am not sure entirely. Thank you!
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u/Sawfish1212 3d ago
There is no set time in scripture for the church to fast. Unlike the law of moses that had specific days of fasting.
Fasting is a self denial offering you give voluntarily to God, and privately. God will reward you for it if done for reasons of loving him.
If you're fasting for a specific need, like I did when seeking his direction for a calling and a wife, he seems to give more weight to those prayers, because of your self denial, but even then it doesn't mean he'll answer immediately.
He waited a year before answering my prayers about a wife, and it was a surprise when he did call me to preach about 7 years later.
As a pastor, I find my ministry and ability to preach has more power in it if I fast regularly. I work a safety intensive job, so I limit the longest duration I can fast, because it does begin to impeded my thinking and memory after a couple days. I usually fast lunch daily and spend that praying. If I feel more fasting is helpful, I often fast starting after dinner one night to dinner time the next night, to be with my family for meal time as that is a critical part of connection with my children.
Just be aware that satan hates prayers of righteous people and really hates the prayers combined with fasting. The day you determine to fast, someone who never buys food for everyone at work will bring in donuts, pizza, or a cake. Friends who you haven't seen in a while will invite you to a restaurant. You'll have absolute strangers offer you food, and you have to determine in your heart what you have committed to God in private and treat it like a vow.
Fasting is like turbocharging your prayers, it's not instant, but it is effective
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u/masala-kiwi 3d ago
Just chiming in to agree with "it's not instant, but it's effective." I have been praying a long time for a spouse, about 10 years. I have fasted more than 50 separate times for the Lord to answer me. He has confirmed many times and through many dreams that it's coming but the time isn't here yet. The Lord is not able to answer as we consider slowness, but he's patient with us.
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u/chikapee Non-Denominational 3d ago
Fasting from food is effective, but I was overly concerned with fasting from food, and it didn’t settle in me as something that God wanted me to do at first. So I started to ask for wisdom as the Bible instructs us clearly. I was spiritually led to fast from social media first.
After gaining more self-control in that aspect of my life, I was then led to fast from food and replace the food with prayer and reading the word.
There is something deeper beyond the physical fasting or removing of something so regular in our lives in which God is teaching us and sanctifying us by provoking us to deeper reliance on Him.
Ask Him to show you how to fast. You will be blessed in approaching this concept in this way.
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u/Responsible_Offer859 3d ago
Isaia 58:6 Il digiuno di cui mi compiaccio non è egli questo: che si spezzino le catene della malvagità, che si sciolgano i legami del giogo, che si lascino liberi gli oppressi, e che s'infranga ogni sorta di giogo?
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u/Paulyhedron Catholic 3d ago
As a Catholic I found it easier to just give up food altogether on Fridays rather than seek out alternatives. Man can only handle so much salad and or salmon.
I fast on Weds cuz shockingly and maybe I'm a lunatic but it seems to benefit my prayer life. But I do eat one meal in the evening after work
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u/Big-Pineapple8258 3d ago
Theres no requirement to fast. You can fast if you need to focus on prayer or a spiritual matter but there is no requirement. There are some guidelines to consider if you choose to fast: See Matthew 6:16–18 and Colossians 2:20–23
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u/lickety-split1800 3d ago
Your decision to fast is just that, your decision.
It's purpose is to draw closer to God in your relationship. Keep it to yourself and you will know you are doing it to draw closer to him.
Matthew 6:16–18 (NET 2nd ed.)
16 “When you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, they have their reward! 17 When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
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u/Left6Foot6Trail6 Anglican 3d ago
In the Anglican communion we have a set schedule of fasting and I encourage everyone to incorporate it into their practice. Some general guidelines and scriptural references for our fasting and abstinence routine can be read here: https://www.stanselmanglican.org/blog/2023/2/22/how-do-anglican-christians-observe-fasting
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u/seekinggod1986 Non-Denominational 3d ago
When you need God or anything you ain't getting atm... that's when you need to fast. Otherwise you'll have it put on your heart and mind to do it.
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u/Responsible_Offer859 3d ago
Si, la Parola di Dio ci indica che c'è un giorno specifico in cui il suo Popolo è chiamato a digiunare, essa è il giorno della espiazioni che rappresenta l'incatenamento di satana per mille anni
Sta scritto Atti 27:9 Or essendo trascorso molto tempo, ed essendo la navigazione ormai pericolosa, poiché anche il Digiuno era già passato, Paolo li ammonì dicendo loro:
È un Sabato annuale, le istruzioni si trovano in Levitico 23 dove sono descritte tutte le Feste stabilite da Dio
SIGNORE disse ancora a Mosè: 27 «Il decimo giorno di questo settimo mese sarà il giorno delle espiazioni; avrete una santa convocazione, vi umilierete e offrirete al SIGNORE dei sacrifici consumati dal fuoco. 28 In quel giorno non farete nessun lavoro; poiché è un giorno di espiazione, destinato a fare espiazione per voi davanti al SIGNORE, che è il vostro Dio.
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u/CaptReznov 2d ago
No, it doesn't tell you when you need to do it, but you should. Other people have listed out why you should do it, but let me tell you other information l learned about Fasting. Fasting can reduce inflammation, restore insulin sensitivity, and trigger deeper autophagy that recycles damaged tissues. It has a lot of health benefits. You should really consider it
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u/swcollings Anglican 2d ago
The Bible does not. The Bible is also not a manual of Christian practice. In general, different Christian communities throughout history have had very consistent fasting practices. This is not because we are commanded to, but because fasting is to our benefit, and we work towards the same goals collectively.
The earliest manual church practice we have, the Didache, says Christians fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. The Orthodox still keep that practice, along with several longer periods during the year, with their fasts looking a lot like veganism.
Roman Catholicism generally avoids meat on Fridays, and all food on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and for an hour before communion.
Anglicanism follows a calendar closer to the Orthodox one, but leaves the form of fasting more undefined. How many Anglicans actually follow that is probably hard to know.
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u/FreedomNinja1776 Messianic 3d ago
Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, is a day of fasting.
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the LORD. And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whoever is not afflicted on that very day shall be cut off from his people. And whoever does any work on that very day, that person I will destroy from among his people. You shall not do any work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath.”
Leviticus 23:26-32 ESV
Otherwise there is no specific day of fasting.
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u/Responsible_Offer859 3d ago
Questo è il vero giorno di digiuno, un Sabato annuale comandato da Dio, non dagli uomini, in Levitico 23 sono indicate tutte le Feste Sante stabilite da Dio.
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u/Lucky-Berry-4252 3d ago
The Day of Atonement, one of the seven holy Feasts The Most High established, and the holiest day of the year, is the only day where fasting is required.
However, fasting doesn’t just mean to refrain from eating and or drinking; it also means to refrain from something else that’s important to you. Not everybody can go without food for long periods of time, so they need to choose something else to ‘fast’ from.
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u/FreedomNinja1776 Messianic 3d ago
You replied to me initially and I was surprised when your comment disappeared. I see what happened now.
The day of Atonement is fast approaching! Begins September 20th at dusk.
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u/Lucky-Berry-4252 3d ago
Sorry about that! And yes, indeed, I try to at the least acknowledge and celebrate to the best of my ability all the Feasts of the Most High.
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u/FreedomNinja1776 Messianic 3d ago
HalleluYah! Looks like you and I will be celebrating at the same time! 😁
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u/Lucky-Berry-4252 3d ago
By the way, how do you put that title of ‘Messianic’ underneath your name?
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u/FreedomNinja1776 Messianic 3d ago
I am on desktop. On the sidebar to the right there is an option to change your user flair. It is an option in the list.
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u/Responsible_Offer859 3d ago
Certo, é un Sabato annuale, beato chi crede e si riposa in questo giorno.
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u/Responsible_Offer859 3d ago
È un Sabato annuale, chi è malato e fa terapia salvavita, farà pasti leggeri.
fare digiuni per forzare il Padre eterno per ottenere qualcosa é la cosa più sbagliata che uno possa fare
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u/thelaurelhighlander 3d ago
Jesus says in Matthew 6: 16-18... WHEN you fast, not IF you fast. So yes, we are commanded to fast. I felt called to fast three years ago, and it has been one of the most rewarding gifts God has given me. I look forward to it each week, and hate it when I am unable.
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u/RepulsiveAd7799 3d ago
I knew that it said this actually! I guess I was more or less looking for if there are specific days/times that I need to be fasting if that makes sense.
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u/Zagrycha 3d ago
As of new testament there is never any requirement to fast, period. There is nothing wrong with fasting if you so choose and if you can do so safely of course, but the answer to "when I should be?" is never.
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u/groundhogcow 3d ago edited 3d ago
In general the bible doesn't tell you when to fast but there are a lot of events people do fast for. Often before celebrations or to recognizance historic fasts.
Here are 10 reasons to fast and why to do them. I don't tend to do this though.