I’ve wondered why Christians fast. I hear podcasts and stories about people fasting and thought it might be appropriate for me, but I never really settled on a solid foundation for WHY I should be fasting. So, what I’ve found is that the New Testament doesn’t give a step-by-step fasting manual, but it does paint a beautiful picture of what is clearly a helpful and meaningful spiritual discipline. Walk with me as I begin exploring how fasting might fit into my own (and maybe your) Christian life, looking at Jesus’ example and a couple of habits of the early Church. Maybe together we can begin to uncover how this ancient discipline might fit into our lives today.
Jesus didn’t just talk about fasting—he lived it! After His baptism, but before beginning his ministry, he “was led by the Spirit” to spend forty days fasting (and being tempted) in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-2, Luke 4:1-13). Why?
He was God Incarnate, right? Did He need to fast? He was sent by the Father for a specific purpose, as He Himself stated in the Nazareth synagogue just after His time in the wilderness when He read Isaiah 61:1,2 (NLT): “1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. 2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.”
The timeline makes me wonder if this 40-day fast/temptation is where the Father clarified for Him what His mission was really all about and what those who followed Him could expect. The temptations followed the patterns of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. In other words, what we face every day!
It's all about ME!
Knowing our tendency to want to celebrate ME, Jesus also gave us some practical fasting advice. He warned against turning fasting into a spiritual performance: “When you fast, don’t make a big show of it like the hypocrites do. Instead, wash your face and put on some cologne so nobody knows you’re fasting except your Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:16-18). Jesus cares about our hearts more than our hunger!
When the disciples of John the Baptist asked why His disciples weren’t fasting like John’s disciples (Matt 9:14-15), Jesus responded with a fascinating answer: “Wedding guests don’t fast while celebrating with the groom! But someday the groom will be taken away, and then they’ll fast” (Mark 2:19-20). It sounds to me like Jesus was saying a couple of things here: 1) there’s a right time for fasting, 2) it’s not about legalistic rules but responding to current spiritual necessities, and 3) It isn’t a question of whether His followers would fast; He expected them to fast.
Jesus even hinted that some spiritual breakthroughs required extra spiritual effort when he told his disciples that certain challenges could “only be overcome by prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29; the term “fasting” here is only mentioned in some of the ancient manuscripts). The implication is that some situations come with a higher threshold or requirement for spiritual power — which He suggested fasting brings.
Early Christians & Fasting
In the Book of Acts, early Christians followed Jesus’ model of embracing fasting in some really practical ways. They weren’t following a strict fasting calendar—they were fasting in response to specific needs and situations.
The church at Antioch was “worshiping and fasting” together when God told them to send out Paul and Barnabas as missionaries (Acts 13:2-3). When Paul and Barnabas appointed new church leaders, they did so “with prayer and fasting” (Acts 14:23). These early believers employed fasting as a means of tuning into God’s guidance when they faced big decisions.
So where do we go from here? The New Testament suggests multiple reasons for fasting that go far beyond just skipping meals.
First
Fasting creates the spiritual soil to prepare for important decisions. Jesus prepared for his ministry through fasting. How can we not create space in our own lives to focus on God’s guidance before big decisions or new seasons?
Second
Fasting teaches us self-discipline in a culture that demands – and screams that we deserve – instant gratification. When Paul talks about “disciplining my body and keeping it under control” (1 Corinthians 9:27), he describes the kind of spiritual muscle we can build through fasting. It’s training ourselves to say “yes” to God even when our stomachs are saying, “Feed me!”
Third
Fasting can create extra room for prayer in our busy lives. Fasting and prayer are almost always mentioned together in the New Testament. The time we’d normally spend preparing and eating food becomes time we can spend talking with God. Even those demanding hunger pangs can become reminders to pray throughout the day!
Lastly
Finally, and perhaps most beautifully, fasting is a physical way of saying, “God, I need you more than food.” During His fast, Jesus quoted Scripture to the devil, saying, “No! The Scriptures say, People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4 NLT). Fasting helps us live out Jesus’ admonition to “seek first God’s kingdom” (Matthew 6:33) by physically putting spiritual hunger before physical hunger.
The Heart of NT Fasting
The New Testament demonstrates a balanced view of fasting—it’s incredibly valuable but voluntary. It is also incredibly powerful, personally and when practiced as a community. Jesus transformed fasting from a purely religious performance into a purposeful means of hearing from the God we love in times of deep need. The early church modeled fasting as a tool in their quest to hear God’s voice more clearly, especially when they faced important decisions.
So the heart of New Testament fasting isn’t about earning God’s favor or checking off a religious box. It’s about creating the environment for a deeper connection with God, expressing further dependence on Him, preparing for spiritual challenges, and practicing the self-discipline that helps us follow Jesus more closely.
OK, here’s the synopsis. Whether you’re new to fasting or have practiced it for years, the Word of God in the New Testament offers this beautiful invitation to you – and to me: fast as a response to God, not to impress others but to connect with Him. It’s a simple practice, and when approached with the right heart, it can deepen your relationship with God, give insight into spiritual dilemmas, and create the power, energy, and courage to face new and maybe difficult situations. Ready to try it out?
Love this Rick!
Great timing too. 🙂 we invited our life group into a weekly fast during lent. It’s the first time any of them have fasted.
Love you, brother
Awesome, Danny! Glad this ministered to you!
Amen! Thanks for this Rick. Super encouraging, great insight and awesome reminder.
Thanks, Robert!