Fasting is not about manipulating God or earning His favor, but about humbling ourselves before Him, seeking His face, and surrendering our desires and needs to His purposes. When we fast, we are invited to lay aside what is most essential to us—food or other comforts—as an act of worship, acknowledging our dependence on God and opening our hearts to His direction. This spiritual discipline is a way to honor God, to draw near to Him, and to allow Him to reveal His will in our lives. [18:54]
Matthew 6:16-18 (ESV)
“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.”
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense God inviting you to surrender control or comfort to Him through fasting or another act of worship this week?
Fasting is a powerful way to humble ourselves before God, letting go of our own strength and resources so that His grace and power can work in us. In seasons of weakness, struggle, or spiritual battle, fasting helps us acknowledge our need for God’s intervention and opens us to receive His strength. It is not an easy practice—fasting exposes our frailty and dependence—but it is through this humility that God pours out His grace and empowers us to overcome sin, temptation, and spiritual obstacles. [21:29]
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV)
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Reflection: Where do you feel weak or powerless right now, and how might you invite God’s strength into that area through humility and possibly fasting?
Fasting sharpens our spiritual senses and helps us discern God’s voice and direction, especially in times of confusion or important decisions. By setting aside food or other distractions, we create space to listen more intently to God, seeking His wisdom and understanding for our lives. Fasting can bring clarity, insight, and a deeper awareness of God’s calling, enabling us to move forward with confidence in His guidance. [29:57]
Acts 13:2 (ESV)
“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’”
Reflection: Is there a decision or area of uncertainty in your life where you need God’s direction? How could you set aside time to fast and pray for clarity this week?
True fasting is not only about abstaining from food, but also about giving of ourselves to others—sharing our resources, opening our homes, and sacrificing our comfort for the sake of those in need. God calls us to a fast that loosens the bonds of injustice, cares for the hungry and homeless, and breaks the yoke of oppression. This kind of fasting challenges us to move beyond convenience and truly embody Christ’s love and generosity in practical, sacrificial ways. [25:25]
Isaiah 58:6-7 (ESV)
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”
Reflection: Who in your community or circle could you serve or welcome in a sacrificial way this week, as an act of true fasting and compassion?
Fasting is a time when both physical and spiritual toxins are brought to the surface, revealing the “real you” and allowing God to cleanse and renew your heart. As you fast, hidden attitudes, sins, or emotional baggage may come to light, sometimes making the process uncomfortable or even painful. Yet, it is through this exposure and surrender that God brings deep healing, freedom, and spiritual renewal, enabling you to walk in greater joy and peace. [40:42]
Psalm 51:10 (ESV)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
Reflection: As you consider fasting or another spiritual discipline, what “spiritual junk” might God be inviting you to bring into the light for cleansing and renewal?
Today’s focus is on the often-overlooked spiritual discipline of fasting, as taught by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Fasting, along with prayer and giving, forms the heart of a vibrant Christian life. While prayer and giving are commonly practiced and discussed, fasting has largely fallen by the wayside, both in our culture and in the church. Yet, Jesus places it on equal footing with the other two, assuming that his followers would fast—not as a legalistic requirement, but as a natural outflow of a life seeking God.
Fasting, at its core, is abstaining from food for a period of time, though there are variations such as partial fasts or even fasting from other things that distract us from God. The biblical examples range from Esther’s three-day absolute fast to Moses’ and Elijah’s supernatural forty-day fasts. Most often, fasting is a private matter between the believer and God, though there are times for corporate fasting in response to crisis or as a call to repentance.
The purpose of fasting is not to manipulate God or to earn answers to prayer, but to humble ourselves, seek God’s face, and surrender to His purposes. Fasting is an act of worship, a way to draw near to God, and to allow Him to purify us from sin and self-reliance. It is a means of breaking spiritual strongholds, seeking direction, and deepening our understanding of God’s Word. Fasting exposes the “real you,” bringing to the surface both physical and spiritual toxins that need to be dealt with. It is often uncomfortable, even painful, but it is in that weakness that God’s strength is made perfect.
There are also practical benefits to fasting: increased clarity, contentment, and confidence as we learn to rely on God rather than our appetites or routines. Fasting is not just about food; it can mean giving up anything that has a hold on us—technology, comfort, privacy—for the sake of drawing closer to God and serving others. The call is to approach fasting thoughtfully, with humility and openness to God’s leading, and to make it a regular part of our walk with Him, just as we do with prayer and giving.
Matthew 6:16-18 (ESV) — > “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.”
Isaiah 58:6-7 (ESV) — > “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”
Acts 13:2-3 (ESV) — > “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”
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