FASTING AND PRAYER
- Mikey Gonzalez
- Mar 12
- 4 min read
Many believers around the world are currently fasting for Lent, a season of reflection and repentance leading up to Easter. Maybe you’re one of them — or perhaps after reading this post, you’ll feel inspired to start fasting yourself. Fasting has been practiced for centuries, deeply rooted in both Jewish and Christian history. It’s a profoundly biblical practice.
Why Should We Fast?
You might wonder why fasting matters and how you should approach it. There are many spiritual reasons to fast, but let me some key motivations and an overarching theme that runs through all biblical fasting.
In Scripture, fasting often marks a sacred time of seeking God’s face and humbling ourselves before Him. Here are a few examples:
Day of Atonement – The Israelites fasted annually to humble themselves and celebrate God’s forgiveness of their sins (Leviticus 16).
1 Samuel 7 – The Israelites fasted to repent and realign their hearts with God’s will.
Joel 1:13-15 – In a time of crisis, God’s people responded with prayer and fasting.
Daniel 10:3 – Daniel fasted to seek wisdom, insight, and breakthrough for his generation.
Esther 4:16 – Esther fasted for favor and mercy from God and the king to save her people.
Matthew 9:14-15 Jesus tells His disciples that they will fast when He is no longer present with them.
Acts 13 – The church in Antioch fasted while seeking God’s direction, leading to the sending of Paul and Barnabas on their mission.
The common thread in all these examples is that fasting creates space to seek the Lord and contend for the fullness of His purposes — not just for individuals but for entire communities, nations, and even the world. His ultimate purpose involves His kingdom and manifest presence here on earth.
How to fast?
Biblical fasting usually involves abstaining from food, but it’s not limited to that. It can also mean giving up media, entertainment, or other comforts for a period of time. Most fasts in Scripture lasted from one day to 40 days.
Fasting is a way to engage your whole body in prayer. By restraining physical or fleshly appetites, you position yourself in surrender, acknowledging that only God can satisfy your deepest longings. Fasting allows the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, leading to brokenness, repentance, and transformation.
Fasting and Prayer Go Hand in Hand
Fasting should always be paired with prayer — both personal and corporate. When God’s people fast with a broken, repentant and contrite spirit, He responds. He heals lives, churches, communities, nations, and the world. Fasting and prayer can bring transformation.
Consider Nehemiah; Nehemiah initially wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed over the state of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:1–4). His intercession then opened the door for Ezra and the priests to proclaim God’s Word so powerfully that it led to corporate repentance and a renewed commitment to God’s Law (Nehemiah 8:8–18).
Through fasting, we are emptying ourselves for the sake of making room to have more of HIM. Through prayer, we express our longing for His presence and nearness. This is the reason why Jesus said that we will fast, in longing and mourning for Him, his nearness, his manifest presence among us, and the complete establishment of His kingdom.
Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. (Matthew 9:14-15)
In the place of prayer and fasting, we are redirecting our hearts to true heavenly pleasures, letting God satisfy our deepest longings. When we fast — abstaining from something physical — it naturally creates space to receive something spiritual. That’s why it’s crucial to consider what you’re feasting on in place of what you’ve given up. As you make room in your heart and remove distractions, what are you feeding your soul with? Do you turn to prayer? Do you spend time reading, studying, and meditating on Scripture?
But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)
When we set our focus on God and make more room for Him in our hearts through fasting and prayer, it feeds our souls, and it also equips us for further assignments the Lord may have for us in bringing his kingdom here to earth just as he did with Paul and Barnabas and many more.
Now, are you hungry for more of God? Are you longing for Jesus? Then, let us fast and pray.
10 Practical Tips for Fasting
Fast something meaningful – Choose something that will cost you.
Avoid distractions – Use the time gained to seek God in prayer and Scripture.
Set clear goals – Define the focus and prayer targets of your fast.
Determine the length – Decide how long you’ll fast before you start.
Fast with someone – Partnering with others brings encouragement and accountability.
Prepare physically – Ease into and out of the fast carefully.
Expect opposition – Pray daily for grace to persevere.
Stay humble – Don’t boast about your fasting.
Be open to God’s voice – Pay attention to dreams, visions, and words from God.
Trust the timing – Breakthrough often comes after the fast, not during it.
May God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven as we fast and pray and redirect our hearts, minds and souls to God, the only One who can truly satisfy, heal and save.
REFERENCES
International House of Prayer - Living the Forerunner Lifestyle: Fasting Guidelines