What God Says About Fasting

Fasting is not about outward performance.
It is about inward transformation that produces outward love.

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In Book of Isaiah 58, God confronts empty religious fasting.

The people were abstaining from food, but their hearts and actions were unchanged.

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God makes it clear — true fasting moves beyond ritual.

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“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?”
— Isaiah 58:6 (NIV)

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True fasting breaks bondage — first in us, then through us.

It softens our hearts toward others.

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“Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
— Isaiah 58:7 (NIV)

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Fasting is not about punishing your body. It is about positioning your heart.

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In Scripture, fasting is a way of humbling ourselves before God, quieting distractions, and drawing closer to Him.

 

“When you fast…”
— Gospel of Matthew 6:16 (NIV)

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Jesus didn’t say if you fast — but when. Fasting is meant to be a normal part of spiritual life.

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Why Fast?

1. To Draw Closer to God

Fasting removes something physical to make space for something spiritual.

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“Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
— Epistle of James 4:8 (NIV)

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2. To Humble Yourself

Fasting reminds us that we depend on God, not comfort.

 

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
— Epistle of James 4:10 (NIV)

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3. To Seek Direction or Breakthrough

Throughout the Bible, people fasted when seeking guidance, repentance, or clarity.

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“Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
— Book of Joel 2:12 (NIV)

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Easy Steps to Start Fasting

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If you are new to fasting, start gently.

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Step 1: Choose a Type

• Skip one meal

• Fast from social media

• Fast from something that distracts you

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Start with something sustainable.

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Step 2: Set a Clear Time

Example:
“I will fast from breakfast until lunch.”
Or
“I will fast from social media for 24 hours.”

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Clarity builds discipline.

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Step 3: Replace, Don’t Just Remove

Every time you feel hunger or the urge to check your phone, pray.

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Read Scripture.
Worship.
Journal.

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Fasting without prayer is just dieting.

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Step 4: End with Gratitude

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Break your fast with thanksgiving, not indulgence.

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If you have medical conditions, are pregnant, nursing, or have struggled with eating disorders, do not fast from food without medical guidance. You can fast from media or other distractions instead.

Fasting is about your heart — not harming your body.