Feasting & Fasting-Part 4: Prayer and Fasting

It’s a little ironic that as I begin writing this last piece of our series, I am recently recovered from an unintended fast due to a GI virus. Thankfully these viruses are usually short-lived, and although I’m fitting in my “skinny pants” today, most of us survive these illnesses without any long term effects, including lasting weight loss. Of course fasting when you’re sick or for medical purposes is a completely different topic than what we’re discussing here, so let’s go to the Bible to begin our real discussion.

To summarize the Biblical definition, fasting is a voluntary reduction or elimination of food or drink for a specific time and a spiritual purpose. We see God’s people throughout the scriptures fasting for various reasons, though God is usually at the heart of their fast. I’m not going to review every scenario recorded, but we will look at three people, discuss the purpose of their fast as recorded in the text and see how it relates to us.

In part 1, I mentioned the Daniel fast, which is probably one of the most known fasts from the Bible. In Daniel chapter one, Daniel and his friends were unwilling to defile themselves on Babylonian foods forbidden by their faith, and requested to be served only vegetables and water for a test of ten days, though it’s not clear how long they actually ate this way since the test went well. Centuries earlier God had provided the Israelites with an extensive list of dietary restrictions and Daniel and his friends wanted to maintain obedience to those laws as provided through Moses. Later in chapter ten, Daniel fasts again, yet this time in hopes of gaining understanding of a disturbing vision God had given him. During this three week fast, Daniel ate no choice food, no meat or wine and used no lotions. As before it is not a full fast from food, yet extends beyond food to reflect his level of grief.

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a Great War. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision. At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. Daniel 10:1-3 NIV

So two different fasts are recorded for Daniel. The first is actually Daniel wanting to live in obedience to the dietary restrictions given to his people by God. Such dietary restrictions are not common to most Christians, though I have found God may ask at times for us to refrain from particular foods or drinks, especially something that may be interfering with building a reliance upon him…alcohol, sweets, etc. Adhering to these restrictions is important, though the benefits may vary depending on the reason God may be asking us to refrain.

Daniel’s second fast came after God had given him a disturbing and prophetic vision, and Daniel fervently sought God to know its meaning. It took three weeks for the answer to come, but God proved himself faithful and answered Daniel’s prayer in an amazing fashion. For me Daniel’s response is also an excellent example of how God responds when we seek his wisdom. If we are unsure of the meaning of a dream or vision, as we see throughout the book of Daniel, God is the ultimate source of interpretation.

Moving along, we come to a difficult circumstance where personal grief drives a fast. We might know God has a purpose in all things, but actually embracing that can often be difficult. Prayer and fasting can be powerful, but there are times when God has a plan and we cannot fast him into accepting ours. When David fasted and prayed for the health of the son he had with Bathsheba, the baby still died (2 Samuel 12:15-23).

David said, “While the baby was still living, I cried and refused to eat because I thought, ‘Who knows? Maybe the Lord will feel sorry for me and let the baby live.’ But now the baby is dead, so why should I refuse to eat? Can I bring the baby back to life? No. Some day I will go to him, but he cannot come back to me.” 2 Samuel 12:21-23 ERV

There’s a lot of backstory to these verses, but in summary, the death of the baby was a harsh consequence of David’s sin and no amount of prayer and fasting was going to reverse God’s decision, yet David humbled himself to God and put his heart into it. God does respond and offers incredible grace, but not in the way David had hoped. We may not understand why God withholds healing to our bodies or relationships, yet fasting is not a futile activity. Fasting can bring us into closer communion with God, strengthen our spirit, and help us to gain a better understanding of living in submission to his will.

Our last example is our Messiah himself. In Matthew 4:1-2 and Luke 4:1-2, it is recorded that Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights, when God led him into the wilderness. It’s an intriguing thought considering he was God in the flesh, yet because of his humanity he battled his flesh similar to the way we battle ours. In this world we are ruled by the cravings of our flesh and fasting can help us to overcome its power so the power of the spirit can be strengthened. Paul tells us that the flesh and spirit are opposing forces.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. Galatians 5:17-18 NIV

Although our spirit is strengthened through the Holy Spirit abiding within us, once we are redeemed by God, we must still strive to overcome the power of our flesh. Fasting can build our faith and help us to better withstand temptation. God most likely won’t require us to endure a forty day fast, but where would we be if Jesus had never conquered his flesh with such radical action? Would he have gone to the cross, or would his flesh have screamed against it? Thankfully we don’t have to consider that outcome. Jesus lived in humility and willingly made every sacrifice the Father appointed him.

As we approach this holy season of Easter, consider preparing your heart with a fast. It doesn’t have to be a total fast or a long fast to make its mark on your flesh, but it should be felt acutely. Pray and ask God what sacrifice he might want you to make, and then take action.