What does the Bible say about fasting and praying?
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The Bible teaches that fasting joined with prayer is a humble, voluntary way of seeking God, expressing repentance, dependence, and earnest desire for his guidance, not a means of earning his favor. Jesus commands his people to fast without hypocrisy, seeking the Father’s approval rather than human praise (Matthew 6:16-18). Joel calls God’s people to return to him with fasting and mourning (Joel 2:12), while Ezra and Esther show fasting in times of danger and urgent need (Ezra 8:21-23; Esther 4:16). The early church fasted and prayed as it worshiped, commissioned missionaries, and appointed elders (Acts 13:2-3; Acts 14:23). Fasting should therefore accompany faith, prayer, and submission to God’s will.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Matthew 6:16-18
[16] "Moreover when you fast, don't be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most assuredly I tell you, they have received their reward. [17] But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face; [18] so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
- Acts 13:2
As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them."
- Joel 2:12
"Yet even now," says Yahweh, "turn to me with all your heart, And with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning."
- Acts 14:23
When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
- Daniel 10:3
I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, until three whole weeks were fulfilled.
- Esther 4:16
Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast you for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in to the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
- Ezra 8:21-23
[21] Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. [22] For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, The hand of our God is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him. [23] So we fasted and begged our God for this: and he was entreated of us.
- Acts 13:3
Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
- Ezra 8:23
So we fasted and begged our God for this: and he was entreated of us.
- Luke 2:37
and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn't depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day.
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