What does the Bible say about prayer and fasting?
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The Bible teaches that prayer and fasting are humble acts of seeking God, expressing repentance, dependence, and earnest desire for his will, not ways to earn his favor or impress others. Jesus warns in Matthew 6:16-18 that fasting should be sincere and directed toward the Father who sees in secret. Isaiah 58:6 joins true fasting to justice, mercy, and care for the oppressed. God’s people fasted while praying for guidance, worshiping, appointing elders, and facing urgent need, as seen in Acts 13:2-3, Acts 14:23, Nehemiah 1:4, and Esther 4:16. Joel 2:12 calls for returning to the Lord with the whole heart.
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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 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.
- Isaiah 58:6
Isn't this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?
- 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."
- 1 Corinthians 7:5
Don't deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn't tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
- Acts 13:3
Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
- 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.
- Nehemiah 1:4
It happened, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,
- Joel 2:12
"Yet even now," says Yahweh, "turn to me with all your heart, And with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning."
- 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.
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