In both Nehemiah 1 and Acts 13, we find powerful moments where God’s people were praying and fasting. In one, Nehemiah wept over the broken walls of Jerusalem. In the other, the church at Antioch worshiped, fasted, and prayed, and the Holy Spirit set apart Paul and Barnabas for missionary work.
From Old Testament to New Testament, fasting consistently appears at pivotal spiritual moments.
But what is fasting? Why did God’s people practice it? And how should we understand it today?
I. What Is Fasting?
The Old Testament Hebrew words for fasting, nesteuw and tsum, refer specifically to voluntary abstinence from food.
While someone may abstain from other things (such as entertainment or activities), biblically speaking, fasting pertains to refraining from food for a spiritual purpose.
Fasting is not dieting.
It is not self-punishment.
It is not religious performance.
It is a spiritual act of humility and dependence upon the Lord.
II. Fasting in the Old Testament
When we examine the Old Testament, fasting appears in several key contexts.
1. An Act of Mourning (Prompted by Death or Defeat)
In times of deep grief, God’s people fasted.
- In Judges 20:26, Israel fasted after a devastating defeat in battle.
- In 2 Samuel 1:12, David and his men fasted over the death of Saul and Jonathan.
Fasting expressed sorrow, brokenness, and dependence upon God in loss.
2. An Act of Seeking (Prompted by Distress)
Often fasting accompanied urgent prayer in moments of crisis:
- 2 Samuel 12:16 — David fasted when his child’s life hung in the balance.
- 2 Chronicles 20:3–4 — Jehoshaphat called for a national fast when an enemy army approached.
- Esther 4:3 — The Jews fasted after learning of Haman’s plan of destruction.
- Daniel 6:18 — The king fasted while Daniel was in the lions’ den.
- Daniel 9:3 — Daniel fasted after receiving a terrifying vision.
- Ezra 8:21 — Ezra proclaimed a fast before a dangerous journey.
- Nehemiah 1:4 — Nehemiah fasted after hearing Jerusalem’s walls were broken.
- Psalm 35:13 — David humbled himself with fasting amid persecution.
- Psalm 69:9–10 — David fasted over the spiritual condition of the people.
Fasting was both practical and spiritual. It expressed desperation, humility, and total reliance on God.
3. An Act of Repentance (Prompted by Conviction)
When confronted with sin, fasting often accompanied repentance:
- Jonah 3:5 — Nineveh fasted in response to Jonah’s warning.
- Joel 1:13–14 — A call to fasting in response to conviction and brokenness.
Fasting became an outward expression of inward repentance.
4. An Act of Revival (Prompted by the Spirit)
In moments of spiritual renewal:
- 1 Samuel 7:6 — Israel fasted at Mizpah during revival.
- Nehemiah 9:1 — The people fasted during corporate worship and renewal.
- Joel 2:12–17 — A call to fasting and prayer for revival.
Fasting preceded and accompanied revival.
5. An Act of Hypocrisy (Prompted by Self)
Not all fasting pleased God.
- Isaiah 58:1–6 — God rebuked outward fasting that lacked inward transformation.
- Zechariah 7:4–5 — The people fasted for themselves, not for God.
Fasting without humility, repentance, and obedience is empty.
Old Testament Conclusions
From these examples, several truths emerge:
- Fasting was prompted by distress, both practical and spiritual.
- Fasting was closely connected to repentance and confession.
- Fasting expressed humility and dependence upon the Lord.
- Fasting accompanied seeking and praying.
- Fasting without genuine spiritual dynamics is meaningless.
III. Fasting in the New Testament
Fasting did not disappear with the New Covenant. Instead, it continued as a spiritual discipline.
1. An Act of Spiritual Devotion
- Matthew 4:1–2 — Jesus fasted while being led by the Spirit into the wilderness.
- Luke 2:37 — Anna worshiped with fasting and prayer.
- Acts 13:1–3 — The church at Antioch fasted and prayed as part of normal worship.
- Acts 14:23 — Paul and Barnabas fasted while appointing elders.
- Matthew 6:16–18 — Jesus said, “When you fast,” assuming it would be part of personal devotion.
Fasting was not rare or extreme, it was normal.
It was practiced personally and corporately.
2. An Act of Legalism
However, just as in the Old Testament, fasting could become corrupted:
- In Matthew 9, Mark 2, and Luke 5, religious leaders criticized Jesus’ disciples for not following their fasting traditions.
- In Matthew 6:16–18, Jesus warned against fasting for public recognition.
Fasting is not a badge of spirituality. It is a private expression of devotion.
New Testament Conclusions
- Fasting was part of the normal spiritual discipline of believers.
- It communicated humility, dependence, repentance, and seeking, just as in the Old Testament.
- It can become legalistic if reduced to outward ritual without inward reality.
IV. Application for Today
So what does this mean for us?
1. Build Fasting into Your Devotional Life
As led by the Spirit, fasting should be a regular part of personal spiritual discipline. It trains the heart to depend on God more than physical appetite.
2. Fast in Distressing Circumstances
In times of crisis, like family burdens, national uncertainty, personal trials, fasting intensifies our seeking of the Lord.
3. Fast Corporately for Revival
Churches should fast together, asking God to renew hearts and awaken conviction.
Revival in Scripture was often accompanied by fasting.
4. Fast with the Right Heart
When fasting, we should exhibit:
- Humility
- Dependence
- Seeking
- Repentance
- A longing for revival
Without these, fasting is empty.
Final Thoughts
Fasting is not about manipulating God.
It is about positioning ourselves before Him.
From Nehemiah’s tears to the Antioch church’s commissioning service, fasting has marked moments when God’s people recognized their need for Him.
Perhaps today, what we need most is not more activity, but more humility. Not more noise, but more seeking.
May we learn again the biblical pattern of prayer and fasting so that our hearts are revived and our churches are renewed.
Click here for a Prayer & Fasting Guide.
Click here for a Fasting Guide Summary.
Watch the full message on Biblical fasting here:
