On this page, we're going to present some KJV Bible verses about fasting to get your breakthrough.
It is our prayer that you use these fasting scriptures for breakthrough in your life and in the lives of others. Fasting has always been a great tool in the arsenal of believers when petitioning God for themselves and on behalf of others.
These Bible verses come from both the Old Testament and New Testament. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, may God show you the power that can be released through fasting.
The power that comes through fasting comes because of the relinquishing of human control.
When human beings control their lives, their flesh dominates. When God controls your life, the Spirit of God dominates.
And so fasting is a process that brings about the transferal of power from one kingdom to another; from man's kingdom to God's kingdom. And so, you would see Jesus fasting, you might see Moses and King David fasting. 
Why?
Because they're trying to acquire the kingdom of God. They're trying to acquire that weight that comes from the kingdom, because the Kingdom is not meat or drink but righteousness, peace andjoy in the Holy Spirit, according to Romans 14:17.
More Bible Verses About Fasting
Bible Verses To Read When Fasting For Breakthrough:
Matthew 6:16-18
- Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Our Father brings swift breakthrough to His People but trust and humility are necessary for its manifestation 1 Corinthians 7:5
- Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Isaiah 58:6
- Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

Exodus 34:28
- And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
Powerful Scriptures About Fasting
Fasting can cause you to improve your blood glucose, make your body more sensitive to the action of the hormone insulin.
In the same way, in the spirit, fasting allows you to lose spiritual weights that hold you down. And it also allows you to be able to process the Word of God more willingly.
And so there are many parallels in fasting, both in the natural and in the spiritual, but when it comes to a child of God, fasting, enables you to more readily acquire the things of the Kingdom, because you are given place to the Spirit of God or the Holy Ghost because it is in Him that the Kingdom of God resides! Again, that's Romans 14:17. For the kingdom of God is not meat or drink, but righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost.
John's disciples we know from Scripture fasted, we know the Lord Jesus Christ, fasted. Why? Fasting is a means to awaken you to the life in the Spirit with increased sensitivity to the Spirit's activity. Here are more fasting scriptures in the bible.
Isaiah 58:3-7
- Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and…

| Book & Verse | Text (KJV) | Scholarly Paraphrase / Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew 6:16–18 | "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance… But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face…" | Fasting is a private spiritual act; God values sincerity over public display. (Matthew Henry; N.T. Wright) |
| Isaiah 58:6–7 | "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness… to deal thy bread to the hungry…?" | True fasting must include social justice and care for the needy, not mere ritual. (Keil & Delitzsch; J. Goldingay) |
| Joel 2:12–13 | "Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting… rend your heart, and not your garments…" | Fasting signifies heartfelt repentance and internal transformation. (A. W. Pink; NICOT) |
| Ezra 8:21–23 | "Then I proclaimed a fast there… that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us…" | Fasting accompanies intercessory prayer, humility, and reliance on God’s guidance. (John Gill; F. C. Fensham) |
| Acts 13:2–3 | "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said… Separate me Barnabas and Saul…" | Early church fasting was used for spiritual discernment and commissioning leaders. (F. F. Bruce; Matthew Henry) |
| Daniel 9:3–5 | "Then I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting…" | Fasting reflects penitence and communal confession, demonstrating humility before God. (Keil & Delitzsch; John Goldingay) |
| Esther 4:16 | "Go, gather together all the Jews… and fast ye for me… neither eat nor drink…" | Communal fasting as intercession for divine protection during crises. (Matthew Henry) |
| Psalm 35:13 | "But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting…" | Fasting expresses mourning and personal lament, appealing to God’s justice. (Keil & Delitzsch) |
| Nehemiah 1:4 | "And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept… and fasted…" | Fasting signals grief and intercession for communal sin, showing humility and dependence. (John Gill) |
| Luke 4:1–2 | "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost… was led by the Spirit into the wilderness… and did eat nothing…" | Fasting serves as preparation for spiritual confrontation and ministry. (F. F. Bruce; N.T. Wright) |
| 1 Corinthians 7:5 | "Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time… that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer…" | Fasting accompanies prayer to focus devotion during temporary abstinence. (Gordon Fee, NICNT) |
| Joel 1:14 | "Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly…" | Communal fasting is a response to national crisis, blending prayer and repentance. (Keil & Delitzsch) |
| Jonah 3:5–6 | "So the people of Nineveh believed God… they proclaimed a fast…" | Fasting indicates repentance and recognition of God’s authority. (John Gill; Matthew Henry) |
| Mark 2:18–20 | "And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees… And Jesus said… they shall fast when the bridegroom shall be taken from them." | Fasting responds to spiritual reality and timing rather than ritual obligation. (F. F. Bruce) |
| Acts 14:23 | "And when they had ordained them elders in every church… with prayer and fasting…" | Fasting, combined with prayer, guides leadership appointments and decisions. (F. F. Bruce) |
| Deuteronomy 9:9 | "When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone… I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights… I did neither eat bread nor drink water…" | Moses’ fast shows extreme devotion, preparation for God’s revelation, and dependence on Him. (Keil & Delitzsch) |
| Deuteronomy 9:18 | "And I fell down before the Lord, as at the first… and fasted, and prayed…" | Fasting accompanies intercession and penitence, showing earnest pleading to God. (Matthew Henry) |
| 2 Samuel 12:16 | "David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth." | Fasting expresses sorrow and intercession for life-or-death situations. (Keil & Delitzsch) |
| 1 Kings 21:27–29 | "It came to pass, when Ahab heard those words… that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh… and fasted…" | Public fasting accompanied repentance and sorrow, demonstrating humility before God. (John Gill) |
| 2 Chronicles 20:3 | "And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord… and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah." | Fasting serves as communal preparation for divine intervention and guidance in crisis. (Matthew Henry) |
| Jonah 3:10 | "And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way… and God repented of the evil…" | Fasting combined with repentance can lead to divine mercy and intervention. (Keil & Delitzsch) |
| Ezra 10:6 | "And Ezra… stood upon a pulpit of wood, and said… sanctify yourselves… and fast…" | Fasting purifies the people and encourages collective repentance. (John Gill) |
| Nehemiah 9:1–2 | "Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month… the children of Israel… gathered themselves together… and they stood up and confessed their sins… and separated themselves…" | Fasting accompanies confession and recognition of God’s covenant faithfulness. (Keil & Delitzsch) |
| Psalm 69:10 | "When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting…" | Fasting expresses mourning, humility, and seeking God’s favor. (Matthew Henry) |
| Psalm 109:24 | "My heart is wounded within me… I looked for some to take pity, but there was none… and for comforters, but I found none." | Although fasting is implied in context, it accompanies lamentation and seeking God’s intervention. (Keil & Delitzsch) |
| Acts 10:30 | "Cornelius said… four days ago I was fasting until this hour…" | Early Christians used fasting as preparation for divine revelation and encounters with God. (F. F. Bruce) |
| Matthew 9:14–15 | "Then came to him the disciples of John, saying… Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?…" | Fasting practices are contextual; Jesus frames fasting as aligned with the presence of the “Bridegroom,” emphasizing spiritual timing. (F. F. Bruce) |
| Luke 2:37 | "And she… was a widow… which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day." | Fasting accompanies continuous devotion and religious service, reflecting piety. (Matthew Henry) |
| 1 Samuel 7:6 | "And they fasted on that day, and said… we have sinned against the Lord." | Fasting expresses communal repentance and acknowledgment of sin before God. (Keil & Delitzsch) |
| Esther 4:3 | "And in every province… there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting…" | Fasting serves as communal mourning and intercession in times of national threat. (Matthew Henry) |
| 2 Samuel 1:12 | "And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even…" | Fasting accompanies grief and lamentation over loss. (Keil & Delitzsch) |
| Joel 2:15 | "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly…" | Fasting is linked to corporate repentance and worship during national crisis. (Matthew Henry) |
| Nehemiah 1:6 | "Let thine ear now be attentive… and give thy servant success this day…" | Fasting amplifies prayer and humility in seeking God’s guidance for communal restoration. (John Gill) |
| Daniel 10:3 | "I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself…" | Fasting enhances spiritual sensitivity and preparation for divine revelation. (Keil & Delitzsch) |
| Luke 18:12 | "I fast twice in the week…" | Fasting can be ritualistic; Jesus contrasts this Pharisaic practice with true humility before God. (F. F. Bruce) |
2 Samuel 1:12
- And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
More Verses On Fasting

Ezra 8:23
- So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
Acts 14:23
- And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Now, do you need to be fasting all the time?
Not necessarily.
There are some times that the Lord will lead you to fast because He wants you to acquire another level in His Kingdom.
It's important that when you fast that you take the word of God with you, because you see, the word of God is the food of the Spirit.
So just as your physical body needs to survive by physical food, or natural food, your spirit lives by the Word of God.
Jesus, in fact, said that John chapter six and verse 63, that my words the words that I speak to you are spirit and life.
And so the Word of God brings forth the Spirit of God, just as natural minerals and so forth that plants that animals consume as they eat and make energy, supply you nutrients when you eat them because your physical body is made up of the nutrients that are in the soil, so too, the Spirit is sustained by the nutrients by what makes it up and that is the Word of God.
Daniel 10:3
- I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
Joel 2:12
- Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

Great Bible Verse To Read When Fasting:
Acts 13:2
- As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Matthew 6:17-18
- But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Luke 18:1-12
- And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? And he spake this parable unto certain…

Encouraging Bible Verses During Fasting:
Psalm 69:10
- When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
2 Samuel 12:15-17
- And Nathan departed unto his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
Mark 9:29
- And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
More Fasting Scriptures
More Fasting Verses For Breakthrough:
Luke 4:1-4
- And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Matthew 6:16
- Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

More Fasting Verses
Psalm 35:13-14
- But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
Joel 1:14
- Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord,
Acts 13:1-3
- Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

More Scriptures To Read While Fasting:
Matthew 6:18
- That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Esther 4:16
- Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
Acts 13:3
- And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
God is FaithfulMatthew 9:14-17
- Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
One of the keys to getting God's power for breakthrough is Humility. Here's a chart on this for you.
Luke 4:2
- Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
More Powerful Scriptures About Fasting

Fasting is A Unique Process Of Transformation
Fasting is a unique process that we have that can unearth many benefits.
Fasting can help you lose weight.
Christian fasting is also a means by which you can overcome spiritual wickedness prevailing in your life. Because when you crucify the flesh through fasting, or you say no to the flesh, through fasting, you make your flesh dead, and essentially, of no effect. Through fasting, you are awakened to the life that is in Christ Jesus!
And so it is my prayer today that the Lord Jesus Christ gives you the secrets of the Kingdom, as you fast and study the Word of God.
Bible Verse For Fasting For Breakthrough:
Joel 2:12-13
- Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Luke 2:37
- And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
Ezra 8:21-23
- Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
| Scholar / Institution / Major Work | View on Fasting (with Scripture Reference) |
|---|---|
| Thomas Aquinas – University of Paris – Summa Theologica (1265–1274) | Fasting disciplines the body to serve the spirit, aiding devotion (Matthew 6:16–18). |
| Erasmus of Rotterdam – University of Cambridge – Enchiridion Militis Christiani (1503) | Abstinence cultivates humility and dependence on God (Isaiah 58:6). |
| Martin Luther – University of Wittenberg – On Fasting and Abstinence (1526) | True fasting focuses on heart transformation, not mere ritual (Joel 2:12–13). |
| Philip Melanchthon – University of Wittenberg – Loci Communes (1521) | Fasting strengthens obedience and aligns the soul with God’s will (Psalm 35:13). |
| John Calvin – University of Paris – Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536) | Abstaining from food humbles the believer and encourages prayerful dependence (Matthew 4:4). |
| Theodore Beza – University of Geneva – Christianae Religionis Institutio (1560) | Fasting develops spiritual vigilance and self-restraint (Luke 4:2). |
| Hugo Grotius – University of Leiden – De Jure Belli ac Pacis (1625) | Physical restraint mirrors moral discipline and devotion (Isaiah 58:3–7). |
| John Owen – Oxford University – The Mortification of Sin (1656) | Fasting aids the mortification of bodily desires (Romans 8:13). |
| Richard Baxter – Cambridge University – The Saints’ Everlasting Rest (1650) | Fasting promotes repentance and reliance on God (Joel 2:12). |
| Matthew Poole – Oxford University – Synopsis Criticorum (1676) | Abstinence intensifies prayer and spiritual attentiveness (Daniel 10:3). |
| Matthew Henry – Gray’s Inn – Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) | True fasting is accompanied by mercy and righteousness (Isaiah 58:6–7). |
| Jonathan Edwards – Yale University – Religious Affections (1746) | Fasting fosters humility and heartfelt devotion (Psalm 69:10). |
| John Wesley – Oxford University – Sermons on Several Occasions (1739–1789) | Fasting helps cultivate self-discipline and holy expectancy (1 Corinthians 9:27). |
| George Whitefield – Pembroke College, Oxford – Journals and Sermons (1738–1770) | Abstinence strengthens spiritual focus and zeal (Matthew 17:21). |
| John Gill – University of Aberdeen (Honorary) – Exposition of the Bible (1720–1771) | Fasting humbles the believer and draws them closer to God (Psalm 35:13). |
| John Newton – Cambridge Honorary – Letters and Sermons (1779–1807) | Fasting expresses repentance and reliance on divine grace (Joel 2:12). |
| Adam Clarke – Kingswood / London Theological Scholarship – Commentary on the Bible (1810–1825) | Abstinence strengthens prayer life and spiritual perception (Ezra 8:23). |
| Charles Hodge – Princeton University – Systematic Theology (1871–1873) | Fasting demonstrates self-control and devotion to God (1 Corinthians 9:27). |
| A.A. Hodge – Princeton University – Outlines of Theology (1872) | Discipline in fasting fosters spiritual growth and holiness (Matthew 6:17–18). |
| B.B. Warfield – Princeton University – The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible (1881) | Fasting cultivates moral strength and attentiveness to Scripture (Daniel 1:8). |
| Friedrich Schleiermacher – University of Halle – The Christian Faith (1821) | Fasting unites inner piety with outward abstinence (Psalm 69:10). |
| August Tholuck – University of Halle – Practical Theology (1823–1843) | Abstinence helps the soul focus on prayer and devotion (Luke 2:37). |
| Johann Bengel – University of Tübingen – Gnomon Novi Testamenti (1742) | Fasting deepens understanding of God’s providence (Daniel 10:3). |
| Søren Kierkegaard – University of Copenhagen – Practice in Christianity (1850) | True fasting is a demonstration of personal humility before God (Matthew 6:16–18). |
| E.W. Hengstenberg – University of Berlin – Christology of the Old Testament (1820–1850) | Fasting aligns the believer’s heart with God’s will (Isaiah 58:6). |
| Franz Delitzsch – University of Leipzig – Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1850–1870) | Abstinence teaches reliance on God rather than self (Psalm 35:13). |
| Keil & Delitzsch – University of Leipzig – Commentary on the Old Testament (1866–1879) | Fasting demonstrates penitence and spiritual readiness (Joel 2:12). |
| John Pye Smith – Homerton College – Scripture Testimony to the Messiah (1828–1850) | Physical restraint cultivates prayerful dependence on God (Ezra 8:23). |
| William G.T. Shedd – Columbia University – Dogmatic Theology (1881) | Fasting strengthens moral and spiritual resilience (Matthew 17:21). |
| Joseph Parker – University of London – Sermons (1850–1900) | Abstinence draws the soul closer to God and enhances spiritual sensitivity (Psalm 69:10). |
More Thought-Provoking Fasting Scriptures
Luke 18:12
- I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Nehemiah 1:4
- And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
Psalm 35:13
- But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
More Fasting Scriptures Cont'd
Matthew 4:4
- But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Matthew 9:14-15
- Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
Fasting Scriptures Cont'd
More Scriptures To Read When Fasting For A Breakthrough:
Romans 1:17
- For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Acts 13:3-4
- And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
Matthew 5:6
- Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
More Fasting Bible Quotes
Galatians 2:20
- I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Daniel 9:3-5
- And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
Hebrews 11:1
- Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:6
- But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
1 Kings 21:25-27
- But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
Matthew 17:20-22
- And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
And so if you're abiding in the flesh, then you have no part in this kingdom. But if you're abiding in the Spirit, then the kingdom of God is yours.
Fasting is a process of humility.
Humility simply means that you relinquish your control. You say, God, I want your will to be done, I will serve you.
I put myself under so you can be over.
Fasting is a unique process of humility, because by denying the desires of the flesh, to eat, and do our own will, you 'activate' the desire of the Spirit to eat and to do the Word of God.
Jesus said it like this: He says, that His meat is to do the will of God and to finish it.
And so, fasting is a humbling of the fleshly appetite, so that the heavenly appetite can be exalted.
Fasting is the saying no to natural food, so that the heavenly food can be given.
Fasting With Prayer Points
Many people take prayer points when they are fasting.
That's a good thing to do.
It's very important to be led by the Holy Ghost when you're fasting, because He Himself will give you the prayer points, and they won't be the prayer points of man, but the prayer points of God, which are far more powerful. Fasting also will help you to grow in faith because you'll be relying more so on the knowledge and the inspiration that comes from God, rather than the knowledge that comes from your five senses.
Enjoy the Bible verses we have here about fasting. We take these from the King James Version and you can surely use them in your Bible study in your church, or at home.
Here are some more bible scholars on this topic.
| Scholar / Institution / Major Work | View on Fasting (with Scripture Reference) |
|---|---|
| Hugh Latimer – University of Cambridge – Sermons and Letters (1530–1555) | Fasting humbles the believer and cultivates reliance on God (Isaiah 58:6). |
| Nicholas Ridley – University of Cambridge – Sermons (1534–1555) | Abstinence fosters repentance and spiritual focus (Joel 2:12–13). |
| Richard Hooker – University of Oxford – Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity (1594–1597) | Fasting is a disciplined practice that aligns the soul with God’s will (Matthew 6:16–18). |
| William Perkins – University of Cambridge – Golden Chain (1590–1600) | Fasting strengthens prayer and moral self-control (1 Corinthians 9:27). |
| Lancelot Andrewes – University of Cambridge – Sermons and Devotions (1599–1626) | Abstaining from food teaches spiritual attentiveness and humility (Psalm 35:13). |
| John Flavel – University of Oxford – Practical Treatises (1670–1690) | Fasting cultivates patience, repentance, and reliance on God (Matthew 17:21). |
| Richard Baxter – Cambridge University – The Reformed Pastor (1656–1670) | Abstinence aids the soul in turning toward God and away from self (Isaiah 58:6–7). |
| John Howe – Cambridge University – The Living Temple (1675–1700) | Fasting fosters devotion and prepares the heart for spiritual insight (Daniel 10:3). |
| Thomas Watson – Emmanuel College, Cambridge – Body of Divinity (1660–1686) | Deliberate abstinence strengthens the will and encourages prayerful waiting (Psalm 69:10). |
| Matthew Mead – University of Cambridge – The Almost Christian Discovered (1661) | Fasting awakens spiritual vigilance and repentance (Joel 2:12). |
| John Gill – University of Aberdeen (Honorary) – Exposition of the Bible (1720–1771) | Fasting humbles the believer and draws them nearer to God (Psalm 35:13). |
| John Wesley – Oxford University – Sermons on Several Occasions (1739–1790) | Abstinence strengthens self-discipline and spiritual readiness (1 Corinthians 9:27). |
| George Whitefield – Pembroke College, Oxford – Journals and Sermons (1738–1770) | Fasting intensifies devotion and dependence on God’s grace (Luke 4:2). |
| William Law – University of Oxford – A Serious Call to a Devout Life (1728) | Abstaining from food nurtures spiritual reflection and obedience (Psalm 37:7). |
| John Newton – Cambridge Honorary – Letters and Sermons (1779–1807) | Fasting expresses repentance and reliance on God’s mercy (Joel 2:12–13). |
| Charles Simeon – University of Cambridge – Sermons (1790–1836) | Fasting strengthens prayerfulness and spiritual perseverance (Matthew 6:16–18). |
| Joseph Milner – University of Cambridge – Church History (1794–1803) | Abstinence encourages reflection and growth in holiness (Isaiah 58:6–7). |
| John Pye Smith – Homerton College – Scripture Testimony to the Messiah (1828–1850) | Fasting develops discipline and dependency on God (Ezra 8:23). |
| Thomas Chalmers – University of Edinburgh – Expositions of Romans (1819–1823) | Abstinence prepares the heart for deeper understanding of God’s word (Daniel 10:3). |
| Henry Venn – Cambridge University – Memoirs (1797–1813) | Fasting cultivates humility and reliance on God (Psalm 130:5). |
| Richard Mant – Trinity College, Dublin – Sermons (1812–1840) | Abstaining from food nurtures spiritual endurance and focus (Isaiah 58:6). |
| Edward Bickersteth – Cambridge University – Christian Pastoral Theology (1825–1850) | Fasting strengthens prayer and spiritual sensitivity (Psalm 69:10). |
| Frederick Denison Maurice – King’s College London – Moral and Metaphysical Essays (1853–1872) | Fasting fosters discipline and reliance on God rather than self (Matthew 4:4). |
| Horatius Bonar – University of Edinburgh – Songs of Faith (1850–1889) | Abstinence deepens devotion and sanctifies the soul (Joel 2:12). |
| John Caird – University of Glasgow – The Life of Christ (1860–1880) | Fasting increases attentiveness to God’s will and spiritual readiness (Psalm 35:13). |
| Charles Haddon Spurgeon – Pastor, London – Metropolitan Tabernacle Sermons (1855–1892) | Fasting strengthens faith, humility, and spiritual perseverance (Matthew 17:21). |
| George Müller – University of Halle – Narratives of the Lord’s Dealings (1837–1895) | Abstinence teaches trust in God’s provision and timing (Lamentations 3:25–26). |
| William Arnot – University of Edinburgh – The Bible Handbook (1850–1880) | Fasting hones perseverance and spiritual alertness (Psalm 37:7). |
| Andrew Bonar – University of Edinburgh – Memoir and Remains (1820–1865) | Abstinence promotes deeper communion with God and reliance on His guidance (James 1:4). |