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What do the following actions—prayerful worship and seeking spiritual guidance (Acts 13:2), commissioning missionaries (13:3), consecrating elders and priests (14:23), responding to times of danger (Esther 4:16), mourning a death (1 Samuel 31:11-13), repentance (1 Kings 21:27), and intercession for the sick (2 Samuel 12:15-17)—have in common?
If you said fasting, you’re right. Scripture is filled with stories of people who were moved to fast for a wide variety of reasons. On two different occasions, Moses fasted for forty days (Exodus 24:18; 34:28). Ezra proclaimed a fast for the Israelites returning from exile in hopes that God would give them a safe journey (Ezra 8:21). Nehemiah fasted when he heard about trouble in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:4). Joel called for a national fast to help the people get right with God (Joel 2:12-14). The prophetess Anna fasted regularly in the Temple (Luke 2:36-38). Paul fasted after his conversion (Acts 9:9). Even Jesus fasted while he was in the desert (Luke 4:1-2).
While the practice of fasting has been around for thousands of years, it looks as if it’s becoming a lost art. We question its value or…
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