Today we will talk about bible verses about fasting. Many Christians do not know what this means. Be on the mode of meditation as we read through God’s word. Fasting is a spiritual practice that helps us focus, pray, and draw near to God. As we read these passages, let us open our hearts to learn how fasting works with prayer, repentance, humility, and service. We will look at scriptures that show why people fasted, how God responded, and how fasting helps shape our spiritual lives. Let us read slowly and let these words guide our hearts.
bible verses about fasting
Purpose of Fasting — bible verses about fasting
When we think together about bible verses about fasting, we see that fasting often has a purpose. We fast to seek God’s face, to humble ourselves, and to turn away from things that keep us from God. In reading these passages we learn that fasting is not a show; it is an inward act that moves our hearts toward God. We want our fasting to be honest and simple. As we fast, we often pray for help, wisdom, and a fresh sense of God’s presence. The Bible shows that fasting can break chains, help us care for the poor, and bring justice. In our lives, fasting can help us break bad habits because it teaches self-control. We remember that fasting without love and right living misses the point. So as we read bible verses about fasting, let us ask God to teach us the right reasons to fast. We want to grow, not to impress others. We want fasting to be a step toward mercy, justice, and closer friendship with God. Together we seek clarity, healing, and direction through fasting. We ask God to shape our hearts so our fasting will be a doorway to prayer, action, and deeper faith.
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? – Isaiah 58:6“
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. – Matthew 6:16-18“
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. – Joel 2:12“
Fasting and Prayer — bible verses about fasting
We notice again and again, in bible verses about fasting, that fasting goes hand in hand with prayer. When we fast, we often make more space to pray. That quiet and hunger can sharpen our prayer life. As a community, we find that joint fasting and prayer calls us together in humility. We fast to ask for wisdom, healing, or direction. Fasting can bring focus so our prayers are sincere and steady. We don’t fast to earn God’s favor, but to show our dependence on God. In the New Testament, leaders fast and pray when appointing people or seeking God’s will. When opposition comes, believers fast and pray for deliverance or help. Fasting is not magic; it helps us center on God so we can hear and obey. As we practice fasting with prayer, we discover God’s peace and clearer guidance. Our fasting must be paired with faith and consistent prayer to bear fruit. The scriptures in this group remind us that fasting without prayer is incomplete. So together we fast and pray, trusting God to lead and to answer according to His good plan.
Acts 13:2-3
“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. – Acts 13:2-3“
Mark 9:29
“And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. – Mark 9:29“
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. – Acts 14:23“
Repentance and Turning — bible verses about fasting
In bible verses about fasting, repentance shows up as a major theme. We read that people fasted when they turned from wrong ways and returned to God. Fasting helps us show sorrow for our sin and a serious desire to change. As a group, when we humble ourselves and fast, it can bring about community repentance. The prophets call the people to fast when they need to turn back to God. The story of Nineveh shows how a whole city fasted and changed its course; their fast led to God’s mercy. Fasting gives us time to reflect, confess, and ask for renewal. When we fast and pray, we place ourselves in a posture of listening and receiving. God often uses this humble posture to begin a fresh work. We must remember that repentance is more than feeling sorry; it means changing behavior. Fasting can be a helpful step to support that change. Together we seek not only to say sorry, but to walk differently, trusting God to restore us as we lean on the hope of His mercy.
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. – Joel 1:14“
Jonah 3:5
“So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. – Jonah 3:5“
Jonah 3:10
“And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. – Jonah 3:10“
Heartfelt Humility vs. Hypocrisy — bible verses about fasting
When we read bible verses about fasting, we learn that God cares about our hearts more than our rituals. We can fast for show, but Jesus warned against that. True fasting is connected to humility, justice, and kindness. In Isaiah God points out that fasting without caring for others is empty. We don’t fast to win praise from people; we fast to grow closer to God and to live out his values. As a group, when we fast, we should also look for ways to serve, forgive, and seek justice. If our fasting is just a badge we wear, it robs the practice of its power. We want our fasting to be a quiet act that changes how we live. The Bible challenges us to be humble inside and to let God work in us. In that spirit we ask God to check our motives and to help our fasting be real, tender, and useful to others. Genuine fasting leads to a softer heart and a firmer walk with God.
Isaiah 58:3
“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 labors. – Isaiah 58:3“
Zechariah 7:5
“Say unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? – Zechariah 7:5“
Amos 5:21
“I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. – Amos 5:21“
Spiritual Strength and Guidance — bible verses about fasting
As we read bible verses about fasting, we see how fasting can sharpen our spiritual strength. Jesus fasted before a time of testing. Daniel fasted while seeking understanding from God. In those seasons, fasting helped them stay close to God and find clarity. We notice that fasting is often part of preparation for important decisions or battles of faith. When we fast, we clear space to hear God’s voice and to rely on his strength rather than our own. Fasting can also build our spiritual muscle: it teaches patience, dependence, and perseverance. As a group, we want to learn from these examples so our fasting becomes a tool for growth. We should not expect fasting to be a formula, but as we fast with prayer and obedience, God often provides guidance and peace. We want to be open to God’s leading and to serve wherever he sends us. In seeking strength, fasting helps sharpen our attention to God’s direction and gives us courage for what he calls us to do.
Matthew 4:2
“And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. – Matthew 4:2“
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. – Luke 4:2“
Daniel 10:2-3
“In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. 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. – Daniel 10:2-3“
Corporate and Community Fasting — bible verses about fasting
When we look at bible verses about fasting, we find many examples of communities fasting together. People fast together in times of danger, mourning, or to seek God’s help. Corporate fasting shows unity and shared dependence on God. It can bring people to the same place of humility and prayer. When a town or nation fasts, leaders hear the cry and God often moves in response. As we gather to fast together, we grow in empathy and shared purpose. Corporate fasting can break isolation and help us bear one another’s burdens. In the Bible, prophets called assemblies, and kings and priests often led the people to fast. In our time we can come together to fast for our families, our city, or the world, trusting that God hears communal cries. Together we confess, seek mercy, and ask for help, believing that God is near to those who earnestly seek him.
Joel 2:15-16
“Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. – Joel 2:15-16“
1 Samuel 7:6
“And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. – 1 Samuel 7:6“
2 Chronicles 20:3
“And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. – 2 Chronicles 20:3“
Fasting in Times of Crisis — bible verses about fasting
We see in bible verses about fasting that people turn to fasting in hard times. When a threat comes, or when a people face danger, they fast and cry out to God. Esther told the Jews to fast before she approached the king for their deliverance. Nehemiah fasted when he heard bad news about Jerusalem. In such moments fasting helps us show how serious we are and how much we need God. It focuses our hearts and moves us to rely on God’s protection and provision. Fasting in crisis is not a way to control God, but a way to admit our dependence and to prepare our hearts for God’s work. As a group, we can fast in crisis to unite our prayers and to ask for wisdom, safety, and mercy. God often meets people in these trusting, humble moments.
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. – Esther 4:16“
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. – Nehemiah 1:4“
Ezra 8:21
“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. – Ezra 8:21“
Fasting as Worship — bible verses about fasting
As we read bible verses about fasting, we learn that fasting can be part of worship. When people fast, they often combine it with prayer, singing, and visiting God’s house. Fasting becomes an expression of devotion and dependence—an act of worship that says, “God, you are more important than food or comfort.” In the Psalms, believers speak of fasting as part of their devotion during hard seasons. Anna the prophetess served God with fastings and prayers. Worshipful fasting helps us slow down and listen in worship. As a group, our fasting can make our time of worship deeper and more honest. It helps us to worship with hearts that are less distracted and more open. We want our worship to be real and our fasting to be a way of honoring God and seeking his presence.
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. – Psalm 35:13“
Psalm 69:10
“When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. – Psalm 69:10“
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. – Luke 2:37“
Discipline and Self-Denial — bible verses about fasting
In bible verses about fasting we also see a theme of discipline and self-denial. Fasting teaches us to control our bodies and to refuse what our desires demand when those desires lead us away from God. Jesus taught about taking up our cross and denying ourselves. Paul spoke about disciplining his body to keep it under control. Fasting is one of the ways we practice that discipline. It helps us learn to place spiritual longings above temporary pleasures. As a community, we value the discipline fasting builds because it helps us obey and stay focused on Christ. This kind of self-discipline is not about pride; it is about training ourselves to follow God with clearer minds and stronger wills. When we practice fasting rightly, it leads to deeper dependence on God and healthier living for his glory.
Matthew 16:24
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Matthew 16:24“
1 Corinthians 9:27
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. – 1 Corinthians 9:27“
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. – Matthew 9:14-15“
Promises and Results of Fasting — bible verses about fasting
When we read bible verses about fasting, we discover promises and good results spoken through the prophets and apostles. God tells us that true fasting can bring healing, light, and restoration. Isaiah says that God will cause light to shine when we fast in a way that pleases Him. Joel speaks about God’s compassion when the people turn to Him. These passages show that fasting can be linked to visible change: restoration of relationships, renewal of land or people, or new clarity of purpose. Yet the Bible is also clear that results come with right motives and obedience. If we fast seeking God’s way and caring for the oppressed, God’s blessing often follows. Together we read these promises and hold them with faith, but we also remember that God answers in his wisdom and timing. We fast trusting his goodness and hoping for renewal according to his grace.
Isaiah 58:8
“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward. – Isaiah 58:8“
Joel 2:18
“Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. – Joel 2:18“
Psalm 145:19
“He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. – Psalm 145:19“
Final Thoughts
I have walked with you through many bible verses about fasting and we have looked at why people fasted, how God responds, and how fasting links with prayer, repentance, and worship. We saw that the Bible values the heart behind the fast more than the outward act. Together we can use fasting to grow closer to God, to seek his guidance, and to serve others better.
We learned that fasting is not a magic tool, but a discipline that helps us focus on God and live in ways that honor him. When we fast with right motives—humility, prayer, and care for others—God often meets us and moves in our lives. Let us remember to fast with love, to confess when we fall short, and to trust God’s timing and wisdom.
As we go forward, let us put these lessons into practice. We can fast privately or with others, always aiming to draw nearer to God and to live out his commands. May our fasting be a spiritual step that leads to deeper faith, greater compassion, and life-changing obedience.
Further Reading
30 Bible Verses About Getting Closer To God (With Commentary)
30 Bible Verses About Removing People From Your Life (With Commentary)
30 Bible Verses About Israel (With Explanation)
30 Bible Verses About Being Lukewarm (With Explanation)
4 Ways to Encounter Grace and Truth: A Study on John, Chapter 4
