“Moreover when you fast…” – Matthew 6:16

Fasting is one of the most misunderstood practices in the contemporary Church.

Indeed, fasts have been baptized certain names: ‘Moses Fast,’ ‘Daniel Fast,’ ‘Esther Fast,’ etc.

People have different reasons for fasting.

Recently, I interacted with someone who was in the middle of a three-day fast after she got a dream when a snake was chasing her!

Some fast whenever they get a personal misunderstanding at work, home or church!

Some people ‘fast’ certain food types such as meat, chicken or fish during the Lent period.

Like the Pharisee who boasted of fasting twice a week, some people fast simply as a show-off to impress others as more ‘devout’ and ‘spiritual’ (Luke 18:9–12).

Some fast to ‘get power’ or ‘anointing’; some in order to ‘receive their requests from God faster’!

In early 2023, Pr. Francisco Barajah, a 39-year-old man of God in Mozambique, died during a 40-day ‘Moses Fast’; all his organs failed by the 25^th day. 

I know of a church in Kampala where the pastor is always proclaiming one fasting period after another for the entire congregation, most times while giving no particular reason for the fasting.

On the other hand, there are many influential pastors and churches that have not had a fasting period proclaimed for years.

What then, is true fasting all about?

In our meditation today, our Lord Jesus says, “When you fast” (not ‘if you fast’) suggesting that fasting is an expected practice, not a mere option.

However, fasting is not explicitly commanded in the Bible as a general requirement for all believers in the Church.

Indeed, the only time when fasting was a command in Israel was on the Day of Atonement, which used to be only one a day in a year (Leviticus 16:29).  

Tishrei, the seventh month of the Jewish Calendar, was originally intended to be the month of ‘a new beginning’ and was eventually adopted as the first month of the year under the Jewish civil calendar.

The tenth day of that sacred month was the Day of Atonement and it was mandatory for everyone, including aliens, to fast until evening.

Later, periods of fasting would be proclaimed for purposes of national repentance (Joel 2:12,15; Jonah 3:5).

Sometimes, people fasted for purposes of mourning (see 2 Samuel 1:12; Ps 69:10).

Clearly, the benefits of being “in fastings often” like Paul says, are many.

At times, people also fasted to seek God’s guidance (see Judges 20:26-27; Ezra 8:21).

Additionally, people fasted to seek God’s intervention during periods of national crisis (Esther 4:16).

In the New Testament, Jesus, being led by the Holy Spirit, fasted for 40 days to mark the transition into full time ministry (Matthew 4:2).

In the Early Church, Christians did fast when consecrating and dedicating leaders into ministry (Acts 13:2-3; 14:23).

Whereas the apostle Paul makes reference to himself as being “in fastings often” (2 Corinthians 11:27), nowhere did he instruct Gentile believers to practice fasting as part of their spiritual lifestyle.

In Mark chapter 9, the disciples asked Jesus why they had failed to cast out a demon.

“This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting,” Jesus replied (Mark 9:29).

Does it mean that Jesus was in the middle of a fast while the disciples were simply feasting?

The Bible doesn’t say so.

What Jesus meant is that some spiritual challenges require a little more faith and spiritual authority, which grow by intimacy with God through prayer and fasting as a discipline.

However, fasting doesn’t present spiritual benefits only.

According to science, fasting (of course under the guidance of your doctor), is a beneficial practice for optimal spiritual and physical well-being.

For example, fasting has been proved to promote the production of noradrenaline, a hormone that boosts metabolism.

Fasting helps lower blood sugar levels and makes the body more sensitive to insulin.

It helps to promote mental clarity and focus, and is linked to anti-aging, cancer prevention, and improved longevity.

Clearly, the benefits of being “in fastings often” like Paul was, are many.

Come and start fasting today and do it as often as possible.