With a Subtitle: True fasting replaces self-focus with a deeper hunger to seek God and serve others.

A brief Excerpt: Fasting is often misunderstood as a test of willpower, but Scripture presents it as a humble way to seek God. From the Old Testament to the early church, fasting redirects our hearts from self toward deeper dependence on Him.

The Author is: Randy DeVaul

Fasting is one of those spiritual practices many Christians feel unsure about. Some think it’s a test of willpower. Others see it as something “extra” that only the really spiritual people do. And for many, it feels like a ritual that belongs to another time.

But Scripture gives us a much better picture. Fasting isn’t about deprivation, but devotion. It’s not mainly about what we give up, but about Who we’re turning toward.

Jesus makes this clear in Matthew 6:16–18. He doesn’t say if we fast. He says when. But right away, He warns us not to fast for attention. In His day, some religious leaders made sure everyone noticed their sacrifice. Jesus called that what it was: empty, self‑centered religion. True fasting, He said, is quiet, humble, and seen only by the Father. It’s worship, not performance.

To understand fasting the way God intended, we must go back to its roots. In the Old Testament, God told His people to “afflict” or “deny” themselves on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29, 31). This wasn’t about skipping meals. It was about humbling the heart. It was a way of saying, “God, I need You more than I need myself.” Throughout Israel’s history, fasting showed up in moments of crisis, grief, repentance, and deep dependence on God. Ezra fasted before leading the people home. Esther fasted when her people were in danger. Nehemiah fasted when he heard Jerusalem’s walls were broken. Anna fasted as she waited for the Messiah.

But by the time Jesus came, fasting had drifted far from its purpose. It had become a weekly ritual, a badge of spirituality, and even a way to pressure God. So, when John the Baptist’s disciples asked why Jesus’ followers didn’t fast like the Pharisees, Jesus answered with three pictures. He called Himself the Bridegroom, an illustration He liked to use to ask why fast to “seek God” when God is standing right in front of you? Then He talked about a new patch on old cloth and new wine in old wineskins. The new life He was bringing – life with God through a personal relationship and the indwelling Spirit – couldn’t be squeezed into old, rigid religious habits. Jesus wasn’t rejecting fasting; He was restoring it.

Isaiah 58 shows us God’s heart for fasting with beautiful clarity. True fasting isn’t just denying ourselves. It’s about denying ourselves for the sake of others. God says fasting looks like sharing our resources given to us by Him – bread with the hungry, sheltering the stranger, clothing the vulnerable, and caring for our own families.

Rather than hoarding or selfishly keeping that which God has given us, it depicts lifestyle stewardship. We are asked to deny our wants and our things to reflect the ministry of a good and faithful steward. This fasting reflects God’s character. It loosens chains, lifts burdens, and brings healing. Jesus echoes this in Matthew 25:40: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these … you did for Me.” When we humble ourselves and use what we have to bless others, God promises to hear our prayers and pour out His blessing.

In the New Testament, fasting continues, but always with purpose. The early church fasted when they needed God’s direction, when they appointed leaders, and when they faced major decisions. Fasting was never a hunger strike, never a way to earn God’s favor, and never a spiritual trophy. It was a humble, Spirit‑led response to a deep need for God.

For many believers today, fasting from food may not be wise or physically possible. But Scripture never limits fasting to food. The heart of fasting is self‑denial for the sake of seeking God. That means fasting can look like:

• Skipping one meal to pray
• Turning off the TV
• Stepping away from social media
• Replacing worry with Scripture

In other words, fasting is about replacing our time and our resources with intentionally seeking after God. It’s not “giving something up for Lent” – meaning we stop or avoid doing or eating something as some form of penance. Rather, it intentionally replaces the time and those resources with dedicated time spent with, invested in, God. Fasting is flexible. The heart matters far more than the method.

Jesus restored fasting to what it was always meant to be: a humble, joyful hunger for God Himself. He invites us to fast, not to impress others, not to check a spiritual box, and not to prove anything, but to draw near to the Father. When we fast with sincerity – seeking God, aligning our hearts with His, and caring for those He loves – He meets us with His presence, His guidance, and His blessing.

Fasting isn’t about perfection. It’s about pursuit. It’s the simple, sacred act of saying,
“Lord, I need You more than anything else.”
And when we come to Him with that posture, Scripture assures us:
“Then you will call, and the Lord will answer … ‘Here am I’” (Isaiah 58:9).