13 Biblical Reasons for Fasting

Fasting is a spiritual discipline that appears throughout Scripture, demonstrating humility, dependence on God, and earnestness in prayer. But why exactly does the Bible call us to fast?

Here are 13 powerful reasons for fasting, directly rooted in Scripture:

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1. To Receive God’s Reward

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
— Matthew 6:16–18

When fasting is done with sincerity and humility, God promises a heavenly reward.

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2. To Empower Christian Workers Spiritually

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’
Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”
— Acts 13:2–3

“And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
— Acts 14:23

Fasting prepares and empowers God’s people for ministry and spiritual leadership.

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3. To Overcome the Devil’s Temptations

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry…”
— Matthew 4:1–11

Before facing temptation, Jesus fasted — teaching us that fasting strengthens us spiritually to resist the enemy’s attacks.

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4. To Break the Bonds of Wickedness

“Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?”
— Isaiah 58:6

True fasting has the power to set the oppressed free and destroy spiritual strongholds.

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5. For Relief and Deliverance of God’s People

“Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.”
— 2 Chronicles 20:1–3

“Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf…”
— Esther 4:14–16

Fasting invites God’s miraculous deliverance during times of danger and national crisis.

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6. For Healing of the Sick

“David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.”
— 2 Samuel 12:16

“But I, when they were sick— I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest.”
— Psalm 35:13

Fasting humbles the heart and intercedes powerfully for healing.

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7. To Seek the Wellbeing of God’s City and His People

“As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”
— Nehemiah 1:3–4

Fasting for the health, restoration, and safety of God’s people remains a deeply spiritual act.

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8. To Plead for God’s Mercy

“Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.”
— Daniel 9:3

Fasting often accompanies heartfelt cries for God’s compassion and mercy.

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9. To Seek God’s Forgiveness

“Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening…”
— Judges 20:26

“And they fasted on that day and said there, ‘We have sinned against the Lord.’”
— 1 Samuel 7:6

Fasting is a powerful expression of repentance and a desire to be reconciled to God.

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10. To Complete a Divine Assignment

“So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.”
— Exodus 34:28

Fasting prepared Moses to receive and record God’s covenant with His people.

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11. Out of Religious and Spiritual Obligation

“Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement… you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the Lord.”
— Leviticus 23:27

“The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth… shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts.”
— Zechariah 8:19

“The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”
— Luke 5:33–35

Fasting has been part of faithful religious observance and worship across both Old and New Testaments.

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12. To Seek God’s Protection for a Journey

“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey…”
— Ezra 8:21–23

Fasting before embarking on important or dangerous journeys demonstrates dependence on God’s protection.

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13. To Mourn and Bewail the Loss of Loved Ones

“And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.”
— 1 Samuel 31:13

“And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son…”
— 2 Samuel 1:12

Fasting accompanies deep grief, offering a spiritual outlet for sorrow.

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Final Thoughts

Fasting is a beautiful and powerful discipline — not merely a religious ritual, but a heartfelt way to seek God’s face in times of joy, sorrow, repentance, need, and mission.

Whether we fast for deliverance, healing, guidance, or simply to draw closer to Him, Scripture reveals that God sees, hears, and rewards fasting done in humility and faith.

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
— James 4:8