Fasting is a spiritual discipline found throughout Scripture, closely linked with prayer, repentance and drawing nearer to God.^{(See disclaimer 1)} Here, we explore the biblical teachings on fasting, drawing insights from Dr. Shelly Hogan of GCU’s College of Theology, which illuminate its purpose and practice. We will examine examples of fasting from the Old and New Testaments, different types of fasts, practical guidance on how to fast and the spiritual and physical benefits involved. This resource aims to help you understand why fasting remains a meaningful expression of faith today.

Fasting in the Bible is a spiritual discipline that emphasizes humility, dependence on God and a desire for deeper communion with Him. It is often paired with prayer and repentance, serving to seek guidance, express devotion and prepare for significant spiritual moments. This practice embodies a posture of surrender, reminding believers that true sustenance comes from God. This perspective clarifies the biblical foundation of fasting and prepares us to understand its deeper purpose.

Dr. Shelly Hogan explains, “Fasting is something that culturally people take into different directions, such as fasting from social media and so forth. That’s not really a biblical understanding of fasting as expressed in scripture. It’s more fasting of foods.” This perspective clarifies the biblical foundation of fasting and prepares us to understand its deeper purpose.

Spiritual Purpose Behind Fasting

At its core, biblical fasting is not merely about going without food; it is about creating space to draw closer to God.^{(See disclaimer 2)} Dr. Hogan says, fasting is “more about setting oneself up to abstain and spend more time in the presence of the Lord, focusing on the Lord. So, usually you remove the food aspect and spend more time in prayer during those meals.” Fasting shifts the focus from physical nourishment to spiritual renewal, allowing believers to replace eating with prayer and reflection. It humbles us before God, deepens our dependence on Him and emphasizes that true sustenance comes from His presence, not food.

Examples of Fasting in the Bible

Scripture presents examples of fasting, each illustrating its spiritual significance. As Dr. Hogan notes, “If you look at Daniel, when Daniel fasted, he didn’t eat the king’s delicacies. He just wanted to set himself apart and prove that God was greater than the preparation that the king had for him.” (Daniel 1:8). Daniel’s fast was an act of faith and devotion, showing his reliance on God rather than on earthly provision.

Throughout biblical history, significant figures engaged in extended fasts. Moses fasted for forty days on Mount Sinai while receiving the Law (Exodus 34:28), signifying deep communion with God. Jesus also fasted for forty days in the wilderness before starting his ministry (Matthew 4:1-2), demonstrating spiritual preparation and dependence on the Father. Similarly, Queen Esther and her people fasted for three days without food or water to seek divine favor before approaching the king (Esther 4:16). “It was an act of standing in the gap for the Jewish people in the book of Esther,” says Dr. Hogan.

Fasting has been a significant aspect of Jewish tradition, grounded in the Old Testament.^{(See disclaimer 3)} Israel observed designated fasts alongside feasts as part of their covenant life, such as on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29–31). In the New Testament, it continued as a spiritual discipline among Pharisees and early believers, often linked to prayer and worship (Luke 18:12; Acts 13:23). While the Old Testament focused on communal fasts for festivals and repentance, the New Testament emphasizes fasting as both a personal and communal practice for seeking God’s guidance and empowerment.

Fasting goes beyond abstaining from food. It serves as an intentional act of humility and dependence on God. As Dr. Hogan states, “If you’re not going to eat a meal without a spiritual connection to it, that’s not really fasting.” Simply skipping meals for health or diet reasons, like intermittent fasting, is not the same as biblical fasting.

True fasting is about turning your heart toward God: “We give up those earthly appetites to hunger for more of the Lord.” Jesus Himself said, “I have meat that’s not of this world,” reminding us that spiritual nourishment comes from God’s Word and His presence. Fasting allows individuals to focus on spiritual growth, meditate on Scripture and enhance their prayer life, aligning their hearts with God’s will. Its purpose is often misunderstood, making it essential to explore its biblical foundation and connection to prayer.

Biblical Reasons for Fasting

The Bible presents fasting as a deliberate act of setting aside physical appetites to focus on spiritual ones. Dr. Hogan informs us that, “fasting encourages you to remove focus from those things that can distract you and pull you away — those fleshly appetites. And then the nature of fasting is that you’re not just separating from, you’re separating to.” In other words, fasting is not only about what we give up, but also about what we gain: a greater intimacy with God through prayer and His Word.

In both the Old and New Testaments, fasting is linked to seeking God’s guidance, repentance and spiritual renewal. It creates space for what Dr. Hogan calls “ultra focus,” allowing for greater insight and discernment. By eliminating distractions, believers can better perceive God’s presence and hear His voice.

In Christianity, fasting signifies our role as God’s dwelling place and calls us to deeper communion with Him. It is one of the spiritual disciplines of abstinence, alongside solitude, complementing engagement practices like worship and service.

Connection Between Fasting and Prayer

Fasting and prayer are intricately connected, as fasting removes distractions while prayer fills that void with spiritual focus. Together, they create a rhythm where fasting humbles the heart and prayer lifts it toward God. 

Throughout Scripture, fasting is often paired with prayer during times of seeking God’s guidance, interceding for others or preparing for significant decisions (see Ezra 8:23; Acts 13:2–3). Fasting quiets the noise of daily life, allowing believers to hear God more clearly. Without prayer, fasting is merely going hungry; with worship, it invites spiritual transformation.

Common Misconceptions

Fasting is often misunderstood in both Christian and cultural contexts. One common misconception is that fasting simply means giving up something, such as chocolate, social media or video games. As Dr. Hogan offers, “Even though culturally people say, ‘Well, I’m going to fast chocolate, or I’m going to fast video games,’ that’s not really biblical fasting. You could use that, but that’s a loose structure of fasting.” While practices like Lent involve giving up something meaningful, true biblical fasting is primarily a food-based and deeply spiritual practice.

Another misconception is confusing fasting with popular health trends. “In our culture, intermittent fasting is a diet craze right now, but it has nothing to do with God,” says Dr. Hogan. Skipping meals for physical benefits is not the same as fasting for spiritual growth.

The Bible describes several types of fasting, each with a unique purpose and level of commitment. While all fasting involves abstaining from food to focus on God, the intensity and duration of the fast can vary. As Dr. Hogan explains, “Different types of fasting were for certain things… Even those different types of fasts can be called for specific reasons.”

These are the three primary types of biblical fasting:^{(See disclaimer 4)}

• Complete Fast: A complete fast typically means consuming only water for a set period. This type of fast is seen in Scripture during significant spiritual moments. “There have been complete fasts, such as those of Moses and Jesus — full, complete fasts where they had nothing to eat,” says Dr. Hogan. These fasts were extraordinary and often connected to divine calling and preparation.
• Partial Fast: Dr. Hogan notes, “Partial fasting could involve removing certain food items, as I mentioned; Daniel removed the king’s meats and delicacies.” This is often referred to as the “Daniel Fast,” where participants eat only vegetables and water for a specified period (Daniel 10:3). Many churches adopt this practice at the beginning of the year as a way to seek God and sacrifice earthly appetites for spiritual focus.
• Absolute Fast: An absolute fast is the most extreme form, involving the complete abstention from both food and water. “An absolute fast… you’ve got to be called by the Lord to do that because you’re putting your body through some serious crises,” warns Dr. Hogan. Esther called for such a fast before approaching the king, risking her life to save her people (Esther 4:16). These fasts are rare and should only be undertaken with clear spiritual conviction and for a very short duration.

Fasting requires intentionality, prayer and the right heart posture. As Dr. Hogan explains, “You want to read, be aware of Scripture and be mindful of fasting. You want to have a heart check of Why? What? What is your motivation? Why are you compelled to do this?” Below are practical steps and principles to guide a biblical fast.

Practical Steps for a Biblical Fast

Before beginning a fast, clarify your purpose. Are you seeking God’s direction, growing closer to Him or joining your faith community in prayer? Dr. Hogan emphasizes, “You want to make sure that your ‘why’ is clear… It can be rooted in biblical truths. You want to be intentional about it.”

Here are some practical steps:

1. Start with Scripture: Read passages on fasting (Matthew 6:16-18, Joel 2:12, Acts 13:23) to ground your practice in God’s Word.
2. Define the details: Decide what type of fast you will do: complete, partial or absolute. Set a start date and an end date.
3. Plan for prayer: Replace mealtime with prayer, Bible reading or worship. Dr. Hogan suggests, “Are you not going to eat lunch? Then spend that lunch praying or prayer walking or connecting with the Lord.”
4. Stay intentional: Disengage from worldly distractions and engage in spiritual pursuits.

Attitude and Heart Posture

The heart behind fasting matters more than the act itself. Jesus taught in Matthew 6 not to fast for public recognition: “When you’re fasting, you’re not doing it as a proclamation to others… You’re actually doing it because it is a covenant between you and the Lord for that season,” says Dr. Hogan.

Fasting should never be about manipulating God or trying to earn favor. Instead, it’s about humility and hunger for Him. As Dr. Hogan reminds us, “One of the Beatitudes says, ‘Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled.’ And so it’s replacing an earthly hunger with hunger for more of the Lord.”

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Fasting without prayer: Skipping meals without seeking God is not biblical fasting. “You want to make sure that you’re not just separating from food… but you’re also turning your heart toward the Lord and toward spiritual appetites,” says Dr. Hogan.
• Treating fasting like a diet: Intermittent fasting may reset your physical system, but biblical fasting resets your spiritual focus.
• Wrong motives: Avoid fasting for self-gain or recognition. It’s not about impressing others or manipulating outcomes.
• Ignoring health and calling: Extreme fasts, like absolute fasts, should only be done when clearly called by God and for a short time.

Fasting is a transformative discipline that shapes character, deepens faith and draws believers closer to God. As Dr. Hogan emphasizes, “Whenever we turn toward spiritual exercise, the ultimate reward is a closer relationship with God and clarity about who He is and who we are in Him.” Below are three key benefits of biblical fasting.

• Spiritual growth and clarity: Fasting helps believers realign their focus with God’s purposes and hear His voice more clearly. Dr. Hogan notes, “Often, you’ll get clarity. It doesn’t mean your circumstances will change, but you’ll get clarity once again about who you are and whose you are.”
• Strengthening faith: Fasting is an act of obedience that builds spiritual resilience. “Sometimes it’s just an act of obedience. There’s something very powerful about being obedient—even when you’re not necessarily wanting to be obedient,” says Dr. Hogan. This discipline helps crucify the flesh and empowers the spirit, forming Christlike character.
• Preparing for a breakthrough: Fasting often precedes moments of spiritual breakthrough, whether for guidance, courage or strength. Dr. Hogan reminds us, “Remember, you might not see the breakthrough in a tangible way that you think… But sometimes just that heart of obedience to the Lord when He calls you to fast, that’s the reward in itself.”

Fasting is just one of many spiritual disciplines that help shape our character and draw us closer to God. As Dr. Hogan reminds us, “We should understand that the Scriptures and spiritual disciplines prepare us for life. They prepare our hearts to be obedient to the Lord in the seasons that we enter into.” Spiritual formation is a lifelong journey, and disciplines like fasting provide the closeness to the Lord that many believers seek.

If you feel called to deepen your understanding of God’s Word and prepare for ministry, now is the time to take the next step. Grand Canyon University’s College of Theology offers programs designed to equip you for service and leadership, including the Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies, the Master of Divinity and graduate certificate programs that help you strengthen your theological foundation and ministry skills.