Are there situations in your life that are hard? If you have been a believer for very long Iโm sure people have told you to pray when life is hard. Yes, prayer is the way we take our burdens to God, but did you know there is a way to pray harder and get to a place of a spiritual breakthrough in your faith?
Today we will look at 27 fasting and prayer scriptures that instruct New Testament Christians to fast and pray.
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Why should we look at fasting and prayer scriptures?
I donโt know about you, but when I look at the world around me I feel scared. Life is hard and getting harder every year. The lost world keeps getting crazier and more sure they are right. The Christians around me are more intolerant. Very rarely do I see a glimpse of the power or abundant life Jesus said His disciples would have.
That scares me. Does it scare you?
โThe thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.โ (Matthew 9:14-15 NASB)
Jesus, when talking to the disciples talks about the life of a believer being powerful and abundant. How do you get to that place of living a powerful, abundant life? I donโt see much evidence of it around me and I desperately want it, donโt you?
After many years in the faith, I realized there are parts of the scripture that we โ the Church โ ignore. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that the original believers would have practiced and seen great value in. But fasting โ setting aside what we seek for satisfaction in order to seek God for satisfaction โ is not regularly taught in 21st Century churches. Why not?
Fasting is where the power is, where the abundant life takes root and keeps on giving you strength to fight the real battle for the Kingdom of God!!!!!!! Donโt believe me? Check out these fasting and prayer scriptures and see for yourself!
What scripture talks about fasting and praying?
We could start in the Old Testament (and weโll get there soon) but I love to start with the words of Jesus when a religious practice is labeled โOld Testamentโ and unnecessary.
โThen the disciples of John *came to Him, asking, โWhy do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?โ And Jesus said to them, โThe attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.โ (Matthew 9:14-15)
Jesus said we will fast when we need Him โ and a fast will be necessary.
What is fasting and prayer?
Can we all agree that we need more of Jesus?
I need Jesus before I set foot out of bed. If fasting and prayer are a way to draw nearer to Jesus when I need Him than I need to learn how to fast in a way that pleases God! How about you?
But what is fasting and prayer? Maybe youโve known someone who is giving up red meat for Lent (around Easter time) but you just didnโt understand what that was all about. The Catholic segment of Christianity have done a beautiful job of maintaining the practice of fasting for 40 days at Easter time and it was one such Catholic who first introduced me to the need to fast.
Websterโs dictionary defines fasting this way: โto abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink, especially as a religious observance.โ
The Bible speaks of fasting in a spiritual way, and while many Biblical figures spent time without eating, there are many examples of non-food fasts that give us a broader definition of the work fast.
What does the Bible say about fasting and prayer?
The Bible has a lot to say about fasting. Have you ever looked at what the Bible says about fasting in secret?
โโWhenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.โ (Matthew 6:16-18)
I go more deeply into this as well as 5 other ways to ruin a time of fasting and prayer in another post! Suffice it to say, there is more said about how to ruin a fast than there is said on how to fast for spiritual breakthrough!
What fasting does spiritually?
Before we finish together I want to point out something in most of these fasting and prayer scriptures. Look at the examples in Daniel and Esther specifically? Those people were in a desperate spiritual state as well as a desperate physical state. Their lives were in danger. Life was hard in a way we will never understand in the 21st Century Western Church. When they needed to draw near to God, when they needed answers, when they needed spiritual breakthrough they took prayer to the next level and fasted.
Those are some amazing fasting scriptures for breakthrough! If God showed up for them He can show up for you. Write those verses out, pray over them, remind God of His promises and be strengthened in your faith today!
โJesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.โ (Hebrews 13:8)
What fasting does spiritually is draw your heart in humility nearer to the heart of God. And when you are humble and near the Father, you can hear His voice answer prayers. You can feel his breath move, you can see the future He has for you in hope and joy.
The reward of fasting in the Bible is always a closer walk with God, healing either spiritually or physically and peace even when life is hard.
Fasting can change both your heart and a nationโs heart
Fasting does so much for us spiritually but a look at this example of fasting in Nehemiah shows us that it is also powerful enough to heal and unite a nationโs heart to God.
โThe words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol, that Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. They said to me, โThe remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.โ When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.โ (Nehemiah 1:1-4)
After that time of fasting, Nehemiah petitioned the King (who God had already softened) and was released to rebuild the wall at Jerusalem! God used the humility of one man to stir the Nation of Israel back to God.
The rewards of fasting are both spiritual and physical and the power that comes with this spiritual discipline is exponential! You need to learn to fast, Child of God, and see His power and abundant life move in your situation!
RELATED: 7 Spiritual Benefits of Fasting
Types of Fasting
There are several different types of fasting found in the Bible. Some more extreme than others.
A 40 day complete fast (no food or water)
Our examples of a 40 day complete fast are Jesus and Moses who took things to the extreme by having no food or water for 40 days.
โSo he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.โ (Exodus 34:28 NASB)
โAnd after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.โ(Matthew 4:2)
Please note that these are extreme examples of fasting and prayer and you should never consider this until after consulting a doctor.
The Complete Fast
A complete fast could last from part of a day to an entire day to several days or weeks. This was the most common in the scripture so Iโll just list a few fasting and prayer scriptures to help you see the pattern.
โGo, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.โ (Esther 4:16)
โYet even now,โ declares the Lord,
โReturn to Me with all your heart,
And with fasting, weeping and mourning;โ (Joel 2:12)
โThen I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, โThe hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him.โ So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty.โ (Ezra 8:21-23)
Even the lost saw God move through a Complete Fast
The people of Nineveh observed a fast that turned the hand of Godโs wrath away. These were a people who were far from God, enemies of Godโs people. Still, we see God loves people, God cares for us even when we are struggling through sin!
The fast of Nineveh gives me hope. God comes when people humble themselves before Him. Your fast doesnโt have to be perfect or wrapped in a perfect life to be seen and answered by God. Just try it and see!
โThen the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. He issued a proclamation and it said, โIn Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.โ (Jonah 3:5-9)
A Partial Fast
A Partial fast can also be called a 3 day spiritual fast. In Daniel, we also see believers who ate fruit, veggies and drank water for 10 days to honor God while in captivity.
โPlease test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink.โ (Daniel 1:12)
The Daniel Fast is a partial fast that has gotten a lot of attention in the past decade. The basic idea behind this fast is to have no meat, no tasty bread, no wine, no oils for his skin, for 21 days.
โI did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed.โ (Daniel 10:3)
โSo I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.โ (Daniel 9:3)
These would have been things that satisfied Daniel. The world latches onto the specifics of his fasting because of the power that came and the answers to prayer that he saw but what they miss is that fasting and prayer were his habits. The Daniel fast was not powerful because of what Daniel gave up, but rather because of the humility of Danielโs life.
Non-Food Fasts
Please note that if you have a medical condition you will want to choose A Non-Food Fast! We see several examples of non-food fasts. First, we see a fast from oils. Daniel is our example of this as well and WOW was his prayer and fasting life powerful and abundant!
โI did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed.โ (Daniel 10:3)
โSo I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.โ (Daniel 9:3)
We also see a fast from sex mentioned in scripture. We are told husband and wife can decide together to give up sex for a time and reason.
โStop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and [a]come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.โ (1 Corinthians 7:5)
There are also examples of this in the old testament when the Children of Israel were to sanctify themselves.
โHe said to the people, โBe ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.โ (Exodus 19:15)
Fasting and Prayer Scriptures โ Application
Weโve seen 27 fasting and prayer scriptures today. Have you felt a stirring to try your hand at a time of fasting and prayer? Are there hard things in your life that need an extra dose of spiritual power to breakthrough?
Maybe you felt the stir but you are still unsure of the specific how toโs of fasting. No worries. Iโve written a short book to help guide you through the process of fasting.
A Beginners Guide to Fast and Pray: Taking Spiritual Warfare to the Next Level. Get your copy and start your journey to spiritual breakthrough today!
In the meantime, Iโd love to pray over you. Let me know how I can be praying in the comments.
in HIM, Tiffany
Tiffany – wonderful post. So much information to help people fast. Your explanations make it seem like something a person could actually do! It can seem overwhelming otherwise. Thank you –
I’m so glad it helps make it more doable. It’s my prayer that the book will inspire more people to at least try a fast!
Hi Teff, thank you for the fasting guide. Highly appreciated. I thought it was a man until I reached the end.
I want to thank you I was look for some Concerning demons and I come across this I am in spiritual warfare and I was attack last night but I know now what I must do to get back closer to God fast and pray is the only thing that gone straight me to be able to fight this warfare that Iโm under.thank you so much for helping me understand what I must do.Sincerely Cotrina please pray for my strength in the Lord and that he may give me a deeper Hunger and Thirst for him even more.I was lost but now Iโm found.
I started reading your book the other day, and I’m getting excited. Things are starting to click. These fasting and prayer scriptures pulled together in one place really give both perspective and a solid framework!
That’s so great to hear, Aryn. Praying these fasting and prayer scriptures inspires and encourages you as this new year begins.
Please pray for me. My husband is committing adultery, and continues to deny it. I have caught him more than once.
I want to divorce him, but Iโm so trouble
Please pray for me and my family thank you for your encouragement about fasting and fasting the right way
and pray for our marriage,Douglas and
Karen Parker
I did a partial fast with Daniel type diet. I felt more prayer answered. It does help get closer to God.
After feeling the need to fast for some time now, a few YouTube videos appeared speaking of this. I was sent this post by my mother whom is very spiritually awake. Today starts my first day of fasting. After getting into deep silence and prayer, I was told to fast 8 days. Iโm praying not only for clarity and faith, Iโm also praying for my boy friend that I share a son with. In that silence I was told to restrain from contact with him, and pray for him. Pray for strength and the holy father for him. My wish is for our family to be together in the right way of God, and for him to find the Lord .. to seek him. I pray we find a way to get through these tough times and hopefully find our way back for our little family. Thank you
My oldest son overdosed a little over a month ago. I should be walking through the driest most barren desert right now but the grace of Our Abba Daddy has other plans. Yesterday I went for my hike in the woods and He told me 30 days. I videos it for my own documentation. Today on my walk, I picked up a stone after The Holy Spirits prompting. I went into a vision. Into The Holy of Holies with my daughter (who has pulled away from God) in the vision I laid her at the alter and touched hot coal to her lips. Oh Hallelujah! Later today God told me that this 30 days is for The Prodigals to come home. I will be fasting for 30 days, eating one meal a day. Please pray for the Spirit to fall heavily on me and those I am lifting up in prayer. Thank you so much and God Bless!
I have been reading up on fasting and prayer and your work is very helpful. I am asking God to help me break free of my weaknesses and to allow me to better focus on my strengths and walking humility and in his word.
I am on day three of a juice cleanse. And it has been so good I really donโt want to stop. I loved your quote about, โare there hard things in your life that you need an extra dose of spiritual breakthrough?โ This really ministered to me. I am in the process of pursuing another job that is more in alignment with my calling and gifts the Lord has for me. And too I am in a relationship and trying to determine if I should continue to move ahead or end it. Grateful that fasting is biblical and that we can look to scripture to guide and direct.
Praying that there will be breakthrough as I continue this fast. I have committed to 5 days, but may do 7. After all this is the number of completion in scripture. Pray God reveals and shows me what to do and how to proceed.
Page Geske
Thank you for a place to come and read and believe again. A place to see God at work in the world we live in. Today I want to ask for prayer for all the people in the world being deceived by things that are not true. I pray that God release them from bondage in there minds and set them free, free from sexual sin, free from gender confusion, free from anger, free from racism, Free from unforgiveness, free from bitterness and I pray that love and forgiveness be our motivation. I pray God teach me how to walk closer to him without looking at things in the natural but that my focus will be on the things above.
Pray I am set free from anger from when I wasn’t treated well and things didn’t go my way. I am praying but need help.
TIffany, thank you so much for this article. It was so helpful with the scriptures you included.
I am fasting and praying for a healing in my body and to stop pain medication.
I claim healing right now through Jesus Christ.
Please agree with me in prayer for my healing.
Amen and I will also include you in my prayers during this my 30 days fast which includes praying for the sick, my school fund raising, my life and that of my family
Hi Tiffany,
Thank you so much for the offer to pray. I am planning to fast and prey as of tomorrow for the next five days. UI want to be delivered from lust and covetousness. Please help pray for my deliverance.
Kind Regards,
Timaima Martin
I’m fasting for 7 days for seven hours per day. I need deliverance for my son who has stopped going to church and has started smoking marijuana. Please help me pray for his breakthrough ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ
Im seeking prayer for a full time job for..me and my Husband
Tiffany, thank you for this article. I will be starting my first fast today. I need to draw nearer to God. My faith is becoming weak. I recently moved to a new state and I know nobody. I am fighting loneliness and heartbreak. Please include me in your prayers.
Dear Tiffany,
I don’t have a comment right now, but I need all the prayers for deliveranc, as i am about to go in to fasting I was looking for a scripture to start with and end up on you page which I read and enjoy and got the scripture I needed . Pleas pray for me.
Thank you
Ann.
Great read Tiffany. Feel a strong pulling in my spirit to continue my 21 Day Daniel Fast to 40 Days. I have some serious situations before God and Iโm really needing His favor in that regard but I am praying for strength to accept His Will if it doesnโt go the way I desire.
Thank you for this piece. I want to start prayer and fasting tomorrow. As long as i can. i am a nursing mother. My family and I have been experiencing so much delay. Failure at the point of breakthrough , my only brother who travelled to india for greener pastures is suffeลing. Things are not working for him. i am worried. I have parents to take care of yet things are hard for me. Join me in prayers, I need sudden 360 Divine turn around for good in my family in Jesus Name..Amen
I am glad I came across your page and am thankful to God and to you.we have just set off 21 days fasting and prayers in our church for the beginning of the year 2021.So in that mood I decided searching for scriptures that will help or guide me through,I must say you have been a blessing to for such needed scriptures.Please pray with me that in the end of these 21 days seeking for God,I must shall have a testimony to share with the world to the glory of God.
Prayer please for God to reveal to me what He wants me to do. I feel He has given me a bunch of puzzle pieces that don’t exactly fit together or make sense. Need a breakthrough. I’m desperate and need prayer badly. Prayer is powerful and one of the most precious gifts a person can give. Thank you and God bless.
Pls help me pray, my family is not together and we don’t like each other which the devil is using us a lot. We don’t know whether is a curse or what, we can’t save money, only drinking and so many things pls help us in prayer