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What Does the Bible Say About Fasting?

The Bible presents fasting as a spiritual practice connected to prayer, humility, repentance, and seeking God with deeper focus. Fasting is not about earning God's approval, but about quieting distractions and turning attention toward Him.

What the Bible says

  1. Scripture
    When ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance.
    Matthew 6:16

    Jesus teaches fasting with sincerity rather than public performance.

  2. Scripture
    Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting.
    Joel 2:12

    Fasting in the Bible is often connected with repentance and wholehearted seeking.

  3. Scripture
    So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
    Ezra 8:23

    Scripture repeatedly connects fasting with prayer and dependence on God.

A grounded way to understand this

Biblical fasting is less about outward ritual and more about inward humility, focus, and drawing near to God.

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