The Bible has numerous fasting scriptures. In fact, fasting was a common practice among the Israelites long before Jesus came on the scene! Matthew 4:1-2 says “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”
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3 Days Fasting In The Bible
1. Repentance and Mercy
Fasting is a time for you to:
- Repent for your sins.
- Repent for not being thankful for God’s mercy.
- Repent for being selfish and sinful.
- Repent for ignoring God’s warnings and reproofs through the Holy Spirit and His messengers.
- Repent for not seeking Him, His kingdom, and His righteousness first in all things (Matthew 6:33).
2. Prayer And Fasting
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that draws us closer to God. We see in the Bible examples of people who fasted for many reasons:
- David and his men fasted because they were sad
- Esther fasted before appearing in front of the King without being invited (she was risking her life!)
- Paul often fasted when he wanted to receive guidance from God, or when he wanted to spend more time praying on a certain subject. When Paul told the Corinthian church how he was going to visit them, he said “I will come again to you after I go through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia; and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter” (1 Corinthians 16:5-6). The word translated “perhaps” here means literally “by prayer and fasting.” Paul had prayed and fasted about this decision!
3. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
It’s so true. God answers our prayers when we seek him with all of our hearts and put him first in our lives.
When we fast, we are more sensitive to the Holy Spirit and can more clearly discern the voice of God. Through a spirit of prayer, fasting will keep us aligned with the will of God and in tune with his plans for us.
You have not because you ask not. If you don’t like what you see in your life, then cry out to God about it! He is waiting for you to come to him.
4. Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads. Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for one-fourth of the day; for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God
The children of Israel fasted for 24 hours, proclaiming a solemn assembly. They wore sackcloth and rubbed dust on their heads as a sign of mourning and repentance. In the middle of this fast, they confessed not just their own sins but also the iniquities of their fathers (Nehemiah 9). Confession is an important aspect of fasting because we are acknowledging to God what is wrong in our lives and asking him to forgive us and help us overcome those things. Fasting can be a means of turning from sin, seeking forgiveness, receiving cleansing and strengthening our relationship with God. Ezra 8:21 says that the Israelites were assembled to seek God’s favor. We know that seeking the Lord results in his favor being bestowed on us (Psalm 10:17). You can use this principle when seeking to receive something from the Lord during a fast by approaching Him with a truly repentant heart.
3 day spiritual fast is biblical
Many people wonder if the 3 day fast is biblical. They feel that it isn’t possible to go without any food for three days and survive, especially not in a way where you still have the strength and energy to do things like work or even pray. However, this fast is completely biblical. If you want proof that the 3 day spiritual fast is advisable, simply look at some of the examples of fasting in the Bible:
- The prophet Elijah, who went 40 days without food or water: 1 Kings 19:3-8
- The disciples who prayed with Jesus 40 days before he prophesied about his death: Matthew 17:1-13
- Daniel’s three week diet of only vegetables, water and prayer (Daniel 10:2-3).
- Jesus Christ’s extended period of fasting when he was tempted by Satan in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11)
3 Days Fasting Prayer Points
Below are details and prayer points for day 3 of the fast.
CHORUSES
1. Wisdom & Discernment (Isa28:29. Jos3:4.2Cor2:11)
Let us thank God who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance.
Let us ask God to give us wisdom and direction in navigating this year, walking in peace and unity. For none of us has gone this way before.
Let us ask for wisdom to overcome pitfalls, booby traps, dangers, and potholes that the enemy has planted or may plant to cause disunity in every area of our lives.
Declare that we will not make haste or take rash decisions, but rather we will listen attentively to the voice and leading of the Holy Spirit in all that pertains to life from now on.
Let us ask God to set a guard over our mouth to speak as the wise and hear as the wise.
2. Breakthroughs (Ps84:11 Ps133:1-3. 1Cor16:9)
Bless the name of the Lord who through unity commands blessings upon His children which include breakthroughs.
Ask God to command the blessings of unity to transform barrenness to fruitfulness in every area of our lives in Jesus name.
By His grace, let the treasures in secret places be transferred to us as we dwell in unity in Jesus name.
Pray that as God unites us, every adversary standing and contending with open doors set before us, individually and collectively be silenced in Jesus name.
3. Business and Vocation (MT7:11. Ps 35:27. Job 36:11)
Thank God who is the source of all good things. He takes delight in the prosperity of His people.
Ask God to release creative power on our youths to maximize the natural endowment in Nigeria.
Let us ask God for the enablement to obey and serve Him as we ought to so we can receive His blessings from the work of our hands.
Pray that after He has blessed the works of our hands, our hearts won’t turn away from Him in pride.
4. Deliverance and Victory (Exo14:14. Isa 43:2,16. Jos5:9)
Thank Him for fighting our battles and keeping us alive to this moment.
In unity, let us declare that no fire, troubled waters, and battles of life shall consume us in Jesus name.
Pray that God will arise in His power and roll away every reproach of our lives in Jesus name.
Pray that God, the consuming fire, consumes every anti-harvest power at work in our lives in Jesus name.
We destroy the effect of satanic family customs, traditions, covenants, and captivity working against our progress in Jesus name.
5. Health and Healing (Acts10:38. Ps103:3. Exo23:25)
Thank God for His healing power that is available for his children.
Father, as we dwell in unity in RoSGMI, by your mercy, take away every inherited sicknesses and disease amongst us in Jesus name.
We destroy every yoke of sicknesses and diseases in Jesus name.
Let the source of any sickness in our bodies dry up by the fire of God in Jesus name.
Let the fire of God destroy every demonic anointing reinforcing sicknesses and afflictions in our bodies in Jesus name.
As we serve you and dwell in Your presence, bless our bread and take away sicknesses from us and our households in Jesus name.
6. Peace (PS122:7. Col3:15.Jn 14:27)
Bless Jesus, the giver of peace for being the Prince of peace in our lives.
As united children of God, let us ask for peace within our walls and the perimeter of our lives in Jesus name.
Ask that the peace of Christ guide and rule our hearts in Jesus name.
7. Personal Petitions (Jn16:24)
Types Of Fasting In The Bible
There are seven types of Christian fasting: Partial Fasting, The Daniel Fast, Complete Fasting, Absolute Fasting, Sexual Fasting, Corporate Fasting, and a Soul Fast.
Each one of these fasts should be done with an attitude of humility and a hunger for God. When denying ourselves food and even water, we set aside the time we would be eating to pray, read the Bible, and worship.
Partial Fasting
A Partial Fasting is when you refrain from eating sun up to sundown. You can also do this from a certain time of day, for example, from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Before fasting, you need to decide what time you will not be eating. After sun-down or whatever time you have decided to end fasting, you may eat.
This fast is one of the more flexible types of fasting. You can decide what fast you would pair with your partial fast: a complete fast or Daniel fast. With a complete fast, you would not eat solid foods. Daniel fast consists of eating fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Or you may decide for your first time to simply cut out one food group during your fasting hours. Whatever you decide, remember the point is to deny your body what it longs for.
We fast because we have tasted and seen the goodness of God and are desperately hungry for for more of Him.
David Mathis
Daniel Fasting
The Daniel Fast is taken from when Daniel fasted in the Bible.
At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.
Daniel 10:2-3
These three weeks the passage is referring to is in observance of Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. This took place during the first month of the year. Daniel did not eat any meat or wine for three weeks.
What you can eat:
- Fruits, nuts
- Vegetables
- Water (in order to flush out toxins)
What you cannot eat:
- Meats
- Pastries
- Chips
- Bread
- Fried food
- Coffee & Tea
- Juice (optional: some people do choose to drink juice during this fast)
The purpose of this fast is to cleanse your body while praying and pressing into God’s presence. Before doing this fast, you would need to decide how long you will do this fast for. Some people do this fast for a week whereas others may do it for three weeks as Daniel did.
Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning”
Joel 2:12
Complete Fasting
A complete fast is where you only drink water. You would not eat any solid foods. Some people choose to drink water and juice to help maintain some energy. It would be up to you to decide if you wanted to include juice or not.
You should decide how many days you will do this fast before beginning. This fast will humble you as you will no longer have the satisfaction of chewing solid food.
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
Isaiah 58:6
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Absolute Fasting
An absolute fast is based on both Paul and Esther’s fasts in the Bible. You do not eat or drink during this fast. No drinking included water.
After Saul was blinded on the road to Damascus, the Bible says,
For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
Before Esther was going to ask the king to ask him to not follow the plans Haman had to kill the Jews. The king did not know that she was a Jew. The problem was entering the king’s chambers without permission could end in death.
Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die
Esther 4:16
In both stories, the fast was for three days. It would be recommended that you also do this fast for a short period of time as well.
There are times when people in the Bible did an absolute fast for an extended period of time. Jesus fasted food and water for forty days when he was tempted by Satan in the wilderness.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Matthew 4:1-2
Moses also fasted for forty days before he received the Ten Commandments.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.
Exodus 34:27-28
There are many examples in Scripture of people fasting from both food and water. If you do this fast, use with extreme caution as you are not eating or drinking anything! This fast would not be for people with medical conditions.
But I, when they were sick—
Psalm 35:13
I wore sackcloth;
I afflicted myself with fasting;
I prayed with head bowed on my chest.
Sexual Fasting
The concept of sexual fasting comes from Paul. He poses the idea that through mutual consent you would be apart for a time to devote yourself to praying.
This fast would be done in the context of marriage and where both parties are in mutual agreement. Often times, we tend to skim over parts of Scripture we do not want to do because it would challenge us. This passage is one of them. Paul is clear that for a time separating physically and focusing on pray is healthy.
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
1 Corinthians 7:3-6
The other time that fasting from sex is mentioned in the Bible is found in Exodus. It was done in preparation before Moses met with God on Mt. Sinia.
And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.
Exodus 19:14
The purpose of the Israelites refraining from sex for three days was to control their desire. This is not to say sexual desires are bad, but during these three days, they were to devote themselves to pray in preparation for Moses’ meeting with God.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Corporate Fasting
Corporate fasting can be done in a variety of different ways. You could do a corporate fast with your church, a Bible study group, your spouse, and so on. Your group can decide what kind of fast you will be doing and for how long.
An example of corporate fasting can be found in the book of Acts. Saul and Barnabus and Paul were about to go on their first missionary journey. The church at Antioch fasted before sending them off to the mission field.
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
Another example of corporate fasting is found in Ezra. Ezra and his company fasted to ask God to protect them on their journey to Jerusalem.
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 for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.
Ezra 8:21-23
Corporate fasting is powerful because as it says in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” When we come together and fast in a group, we know God is among us. One important piece to corporate fasting is to set-up times before you begin fasting to pray together.
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 1so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:16-18
Soul Fasting
Soul fasting is where you obtain from a certain area of your life that may be out of balance or something you consume much of your time.
Ideas for soul fasting include:
- Television
- Social Media
- Podcasts
- Magazines
It is not to say that any of these things are “bad,” but to remember that they do not run your life. You can sacrifice it and instead of scrolling through Instagram you can choose to pray and seek God.
You would choose how long you do this fast for. Once the fast is over, it is important to slowly incorporate what you took out back into your life. Just because the fast is over does not mean it is the best idea to watch Netflix for seven hours. Remember to continue to honor God with what you spend your time on, even after the fast.
My family did a sugar and media fast for a month. My siblings and I were all under the age of 16 when we did the fast. I say this to encourage you that if you are a parent, you can fast with your children even at a young age!
O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.
Isaiah 25:1