9 Bible Verses on Fasting

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Use these Bible verses on fasting to see what Scripture has to say about why to fast, how to fast, and how to draw nearer to God through it.

Fasting In The Bible – What Does The Bible Say About Fasting?

Every Lent, I dive a little bit deeper into the idea of fasting.

  • Is fasting still relevant today?
  • How does fasting bring me closer to God?
  • What should I be fasting for anyway?

Let’s be honest.

When you look at the world for advice on how to fast, you’re not going to get very far. The goal of a Christian fasting according to the Bible is not to lose weight, capture the secret of anti-aging, or fit into your skinny jeans.

What Is Biblical Fasting?

BibleStudyTools defines fasting in the Bible as, “essentially giving up food (or something else) for a period of time in order to focus your thoughts on God. While fasting, many people read the Bible, pray, or worship.”

Did you catch that important pairing?

The goal is to fast for a limited time while focusing your thoughts on God, the God of heaven.

Fasting In Scripture – Fasting For A Breakthrough

Whether you are choosing to fast for Lent or as a regular spiritual practice or spiritual discipline in your life, it is so encouraging to look back over the people who fasted in the Bible.

Seeing the reasons they fasted and how God responded to them can inspire you to deepen your relationship with God in this way, looking beyond the desires of your own flesh.

There are examples of fasting in both the New Testament and the Old Testament to show us the value of this spiritual discipline, overcoming our natural human lack of self-control.

In the Bible, fasting is when people have given up food or drink and spent that time praying, mourning, and seeking God’s will.

There is so much power in fasting, getting out of our own way, and connecting with the Lord God in this unique, self-sacrificial way.

Below, you’ll find Bible verses on fasting and be able to see the different purposes behind their fasts to inspire, motivate, and give you more purpose in your own fasting.

Use these Bible verses to read when fasting, learn how to fast according to the Bible, and inspire you as you fast and pray yourself.

Bible Verses On Fasting

Folding hands praying on a Bible with the text 9 Bible Verses on Fasting

Printable Bible Verses

You can download a free printable of all 9 of these Bible verses here.

1. Exodus 34:28 – Moses Fasted To Seek God’s Direction

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 34:28

Moses fasted with the Lord for forty days, leaning on God for direction, wisdom, and guidance in writing the Ten Commandments.

This is known as one of the “supernatural absolute” fasts in the Bible where Moses went 40 days without eating or drinking.

It’s labeled “supernatural” or sometimes “miraculous” since that is quite dangerous normally and he was sustained miraculously only by God during that time.

God not only sustained Moses during his fast, but also gave him wisdom and direction.

2. Ezra 8:21-23 – Fasting For Humility

…I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions….So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

-Ezra 8:21-23

Here, fasting was a means to humility.

It was a way to humble themselves before the Lord as they sought Him in prayer for protection.

They fasted humbly, prayed fiercely, and God answered.

3. Isaiah 58:6 – Fasting for Freedom

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?

– Isaiah 58:6

The purpose of fasting is so much deeper than simply giving up food for a while.

It’s not just an outward practice, but an inner transformation.

It’s about addressing the deep, ugly sins of your life, untying the cords of that yoke, and breaking free.

4. Joel 2:12 – Fast To Return To God With Repentance

“Even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return to me with all your heart,
    with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Joel 2:12

Return to me.

What a powerful phrase coming from our Almighty God.

This was a call to repentance, for the people to return to God’s mercy and steadfast love.

And one of the ways to show their truly repentant heart was through fasting.

Even here in the Old Testament, God was not asking for the act of fasting alone. Fasting was a way to show that they desired to return to God with all of their heart.

5. Matthew 6:16-18 – “When You Fast…” Verse

“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

As Christians, our intentions matter. Our faith takes life to a level unseen. It is possible to do everything right on the outside, but without the proper heart, it doesn’t serve its purpose.

Fasting is one of those things.

If you are fasting to be seen by others as a “good Christian,” you’re doing it wrong.

If you’re fasting with a heart that can only focus on the things you lack (food, in this case) and not a hunger that drives you into the arms of your Savior to satisfy your needs, you’re doing it wrong.

Don’t fast for attention, recognition, or the sake of not-so-silent suffering through the 40 days of Lent.

Fast to draw nearer to God and rely on Him on deeper levels than you have before.

6. Matthew 4:2 – Fasting To Grow in Spiritual Strength

After fasting forty days and forty nights, he [Jesus] was hungry.

Matthew 4:2

Jesus fasted for forty days.

Forty days.

It’s hard for me to fathom what His body would have felt like during that time.

I’m imagining His human form felt quite weak.

Yet, He stood strong against the relentless temptation Satan kept shoving in His face.

He wasn’t relying on a protein-filled breakfast or a good night of sleep for his mental sharpness to stand up to the devil.

He relied completely on God’s strength (and God’s Word) during His fast.

Fasting can strengthen us spiritually when we choose to stand on God’s Word in our own human frailty.

7. Matthew 9:14-17 – Jesus On Fasting And New Wine Into New Wineskins

Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Matthew 9:14-17

The entire purpose of the disciples’ and the Pharisees’ fasting was to show a longing for the day God would show up and show favor to Israel again.

But Jesus was right there with them! There was no need for fasting at that moment.

But immediately afterward, Jesus said, “the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”

He wasn’t putting an end to all fasting.

He specifically said the time to fast would be coming again!

But now, our fasting isn’t filled with mourning as it was for the Pharisees. Instead, it’s filled with longing because we know Jesus came and will come again!

Don’t pour new wine into old wineskins, but fresh ones instead.

8. Acts 13:3 – Fast To Seek The Holy Spirit’s Guidance

So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 13:3

It would seem that the church here fasted for guidance from the Holy Spirit. They didn’t know what to do next, but they ached for God’s direction.

And this particular instance of fasting happened after Christ’s coming.

This fasting was not about legalism.

This was a deep hunger in these people searching for guidance of the church’s next steps.

9. Luke 2:37 – Praying and Fasting

..and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

-Luke 2:37

So many of the Bible verses that talk about fasting also mention prayer. The two seem to go hand-in-hand.

Jesus prayed and fasted. So did the disciples, followers of John the Baptist, and so many others.

This spiritual discipline of fasting and praying was important in the Old Testament, impactful in the New Testament, and is still a powerful way to approach God on a deeper level.

More Bible Verses To Grow Your Faith

30 Bible Verses On Forgiveness

32 Bible Verses On Wisdom

25 Bible Verses On Humility

27 Bible Verses On Identity

30 Bible Verses On Accountability

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234 Comments

  4. This is a very good insight to be able to know how to draw closer to God as the world is changing, one need to be steadfast and give God all the glory because only the living can praise God Jehovah. I love to serve God through fasting because I believe that my prayers will be answered faster than normal meal days

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  6. Thank you so much 🙏 my life will never remain the same.indeed the word of God is so powerful.Stay blessed forever.

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  10. I understand you are not supposed to let it be known to others that you are fasting so how do you handle gatherings that you can’t avoid where there will be food? How do you explain why you are not eating without revealing that you are fasting ?

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    1. @Debra Allen, please remember the audience Jesus was speaking to in Matthew 6. He was specifically speaking to people who were using their worship of God (in fasting here) as a way to win the praise of people. He was using His words as a way to get to the heart of the issue, not necessarily as a universal rule that you are never to let on to anyone that you are fasting. He was just using that verse as a way to redirect their hearts to what really mattered – fasting as a way to connect to God, not get attention from others. It’s about the heart, not about the rule. 💜

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    2. @Debra Allen, yes just as Bekky said. Recently I asked myself same question as I was fasting in a day I had to work. It’s normal to have coffee together, I was not going to be able to do that. Of course the other people had to know why. It is the heart and the motivation that matters. Why are you sharing this with others?
      In addition it could be an opportunity for a good conversation for non-Christians.

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    3. @Debra Allen, It is always good to stay in the presence of the lord during the period of your fasting, it could be 3,7,21 or 40 days of fasting so that no one can question you while you are not eating, your faith matter too while starting a fast,”will I get reward from this time i am planning to spend with God” if you have that faith that you will definitely receive from God then you are good to go because the scripture made us understand that no one comes to the lord without not receiving, so whenever you are fasting stop going around or visiting place except the places of the lord maybe fellowship, bible classes ect.Give God all that time of your fasting and see what the lord will do in your life.
      Thank you ma

      Reply

  12. I am richly blessed by this scriptures,may the Lord help me to become her servant through fasting and prayer.Amen

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    2. @Becky, Hey hi Aya good morning I too love to fast because fasting make one to be closer to God.
      Thank you Becky I am delighted on your notes more grace favor health blessings and anointing in your endeavors In Jesus Name!Amen!

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  14. I am richly bless by this information , therefore I pray more grace.i also want more emphasis on benefits of fasting, not the biochemistic advantage of fasting, but the spiritual benefits.thanks.

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  28. I am an evangelist I am trying to prepare a message about fasting to preach a zoom meeting today and all references gives is helped me a lot. Tks Jesus for your good work for many.

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  29. Praise the lord, i just give thanks to him who is above all creation for reminding us to pray and read the bible again.

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  35. Conny Sef
    February 7, 2022 at 03:03 AM
    Thanks so much for the powerful teachings it has really opened my mind ,so helpful.
    God bless you

    Reply

  50. Thanks so much for the verses I have just passed over it. There is a lot of trouble in my entire family where by I have lost all my parents. I have proposed to start fasting from November 18th to the 25th so that the Lord can lead us through this difficult situation.

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  70. This is my first time fasting… I’m trying to be a better me… no bread, alcohol, no social media, no sweets and no gambling

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  71. Blessings dear sister in Christ… May Holy ghost give you more courage, more revelation and more strength for more to ministry. May the name of our Lord be blessed… Amen

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  77. Thank you so much. You have enlightened me about fasting because I was confused about it because of some people’s mixed ideologies. Some people say fasting no longer relevant, some say it’s still relevant and applicable today. But now I have gotten the light about fasting. Thank you and be blessed.

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    2. @Becky,I’m fasting and praying for God to interfere his grace on me and to locate me my destiny helper.. I’m in problem of house.i have seen a house but no money to pay for the rent .. now I’m fasting and praying for dry fasting only for a day without eating anything and drinking. From now till Friday I need God to surprise me with money that I will use to rent a house .

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  89. Thank you for organizing this information. It is very helpful. I think we need to hear more testimonies from people who receive breakthroughs from fasting. It would definitely be encouraging because it’s definitely a sacrifice…but worth it.

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  90. Thank you so much the verses made me to be strong in my fasting because sometimes I wouldn’t know what verse to read it helped me a lot from Nomsa from South Africa be blessed

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  91. GnP. Just discovered your site and I’m thrilled because I will be using it over and over during my time seeking to be closer to the Lord.

    Reply

  94. Thank you for the Bible verses. I just started my 5 day fast, want to be closer to God. I am praying for a financial breakthrough, wisdom and success.

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  96. hi brothers and ssters in CHRISThappy nnew years to you all and thank GOD for providing for us i need want to do fasting and i am very very weak in my approach of doing it please what can i do

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    1. @GILBERT NJOH LANGMIA,corinthians 10:13 i down loaded the cards on this page and this was one of them good luck

      Reply

  103. God has seen me through a lot of my worst days and His favor over my life is been wonderful!!! This fast is for more growth, wisdom , and understanding, so that I can be obedient to His will in my life. I surrender all!!

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  111. This really inspiring. A beginning my fasting today and i have no clue on the bible portions to be reading but this site took that all away.

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  112. Waw thanks for this words much relief now Today is my first day 21 days fasting and praying I pray for God to give me the strength to continue this journey amen

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  114. Thanks alot for sharing.
    This will greatly help me and my family so much in understanding fasting and praying.

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  115. Thank you so much for the information on fasting. This will be my frist time and am so excited about it.i want to be closer to god i need him in my life.

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  116. Am so happy and thank for your devotion in this topic, yes I had fasting for my burdensome particularly of my financial problem and my God may alter that situation

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  119. Thank you for sharing. Great article. I really wanted to start a 3 day fasting but I really needed some basis to get going.

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  121. praise God for your life. now i have some idea on how to fast but may i ask some few questions if you don’t mind, i would like to ask if is it necessary not to eat during fasting or we can eat and surrender other things during fasting like not to go on sleep rather spend my sleeping time in seeking God? thanks 😊

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    1. Hi there! All I can say on this is that Scripture specifically speaks of people fasting from food, but that I also know God cares about the motivation in our hearts. I know many people “fast” from all sorts of things (sweets, soda, TV, social media, etc) for Lent. I also know that it’s not medically safe for some people to fast. So, I’d say look over the Scriptures, pray about it, and do what you believe is best.

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  122. Glory be to God today its my first day of 3days Esther fasting l need God be with me in this special days and l thank you for this article it really help me in this fasting may God bless you.

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  126. Thank you for your article. Could I ask your permission to use it in our bible study?it’s in preparation foup coming 3 day fast from Nov30 to Dec2, 2020.
    Thank you And God bless you.

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  128. Hi, I have never fasted before. I kept having ‘fasting’ pop up in various places and felt it was a message. Thank you for this information

    Reply

  134. Thanks so much for the scriptures of prayer and fasting. May God hear my prayers since it’s my first day

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  135. This article has been very impartful and it has been a source of transformation, may God continue to bless you and strengthen you.

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  136. Hallo beck it has been a blessing to read your article about fasting , i used to fast not using bible scriptures but now i have got the the massage and not down all the scriptures u mentioned and this time i believe i will connect with my God

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  138. Dear Becky, I am very glad that i happened to land on this page, on your article about fasting. I am from India, and recently God gift me and my wife a beautiful charming baby boy after our two years of marriage. But on the 5th month of my son’s milestones development process we found that he is not doing good and so had visited child specialist. On our shocking, the doctor told us that he is suffering from cerebral palsy which is a very common forms of disabilities caused due to brain injury. So I have decided to fast every Sunday for the fast recovery and healing of my son. Since I had no any idea of how to fast and how to pray, your article helped me a lot. Thank you Becky for the this wonderful post. And please do remember my son in your valuable prayer. Praise the Lord.

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    1. Hi Daniel, what a blessing to your baby boy that you are fasting and seeking the Lord on his behalf. I will certainly pray for your sweet baby.

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  139. All l can say is Wow! God bless you Becky. Today is my first day of fasting and your blog has given me knowledge about the purpose of fasting. Now l know how l should pray throughout this fasting.

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  141. I am going through some rough times in my marriage and just life in general. I found myself wanting trying to get back to God to give me strength to pull through and mend my marriage. I can across this blog while looking for scriptures to guide my fasting journey.

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  143. THANKS SO MUCH BECKY FOR THIS ARTICULATED TOPIC ON FASTING I WAS ACTUALLY ABOUT TO START MY FASTING TODAY AND I HAD NO CLUE WHERE TO START FROM BUT AM SO MUCH ENCOURAGED BY YOUR ARTICLE AND NOW I KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN

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      1. Shalom my dearest sister in the Lord Becky thank you for helping us with scriptures of prayer and fasting, I really appreciate and I am on this page whenever I am on fasting, thank you so so much may the Good Lord bless you and increase you. Continue to do the work of God, I am blessed by this page. I love you

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  144. Thanks for posting these scriptures and guidance to fasting. I have recently embarked on a path to always fast before going on long journeys especially to Europe.
    As I thought about my planned trip to another State I began to think, well shouldn’t I do the same even though I am still in the country, per say. I concocted some words for my search and your commentary surfaced. Praise God for your thoughtfulness in posting these comments. May God continue to bless you.

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  145. Oh thank you so much, I finally got it here, coz this coming Saturday I was appointed to take the lead on fasting in our church now that I got some articles here honestly I don’t know any varse that talk of fasting but I now I got it glory be to the mighty God who created heaven and earth and everything in it,,,, Abraham Billy from Uganda

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  146. Thanks Becky for posting this. I’ve been studying the subject of prayer for over five years which has included listing every verse in the Bible that has some reference or connection to prayer. I’ve recently started to add every reference to fasting as well. I’ve come up with 33 so far. I’m glad I came across your post because I want to note which verses teach us something about fasting.

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  148. Thank you for this…have been putting off fasting but after reading this I am determine to seek my Lord in everything I do with fasting and prayer.
    Much blessings to you and keep up the good work !

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  149. Thank you for this article . I have been asking people in my church why people don’t fast like in the Bible. It surprised me that our preacher didn’t seem to know anything about fasting. He really didn’t seem to want to talk about it. I have a longing to draw closer to to my Lord and be braver to stand up for and speak for Him. God Bless you for sharing.

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  150. Thank you so much BECKY i feel inspired … i really donot know how to fast but with this words i really should start because like it says its the best way to communicate with God and go closer to HIM

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  151. Thank you so much for this article I am just starting my journey of asking for mercy and wisdom for God thru fasting and reading this helps a lot .

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  154. Thank you so much for your article,I’m also fasting seeking for employment, I hope and trust in the Lord that things will work for my good, Thank you so much for uplifting Bible verse, Blessings.

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  155. Thank you Becky for writing this article! I just completed a 3-day fast and wish that I had read your article beforehand. Unfortunately I was laid off during the Covid Pandemic and after 5 long months (each more stressful than the last) of seeking employment, decided to approach God through fasting and prayer. The miracle for me was that I received a job offer the 2nd day into the fast!! The Bible truly is a blueprint on how to live our lives. Your article was very inspiring and helpful…thank you so much.

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  158. I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THE WELL ARTICULATED TOPIC. I ACTUALLY WAS LOOKING FOR VERSES FOR FASTING BUT GOD ANSWERED ME DOUBLY WITH YOUR FREE EXPLANATION. AM HUMBLE, AND BE BLESSED FOR BLESSING MY DAY . AM REALLY ENCOURAGED TO GO AHEAD WITH MY FASTING.

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  159. i think i am doing everything the wrong way round and wish i could trust in Him to fix things for me; that’s why i believe i need a poerful pray to get me off the hook of the things of the world. pray for me

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    1. It’s tough to get unhooked from the things of this world! We are so immersed in it and so often can’t even see the ways it has a grip on us. But we serve such a patient, loving God, giving us all the time we need to stumble and fall in our journeys, trying to seek and trust Him.

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    2. I do fast during Lent but many a times question myself whether I am doing it right. I know fasting and prayers does bring me closer to God. I often wonder what should be my prayer points after praising Him and asking for mercy. The write up has given me a guide. I will be meditate on these bible passages when preparing to include fasting with my prayers. Thank you for the passages

      Reply

  160. Thanks for writing this article! It was very encouraging and timely. Your article reminded me of how God uses this means of grace to humble us, give guidance and wisdom. Keep up the good work! Blessings!

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  161. This was so good, thank you for taking the time to write it. I have felt the Lord calling me to. He even gave me a dream that determined the amount of time I was to fast for. I tried to ignore it because I really don’t want to fast that long, but this gives me extra needed encouragement. Thank you!

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    2. @Becky,
      Am deeply thankful to God for you. Am trusting God for intervention in areas of my life, including my studies. And to return home to my family in Liberia. This morning, I was excited when I encountered your article doing my week long fasting and reflection.Thanks so much. May God reward you.

      Reply

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