More Than Skipping Meals #
At times, I can fast and it feels like a joy. At other times, the flesh is strong and hunger seems to drown out the quiet voice of the Spirit. Fasting is something most people have tried in some way, yet for many, it feels difficult. When you are sick or craving sugar and comfort food, fasting can feel almost impossible.
When I was young, fasting seemed easier, but as I have grown in age and in the Lord, I have discovered that fasting carries a deeper power. It has renewed my spirit and many times has even brought healing to my body and peace to my soul. Fasting is not only for the young or the strong. It can be practised gently, prayerfully, and with the leading of the Spirit at any stage of life. Fasting is not an empty ritual or religious duty. It is a gift in the new covenant that allows us to quiet the noise of the flesh and listen more closely to the voice of Christ.
It is often one of the most misunderstood spiritual practices. For some, it feels like a leftover ritual from the Old Testament — something they assume has no place in a life under grace. For others, fasting becomes a way to prove their spirituality, almost like earning points with God. But biblical fasting is neither a burdensome law nor a spiritual competition.
Let us look at what the Scriptures actually teach about fasting, and why it still matters for us who live in Christ today.
At its heart, fasting is about relationship. It is about drawing near to Christ, quieting the noise of the flesh, and tuning our hearts to the Spirit who dwells in us. It is a way of saying, “Lord, You are my true food. I depend on You more than anything else.”
Have you noticed that Jesus did not abolish fasting? He redefined it. He shifted it from being a public display to a private encounter with the Father.
Matthew 6:16 (AMP)
“Whenever you fast, do not look somber (unattractive) as the hypocrites do, for they put on a sad and dismal face so that their fasting [may be seen] by men….”
Notice Jesus’ words — “when you fast” — not if you fast. He assumed His disciples would continue to fast, but for the right reasons. Under the New Covenant, fasting is not about proving our holiness; it is about positioning ourselves to receive His life more fully.
What Fasting Does in the New Covenant #
| Old Covenant | New Covenant Fulfilment |
|---|---|
| Often connected to mourning, repentance, and national crisis. | Rooted in joy and intimacy with Christ, not fear of judgment. |
| External, public displays of devotion. | Hidden, private posture before God. |
| Waiting for the Messiah to come. | Enjoying deeper fellowship with the Messiah who now lives within us. |
Fasting does not twist God’s arm. It does not force Him to move. Instead, fasting opens us — our mind, emotions, and will — to what God is already saying and doing. It clears away distractions so that the life of Christ within us can flow unhindered. Think of it like turning down the volume of the world so you can better hear the whisper of the Spirit.
Old Testament Background #
To understand fasting in the New Covenant, we first need to see how it functioned under the Old. In the Old Testament, fasting was a way of humbling oneself before God, often in moments of great need or national crisis.
The Hebrew word for fasting is tsom (צּוֹם), which literally means to cover the mouth or to abstain from food. It was a physical act of dependence — a way of saying, “Lord, You are our help when we have no strength.”
| Person/People | Occasion for Fasting | Scripture Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Moses | 40 days on Mount Sinai, receiving the Law. | Exodus 34:28 |
| David | Grieving and pleading for his sick child. | 2 Samuel 12:16 |
| The Nation of Israel | Day of Atonement — a national day of repentance. | Leviticus 16:29–31 |
| Ezra | Seeking God’s protection for the journey back to Jerusalem. | Ezra 8:21 |
| Nineveh | Repenting after Jonah’s warning. | Jonah 3:5 |
In every case, fasting was connected to brokenness, repentance, or intercession. It was a way of seeking God’s mercy, favour, and intervention.
But notice this: under the Old Covenant, fasting was often accompanied by sackcloth, ashes, and public displays of grief. The focus was outward as much as inward. It showed sorrow for sin and dependence on God, but it also revealed the longing for something greater — a deeper reconciliation that had not yet come.
This longing points us forward to Christ, the One who would bear our sins once and for all. In Him, fasting is no longer merely about mourning or pleading for mercy but about living from the mercy already given.
Jesus and the New Covenant Shift #
Jesus, the Bridegroom, gave fasting a fresh meaning and transformed it from a ritual into a relationship.
Matthew 9:15 (AMP)
And Jesus replied to them, “Can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
When Jesus said this, He was helping the disciples see that fasting was no longer a dry religious duty. It was no longer about mourning or trying to force God to act. It became something that flows out of love. He was saying, “As long as I am here with them, they are full of joy. When I leave, their hearts will long for Me, and that longing will be expressed through fasting.”
Today, we do not fast to earn favour or to get God’s attention. We already have His favour in Christ, and He already lives in us by His Spirit. Fasting becomes our way of saying, “Lord, You are my food and my satisfaction. I want to experience more of Your presence ruling my thoughts, my emotions, and my choices.”
Fasting is not about punishing yourself. It is about creating space inside your heart to hear the voice of Jesus more clearly. It quiets the noise of the world and helps us notice what the Spirit is doing. It is a way of drawing near to the Bridegroom who already loves us.
Why Fasting Still Matters Today #
Fasting is not just a religious duty imposed by a leader or pastor. It is a way of reminding ourselves that we belong to Christ and no longer to the old life of Adam. It teaches us to depend on God’s strength instead of our own cravings. Jesus said,
Matthew 4:4 (AMP)
But Jesus replied, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”
When we fast, we are saying no to the old nature and yes to the Spirit. It is like tuning our hearts to hear the voice of Jesus more clearly.
Here is what fasting helps us do:
- Lay aside the pull of the flesh and let Christ reign in us.
- Break free from distractions that keep us distant from God.
- Walk in the Spirit and receive strength to overcome temptation.
- Grow in hunger for the new creation life we have in Christ.
Galatians 5:24 (AMP)
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.
Fasting becomes a living picture of this truth. We remind our bodies that they are not in charge. We live from Christ, who is our life. By the Spirit, we put to death what belongs to Adam and rise into a greater experience of Christ’s power working in us.
| Aspect | Old Covenant Fasting | New Covenant Fasting |
|---|---|---|
| Motivation | Pleading for mercy, national repentance | Desire for deeper intimacy with Christ |
| Focus | External ritual | Internal transformation, Spirit-led hunger |
| Outcome | Temporary favour or breakthrough | Ongoing formation into Christ’s image |
Fasting and Spiritual Warfare #
There are moments in life when ordinary prayers feel too weak, when the weight of darkness seems heavy and unmovable. Jesus told His disciples that some battles require a deeper place of surrender:
Mark 9:29 (NKJV)
“This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
Fasting is not a way of convincing God to act. It is a way of aligning our hearts with His will and His power. When we fast, we quiet the voice of the flesh, silence the old habits of Adam, and give room for the Spirit to work mightily within us.
Fasting sharpens spiritual discernment. It clears the clutter of fear, anxiety, and distraction so we can hear the Lord’s voice. It equips us to stand in intercession for others, not in our own strength, but in the authority of Christ.
| Without Fasting | With Fasting |
|---|---|
| Easily distracted by the flesh | Greater sensitivity to the Spirit |
| Tiredness and fear dominate | Spiritual strength and courage grow |
| Prayer feels shallow and powerless | Prayer becomes focused and full of faith |
| Reacting to situations | Partnering with God’s will |
In fasting, we step out of Adam’s weakness and step into Christ’s victory. We learn to depend on the life of the Spirit rather than our natural strength. This is where strongholds are broken, and we begin to see the breakthroughs God has promised.
Practical Ways to Fast #
Fasting is not about punishing the body. It is about training it to come under the rule of the Spirit. We no longer live in Adam, where the flesh rules us. In Christ, we are given the Spirit so that we can live from a new strength. Fasting becomes a way of reminding ourselves that our true life is not in food, but in Him.
Here are some practical ways to begin:
- Start small – you do not have to begin with forty days. You can miss one meal and use that time to be still before God and pray.
- Fast from distractions – step away from social media, news, or the endless noise that fills your mind. Create room for God’s voice to speak clearly.
- Keep your focus on Christ – do not simply stop eating. Open the Scriptures, worship, and let your heart feast on His Word.
- Be Spirit-led – there will be times when the Spirit may lead you to fast for a day, and other times for several days. Let Him guide you.
| Fasting Without Christ | Fasting With Christ |
|---|---|
| Becomes a ritual or performance | Becomes intimacy and renewal |
| Leaves you empty and frustrated | Fills you with strength and clarity |
| Focus is on self-discipline | Focus is on communion with the Spirit |
As we fast this way, the pull of the flesh weakens, and the voice of the Spirit grows louder. We become more alert to God’s will and more able to walk in His strength.
Fasting and the Hope of Resurrection #
Fasting is a way of saying yes to the future God has promised. For those who know that Christ has already fulfilled the promises of the end of the age and yet long for the final resurrection, fasting becomes an act of hope.
When we fast, we are declaring that this present world — with all its pain, sin, and brokenness — is not our final home. We are expressing our deep hunger for the day when Christ will appear, when death will be fully defeated, and when even our mortal bodies will be clothed with immortality.
Romans 8:23 (AMP)
And not only this, but we too, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
Fasting reminds us that we still live in a world touched by Adam’s fall. The flesh still resists the Spirit. But in Christ, we are no longer slaves to that old order. Fasting helps us crucify the cravings of the flesh and strengthen our longing for the life that is already ours in Christ.
It is as if every skipped meal is a prayer: “Lord, let Your kingdom come fully. Let my life be conformed to Yours. Prepare me for the day when You will make all things new.”
| Adam’s World | Christ’s World |
|---|---|
| Hunger controls man | Man hungers for God |
| Flesh rules and resists the Spirit | Spirit leads and gives strength |
| Death reigns | Resurrection life reigns |
When we fast in this way, we are training our hearts to live as citizens of the coming kingdom. We are choosing to walk in the Spirit now, so that our hope in Christ becomes more than words — it becomes a lived reality.
Key Takeaways #
- Fasting is not something left behind under grace. It has been redeemed and filled with the life of the Spirit. Matthew 6:16–18
- It gently shifts our hunger from earthly bread to the true Living Bread, Jesus Christ. John 6:35
- It draws our hearts into alignment with the purposes of God and creates space to hear His voice more clearly. Isaiah 58:6
- It reminds us that we are waiting for the fullness of His kingdom and the day of resurrection, when all things will be made new. Romans 8:23
In Christ,
Godwin.
