Is Fasting Biblical? (Part 4)

Fasting is a mean of abstaining from something that we enjoy or need for a period of time in order to communicate out devotion and urgency to God. While the Bible never directly commands fasting, it certainly assumes it – as yesterday’s posting reveals. Today, we are going to answer the question. …

How Long Should We Fast?

There is no particular prescription for the length of time required for fasting. There were fasts of all lengths. The people of Israel fasted for one day at Mizpah (I Sam 7:6), at the hearing of Saul’s death (II Sam 1:12), and to confess their sin following the Babylonian Captivity (Neh 9:1). Daniel fasted throughout the night while waiting for God to deliver him in the lion’s den (Dan 6). Esther called upon her people to fast for three days before the Lord before she went before Xerxes to petition the deliverance for the Jews (Esth 4). After Saul and his fellow fallen solider’s burial, the nation fasted for seven days (I Sam 31:13); David also fasted for seven days when the child born to him through his sin with Bathsheba (II Sam 12:16-23). A forty day fast was observed by Jesus (Matt 4), Moses (Exod 34:28-29), and Elijah (I Kings 19:8).

Thus, choosing the amount of time to fast is really your prerogative. I might suggest that the longer you fast, the greater the desperation and urgency.

If you have not enjoyed the privilege of fasting in your life time, you will want to read tomorrow’s post. I will be sharing 8 reasons why I believe every Christian should fast.