The Definition of Fasting in the Bible
The dictionary meaning of fasting simply means to abstain from food, to eat sparingly, or to abstain from some food. In the scripture, Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights without food and water (Matthew 4:2; Luke 4:2; Matthew 15:32; Mark 8:1-3; Jonah 3:5-7). From the above text, Jesus decided not to eat and drink to fast and pray. During the fasting, Jesus ate nothing throughout the period He fasted. The multitude who followed Him for about three days didn’t eat because they had no food to eat (Mark 6:7, 20). That’s not real fasting. If you don’t have time to eat because of your busy schedule, it’s not biblical fasting. Biblical fasting is praying without eating any food or drink (Esther 4:16; Acts 27:33).
It could mean skipping one meal to have enough time to pray. Fasting is creating time to seek the face of God in order to pray effectively. It’s waiting upon God, and before you do this, you have to know the God you want to seek (Isaiah 40:25-31).
Knowing God Before You Fast
Prophet Isaiah challenged the children of Israel to know God before waiting on Him. Whom you equate God to in your heart is a very important question that needs an answer before waiting for Him. You need to look around you to admire God’s handiwork and everything that God created. All things known and unknown to you are God’s creation, and He knows them and calls them by their names. He is mighty and strong in power and can never fail. He knows you and your ways in detail. He is everlasting; the only Creator that no one created, whose understanding is unlimited. You must know that the God you want to wait on is all-powerful and can never be weary, but increases in strength. He gives power to the faint, and to those who have no might, He increases their strength. All creation is bound to faint, grow weary, get old, and expire, but God never faints or grows weary. But He has promised that they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength. After renewal, they shall mount up with wings, not like other birds, but as eagles. They shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.
Understanding God’s Greatness and Thoughts About You
Before you can seek God through fasting and find Him, you have to know Him and His thoughts about you. You have to know His concern; how great and powerful He is (Exodus 8:10; 15:11; 39:6). Our God has no comparison, none to be equal to Him in any ramifications. You must understand without a divided mind that He is greater than the greatest and more powerful than the most powerful among the creatures. It’s foolishness to liken God to anything, animate or inanimate, put together. He is bigger than the biggest. All gods bow before Him, and His holiness is glorious, fearful in praises and wonders. He created everything in heaven and on earth; He created the sons of the mighty, and none can match Him, compare unto Him, or be likened unto Him.