People Who Fasted In The Bible

    So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer - Ezra 8:23.

Moses fasted when he received the Ten Commandments from God

               So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments - Exodus 34:28.

The Israelites fasted before a miraculous victory

             Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah - 2 Chronicles 20:2-3.

Esther and the people of Jews fasted

              Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish! - Esther 4:15,16.

Daniel fasted in order to seek guidance from God

         Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes - Daniel 9:3. In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled - Daniel 10:2,3.

Nehemiah fasted before beginning the building project

               So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven - Nehemiah 1:4.

Ezra proclaimed a fast to humble themselves before God and to pray for their protection and leading on their journey back to the promised land

           Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions - Ezra 8:21.

Jesus fasted before starting His ministry & overcame the temptations of devil

            Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry - Luke 4:1,2.

The first Christians fasted during the times of decision making

            As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away - Acts 13:2,3.                                                                                                               

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Help to to seek You more. Let us overcome all temptations by fasting and praying. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.