True Fasting

Many believe that fasting is one of the most sacred practices that connects them with the Father in Heaven through prayer, and they diligently observe it, especially during the Lenten season. Additionally, people fast to seek God’s power before mass gatherings focused on healing and deliverance. Seeing this as a model, many believers adopt fasting as a means to receive a favorable response from God in their prayers.

Since fasting has become an essential part of a believer’s prayer life, it is important to understand its true meaning and how God perceives it. Most people fast based on the belief that Jesus Himself fasted for forty days and forty nights before beginning His ministry. However, understanding the purpose and significance of fasting is crucial to practicing it in a way that aligns with God’s will.

Jesus In The Wilderness

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. – Matthew 4:1-2 (NIV)

After God declared Jesus as His beloved Son, the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness, where He was tempted by the devil. The Bible warns us:

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8

Throughout His ministry, Jesus rebuked Satan when he spoke through Peter and cast out demons in many places. Notably, when Jesus was on the mountaintop with James, John, and Peter, a demon-possessed boy was found not on the mountain, but at its base—demonstrating how the devil prowls everywhere, seeking to separate God’s people from Him. However, it was not necessary for the Holy Spirit to lead Jesus into the wilderness just to encounter the devil.

Rather, Jesus was led by the Spirit to spend time alone in communion with God, as was His practice throughout His life on earth. This was His first deep encounter with the Father after coming to earth as the Son of Man, and it took days of uninterrupted fellowship. Jesus did not deliberately intend to fast; instead, He simply had no time to eat as He received instructions about His mission. Only after this extended period of communion did He experience hunger and weakness. Seeing this, the devil assumed it was the perfect moment to tempt Him.

Unfortunately, many misinterpret this event and weaken themselves through fasting, unknowingly making themselves more susceptible to the devil’s attacks. When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane, He had supper before going to pray, as His purpose was to surrender to God’s will, not to expose Himself to temptation. Yet, many today fast and encounter the devil in moments of weakness—not to fulfill God’s will, but often to succumb to the enemy’s deception. Their fasting drains their strength, causing them to fixate on food rather than on God.

Similarly, Moses spent forty days and nights on Mount Sinai receiving laws from God. When he descended, his face shone so brightly that people could not look at him. Yet, this was never considered a fast, nor was it imposed as a religious obligation on the people of Israel.

In the Gospel of Mark, we read about people listening to Jesus for three consecutive days, completely engrossed in His teaching. They went without food, yet Mark does not describe this as fasting. This account highlights the importance of prioritizing spiritual communion with God over religious rituals. After three days, Jesus recognized their physical weakness and provided them with food, knowing that if they remained weak, they would be vulnerable to the enemy, who seeks to steal the Word sown in their hearts.

The Devil And His Strategies

The devil, whom Jesus called the father of lies, continues to rely on the same age-old tactics. He has no new strategies but preys on believers whose unchecked desires make them vulnerable to his schemes.

“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” – 1 John 2:16 (NIV)

The devil gains a foothold in our weaknesses. The lust of the flesh tempts us to misuse the freedom given in Christ, indulging in sinful desires. The lust of the eyes deceives us into manipulating God’s Word for our own purposes rather than submitting to it. The pride of life fuels an unquenchable desire for worldly success, leading some to compromise their faith—even to the extent of worshiping the enemy to fulfill their ambitions.

Contrary to popular belief, the devil does not have the power to force us into sin. Instead, he entices us to act upon the sinful tendencies already within us. Once we give in, he lays claim over us, using our weaknesses to further his plans. In reality, it is sin that attracts the enemy, making us easy prey. Like a lion, the devil prowls, seeking to devour those ensnared by sin. However, while temptation is inevitable in the flesh, those who walk by the Spirit can overcome it—no matter how strong the pull may be.

When individuals observe religious fasting, they may struggle to dedicate meaningful time to commune with God, often becoming occupied with ceremonial obligations. Consequently, they may unwittingly present prayers to God during fasting for blessings that align neither with the will of God nor with their best interests, potentially falling prey to the devil’s influences.

Resist The Devil

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. – James 4:7-8 (NIV)

According to the New International Version James instructs us to resist the devil, while The Message Bible puts it this way: “So let God work His will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper.”

This emphasizes the need to separate ourselves from the enemy right from the start, denying him any opportunity to entice or speak to us—just as he did with Eve. However, this verse applies specifically to those who wholeheartedly seek to do God’s will. For such people, fulfilling God’s purpose is their true nourishment, surpassing even physical sustenance. Jesus Himself experienced this and explained it to His disciples when they brought Him food:

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” – John 4:34 (NIV)

Unfortunately, the devil has distorted this principle, reducing it to mere fasting and ritualistic practices, misleading many into thinking that fasting alone is a way to accomplish God’s will. Those with a religious mindset often cite certain Bible translations to justify their external rituals, neglecting the deeper truth—that true fasting is about prioritizing time with God in prayer and overcoming temptation. Even when reading this verse, one should understand it as referring to prayer so intense that it leads one to forget or skip regular meals:

“And Jesus said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” – Mark 9:29 (KJV)

The devil primarily uses two powerful weapons against believers: Making them doubt their identity as children of God and accusing them of sin. People are vulnerable to these two kinds of attacks when they are not focused on accomplishing the will of God but are instead chasing after mere material blessings. They can also overcome these attacks by believing firmly in their identity in Christ and standing on His promise.

To counter these attacks, believers must firmly declare their identity as God’s children, standing on the truth of John 1:12. They must also acknowledge the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, as affirmed in 1 John 2:2. It is crucial that these verses are not merely recited as promises, but are embraced with a deep, personal understanding of their significance.

Should Believers Fast Today

If fasting is understood as a way to draw closer to God, then it is a meaningful and valuable practice. However, if it is viewed as a method to capture God’s attention, such an approach is unnecessary because God already dwells within us through His Spirit. Jesus made it clear that for those who are already in communion with God, fasting is not a requirement.

“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.” – Mark 9:15 (NIV)

As long as we remain in God’s presence, fasting is not an obligation. Instead, we may willingly set aside our meals to devote time to Him. Jesus reinforced this idea in another passage:

“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, so 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 (NIV)

However, this instruction can sometimes lead people toward ritualistic fasting. Jesus did not command us to engage in fasting as a mere religious obligation; rather, He encouraged us to use it as an opportunity to spend joyful, intimate time with Him. Furthermore, He emphasized that our relationship with God should not be publicly displayed through acts of fasting, but instead maintained in private, allowing God to reward us personally. For Jesus, fulfilling His Father’s will was more important than physical nourishment.

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” – John 4:34 (NIV)

If we prioritize fulfilling God’s will, it will bring genuine peace to our hearts. There will be no need to outwardly display fasting as a religious identity, for our relationship with God will be reflected in the way we live, not just in our practices. Instead of treating fasting as a mere ritual, let us deepen our relationship with God—whether by willingly setting aside meals to spend meaningful time with Him or by not setting them aside to nourish our bodies while absorbing the truth in His Living Word. Either way, it should not resemble a religious fast or festival of feasts.