Jesus On Fasting
Matthew 6 (New International Version)
16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
Fasting When Choosing Leaders
Acts 14 (New International Version)
22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
Fasting When Mourning
2 Samuel 1 (English Standard Version)
12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
Fasting When Repenting
Joel 2 (New International Version)
12 "Even now," declares the LORD,
"return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning."
13 Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
Jonah 3 (English Standard Version)
5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.
Marathon Fasters
Deuteronomy 9 (New International Version)
9 When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the LORD had made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water.
1 Kings 19 (English Standard Version)
7 And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you." 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
Matthew 4 (New International Version)
2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Daniel 10 (New International Version)
3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.
Scripture contributions for October 2006 by: Paul Anderson, Colorado Springs CO USA; Pam Mollenkamp, Colorado Springs CO USA; Matthew Anderson, Colorado Springs CO USA; Linda Anderson, Colorado Springs CO USA; Shirley Blacklock, North Platte NE USA
