Like Jesus, in seeking God the Father, we need to have the discipline of fasting and prayer. Throughout the Bible, fasting and prayer have been pivotal in strengthening one’s relationship with the divine. Jesus Himself set a profound example by embarking on a 40-day fast before confronting Satan’s temptations in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). His deliberate focus on prayer and fasting demonstrated the spiritual significance of these practices.

Prayer and fasting are deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, both in the Old and New Testaments. These spiritual disciplines hold significant importance in the lives of believers, serving as a means to draw closer to God, seek His guidance, and find strength in times of trouble. Throughout Scripture, we find numerous instances where prayer and fasting were practiced by individuals and communities to connect with God and navigate challenging circumstances.

In the New Testament, the practice continued. Anna devoted herself to fasting and prayer at the Temple (Luke 2:37), and John the Baptist instructed his disciples in fasting (Mark 2:18). The early church in Antioch fasted before commissioning Paul and Barnabas on their inaugural missionary journey (Acts 13:2-3). Even Paul and Barnabas turned to prayer and fasting when appointing elders for the churches (Acts 14:23).

In the Old Testament, the law mandated prayer and fasting for a specific event – the Day of Atonement. This day was referred to as “the day of fasting” (Jeremiah 36:6) or “The Fast” (Acts 27:9). Instances of prayer and fasting abound in times of distress or trouble. For instance, Moses fasted for 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai while receiving the divine law (Exodus 34:28). King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast for all of Israel when facing the threat of attack from the Moabites and Ammonites (2 Chronicles 20:3). The people of Nineveh fasted and donned sackcloth in response to Jonah’s preaching (Jonah 3:5). Similarly, David fasted upon learning of Saul and Jonathan’s deaths (2 Samuel 1:12), while Nehemiah engaged in prayer and fasting after discovering Jerusalem’s ruins (Nehemiah 1:4)

Interactive Questions:

• How can we emulate Jesus’ example of fasting and prayer to draw nearer to God in our daily lives?
• What challenges do you encounter when attempting to incorporate fasting and prayer into your spiritual routine, and how can these obstacles be overcome?
• Can you share a personal experience where fasting and prayer played a transformative role in your spiritual journey?