Are prayer and fasting connected?

TL;DR

Prayer and fasting are ways to focus more deeply on God. While believers are called to pray continuously, fasting is not required, though it can be helpful in our walk with God.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

In the Old Testament, prayer and fasting usually happened when the people of God needed protection or deliverance (Nehemiah 1; Daniel 9:3; 2 Samuel 12:16, 21–22; Esther 4:16). In the New Testament, prayer and fasting were often practiced during times of spiritual warfare, such as when Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness before He was tempted by the Devil (Matthew 4:1–11; Luke 4:1–13). Another example is when Jesus’ disciples had tried and failed to cast a demon out of a boy and He reprimanded them, saying (in some manuscripts) it was due to their failure to fast and pray (Matthew 17:21; Mark 9:29). Jesus made it clear that praying and fasting should not be done to get attention or admiration from others but in secret where only the Father can see and then reward us (Matthew 6:18). Moreover, other New Testament heroes of the faith such as Anna the prophetess and believers from the church of Antioch demonstrated what God-honoring fasting and prayer looks like (Luke 2:37; Acts 13:2).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

Nehemiah prayed and fasted in response to Jerusalem falling into enemy hands (Nehemiah 1).

Daniel's pleas to God for mercy upon the Hebrews were accompanied by fasting (Daniel 9:3).

David prayed and fasted for God's mercy upon his ill child (2 Samuel 12:16, 21–22).

Esther asked the entire Jewish population to fast for her as she risked her life to plead with the king for deliverance (Esther 4:16).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

After Jesus' baptism, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. He was there for forty days and fasted during this time (Matthew 4:1–11; Luke 4:1–13). He later resisted every temptation with the truth of God’s Holy Word. When Satan tempted Him through His hunger, Jesus replied, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4), showing that the word of God can defeat any fleshly temptation.

Jesus told His listeners that when they fasted it wasn't to be about self-righteousness or appearing holy to others but to be seen "by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (Matthew 6:16–18). Fasting when we pray seems to be a way to intensify our focus on God in our prayers. Fasting is a tangible symbol of dependence and reliance on God in faith.

According to some manuscripts, Jesus told His disciples they were unable to exorcise a demon from a boy because they failed to pray and fast (Matthew 17:14–20; Mark 9:14–29). Some manuscripts include Matthew 17:21 or an extra phrase in Mark 9:29 with Jesus telling the disciples this type of demon "cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." This implies a stronger expression of faith and power when a Christian prays and fasts.

Luke presents the prophetess Anna as someone who worshiped, fasted, and prayed (Luke 2:37). In Anna's life, fasting was integrated with her prayer and worship.

When Saul and Barnabas were set apart on a missionary journey from Antioch, the church there prayed and fasted then sent them on (Acts 13:3). In the life of the church at Antioch, the Christians, through prayer and fasting, sought the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and then God's protection and blessing.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

When we fast, we temporarily give up the good gifts of food and drink to enable uninterrupted time with God. Fasting is a way to re-focus our priorities and remind ourselves that our dependence is on God alone. But though fasting helps to concentrate on our prayers, the Bible doesn’t require it. Instead, we are called to pray without ceasing.

Fasting is not a means by which we manipulate God or put Him in our debt. Rather, it is a physical manifestation of our submission to God, a means of coming before Him in humility and prayer. Whether we are fasting or not, our "confidence to enter the holy places [is] by the blood of Jesus" (Hebrews 10:19), not anything we do. Prayer and fasting should be done with joy and gratitude to a God who loves us, not as a burden or legalistic obligation.

UNDERSTAND

Faithful servants of God throughout the Bible fasted and prayed as a means to focus on God in a deeper way.

Unlike prayer, fasting isn’t biblically required.

Fasting should never be done to appear righteous before others or as a legalistic obligation.

REFLECT

What experience do you have with prayer and fasting as spiritual disciplines?

What are some spiritual disciplines you practice to focus more on God?

How do you ensure that your spiritual disciplines don’t slip into legalism?

ENGAGE

How can fasting help believers focus more on Christ?

How do you ensure your prayers are focused and faith-filled?

How does the combination of prayer and fasting in the Bible show dependence on God?