Fasting in the Bible

This is a list of scriptures where you can study up on fasting.

mentions of fasting:

• 1 Samuel 7:6
  1 Samuel 31:13
  2 Samuel 1:12

• Luke 18:12
  - shows that it's an expected thing for a righteous person to do
  - howbeit this was a prideful man whos fasting was in vain

• Acts 10:30
  - Cornelius fasted
  - he was a devout man who feared God - Acts 10:2

• Acts 14:23
  - ordained elders with fasting and prayer

power from fasting:

• Mark 9:29
  - power to cast out strong demons

• 2 Samuel 12:16-23
  - David fasted for his child from the affair with Bathsheba
  - besought God to spare the child
  - God chose not to for a lesson

• 2 Chronicles 20:3-22
  - King Jehoshaphat declared a fast for God's protection
  - He appointed singers to praise the beauty of His holiness
  - and praise Him for his mercy
  - the enemy was wiped out

• Esther 4:3 and 4:16
  Prayer and fasting for Esther to enter into the king unbidden to plead for her people the Jews
  - Esther 9:31 fastings were honored by God

• Psalm 35:13
  - David fasted for protection against his enemies
  - humbled his soul with fasting
  Psalm 69:10
  - chastened his soul with fasting
  Psalm 109:24

• Daniel 6:18
  - king fasted for Daniel's protection

instructions on fasting:

• Isaiah 58:1-6

• Zech 7:7
  - fast for God and heed His voice
  Zech 8:19
  - feast day fastings
  Matt 4:2
  - Jesus fasted as example for us
  Matt 6:16
  - Jesus' instructions on fasting
  Matt 9:14-15
  - Jesus' disciples would fast after He left

• 1 Cor 7:5
  - giving yourselves to fasting and prayer is expected

• Luke 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
  - fasting was considered a "righteous" thing by the pharisees
  - it's an expected thing

fasting for God's direction:

• Ezra 8:21

• Luke 2:37
  - prophetess Anna!
  - served God with fastings and prayer

• Acts 13:2-4
  - Holy Spirit spoke and gave direction

fasting for forgiveness:

• Jonah 3:5
  - Nineveh repented with fasting
  - God changed His mind and forgave them

• 1 Kings 21:27
  - King Ahab fasted for forgiveness to humble himself before God
  - God forgave him

• Nehemiah 1:4
  Nehemiah 9:1
  Jeremiah 36:6-9
  Daniel 9:3
  - Daniel prayed for Israel and forgiveness

• Joel 2:12-14
  - the Lord says turn unto Him with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning
  - who knows if the Lord will repent (change His mind)?

Covet the gifts of the Spirit and pray for them with fasting!

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.