Fasting, a practice deeply rooted in various religious traditions, is not merely about abstaining from food; it’s a spiritual journey marked by reflection, self-discipline, and seeking closeness to the Divine. For Christians, fasting holds profound significance as a means of drawing nearer to God, seeking guidance, and fostering spiritual growth. Amid this sacred endeavor, turning to the timeless wisdom of the Bible can provide immense comfort, strength, and inspiration.
Bible Verses To Read When Fasting
Through the verses found within its pages, believers find solace, guidance, and encouragement to sustain them on their fasting journey. These verses illuminate the path, reminding us of God’s presence, His promises, and the transformative power of prayer and devotion. Let us look into the enriching wave of Scripture, discovering the verses that offer sustenance to the soul during times of fasting.
Scriptural Guidance
1. Psalm 42:1-2
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”
2. Isaiah 58:6-7
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to shelter the poor wanderer—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
3. Matthew 6:16-18
“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 unseen Father; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
4. Mark 9:29
“He replied, ‘This kind can come out only by prayer.'”
5. Acts 13:2-3
“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
6. 2 Corinthians 6:5
“In beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;”
7. James 4:8
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
8. 1 Peter 2:11
“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.”
9. Hebrews 10:22
“let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
10. Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, because of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
Finding Solace
11. Psalm 23:1-3
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”
12. Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
13. John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
14. Romans 8:18
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
15. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we receive from God.”
16. Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
17. 1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
18. Psalm 34:18
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
19. Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you.”
20. Lamentations 3:22-23
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Seeking Inspiration
21. Matthew 6:33
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
22. Psalm 63:1
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”
23. Jeremiah 29:13
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
24. Matthew 7:7-8
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
25. Hebrews 11:6
“And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
26. James 1:5-6
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
27. Proverbs 8:17
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.”
28. Luke 11:9-10
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
29. Deuteronomy 4:29
“But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
30. Psalm 119:2
“Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—”
Scriptural Support
31. 2 Chronicles 7:14
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
32. Psalm 1:1-3
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.”
33. Joshua 1:8
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous.”
34. Psalm 119:15
“I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.”
35. Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
36. Colossians 3:2
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
37. Psalm 119:148
“My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.”
38. Psalm 19:14
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
39. Psalm 104:34
“May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord.”
40. Joshua 1:7-8
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous.”
Spiritual Nourishment
41. Matthew 4:4
“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.””
42. John 6:35
“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'”
43. Psalm 119:103
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
44. Jeremiah 15:16
“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.”
45. Matthew 5:6
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
46. John 4:32
“But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you know nothing about.'”
47. Deuteronomy 8:3
“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
48. Isaiah 55:1-2
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.”
49. Proverbs 16:24
“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
50. Job 23:12
“I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.”
Encouragement in Scripture
51. Psalm 34:10
“The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”
52. Psalm 37:4
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
53. Psalm 55:22
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
54. Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
55. Isaiah 58:11
“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
56. Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
57. Philippians 4:13
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
58. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
59. Hebrews 13:5-6
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'”
60. 1 Peter 5:10
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.”
These verses offer guidance, solace, inspiration, support, nourishment, and encouragement to those embarking on a period of fasting.
Conclusion
In the wave of life, fasting emerges as a thread woven with reverence, discipline, and spiritual nourishment. As we conclude our exploration of Bible verses to read when fasting, we’re reminded of the profound impact of Scripture on our spiritual journey. Each verse serves as a beacon of hope, guiding us through the challenges and uncertainties we encounter during fasting.
Through prayerful reflection on these sacred words, we find strength, solace, and renewed faith in God’s presence. As we continue our fasting practice, may these verses remain etched in our hearts, guiding us toward deeper communion with the Divine and transforming our innermost being. With Scripture as our guide, may our fasting journey be a testament to the power of faith, perseverance, and the unwavering love of our Creator.