Topical Bible: Prayer: Accompanied With: Fasting

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Prayer, a fundamental practice in the Christian faith, is often accompanied by fasting, a spiritual discipline that involves abstaining from food or certain types of food for a period of time. This combination is seen throughout the Bible as a means of seeking God's guidance, expressing repentance, and demonstrating earnestness in prayer.

Biblical Instances of Prayer with Fasting

1. Moses on Mount Sinai: Moses fasted for forty days and forty nights while receiving the Law from God. This period of fasting was marked by intense prayer and communion with God. In Exodus 34:28 , it is recorded, "So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments."

2. David's Plea for His Child: King David fasted and prayed earnestly for the life of his child. In 2 Samuel 12:16 , it states, "David pleaded with God for the child; he fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground."

3. Jehoshaphat's National Fast: When faced with a vast army, King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people gathered to seek help from the LORD through prayer and fasting. 2 Chronicles 20:3-4 recounts, "Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah. So the people of Judah gathered to seek the LORD, and indeed, they came from every city in Judah to seek Him."

4. Ezra's Journey: Before embarking on the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem, Ezra proclaimed a fast to seek God's protection. Ezra 8:21-23 describes, "Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request."

5. Nehemiah's Mourning: Upon hearing about the desolation of Jerusalem, Nehemiah fasted and prayed before God. Nehemiah 1:4 states, "When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven."

6. Esther's Intercession: Queen Esther called for a fast among the Jews before she approached the king to plead for her people. Esther 4:16 records her words, "Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

7. Daniel's Vision: Daniel sought understanding from God through prayer and fasting. Daniel 9:3 says, "So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes."

8. Jesus' Example: Jesus Himself fasted for forty days and nights in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry. Matthew 4:2 notes, "After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry."

9. The Early Church: The early Christians practiced fasting and prayer when making significant decisions. Acts 13:2-3 describes, "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 laid their hands on them and sent them off."

Purpose and Significance

Fasting, when combined with prayer, serves several purposes in the life of a believer:

· Humility and Repentance: Fasting is an expression of humility and repentance before God. It is a way to acknowledge one's dependence on Him and to seek His mercy and forgiveness.

· Spiritual Focus: By abstaining from food, believers can focus more intently on spiritual matters, setting aside physical needs to prioritize their relationship with God.

· Seeking Guidance: Fasting is often used when seeking divine guidance or intervention in difficult situations, as seen in the examples of Jehoshaphat and Ezra.

· Empowerment for Ministry: Jesus' fasting in the wilderness is a model for seeking spiritual strength and preparation for ministry.

· Intercession: Fasting can accompany intercessory prayer, as demonstrated by Esther, who fasted on behalf of her people.

In summary, prayer accompanied by fasting is a powerful biblical practice that deepens one's spiritual life, aligns the believer's heart with God's will, and invites His intervention in the affairs of life.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Nehemiah 1:4
And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Daniel 9:3
And I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 13:3
And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Acts XIII
... The second, and doubtless the true interpretation, is this: That the imposition
of hands, accompanied by fasting and prayer, was, in this case, as in that of ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xiii.htm

Of the vision that Appeared to a Certain Man of God Before the ...
... me spend the whole night standing in prayer, and pass ... as has been said; and continued
fasting all the ... day to a distance from the monastery, accompanied by one ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xxv of the vision.htm

Repentance and victory
... the pouring out of soul in penitence; for it was accompanied by fasting and confession ...
the battle should be spent, not in feasting, but in prayer and lowly ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/repentance and victory.htm

Covenanting Recommended by the Practice of the New Testament ...
... against Prelacy, was renewed at Greyfriar's Church, Edinburgh; thousands had assembled;
the solemnity was accompanied with prayer and fasting; and with the ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter xiv covenanting recommended by.htm

The Doctrines of Salvation A. Repentance. B. Faith. C. ...
... that a certain amount of heart movement, even though it be not accompanied with
a ... 2. HELPS"ESSENTIALS TO PREVAILING PRAYER. ... With fasting (Acts 13:2, 3; 14:23 ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrines of salvation a.htm

The Several Parts of Worship.
... The first Christians accompanied every important act of their public and ... pray without
ceasing." On solemn occasions they joined fasting with prayer, as a ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 53 the several parts.htm

Appendix V in the Directory.
... The words which accompanied the distribution of the Elements were so framed as to
exhibit no trace of a ... Of Prayer after the Sermon. ... Of Public Solemn Fasting. ...
/.../luckock/studies in the book of common prayer/appendix v in the directory.htm

Of Certain Temptations of Satan. Instructions Relating Thereto.
... in a person who is weak and sickly to undertake much fasting and sharp ... are not resting
on the truth, I would rather were not accompanied with prayer. ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/chapter xiii of certain temptations.htm

Knox's Book of Common Order.
... Scriptures to give ourselves to mourning, fasting and prayer as ... on the day appointed
to Common Prayer and preaching ... the child should there be accompanied by the ...
/.../johnston/presbyterian worship/chapter iii knoxs book of.htm

The Journey of the Three Holy Kings to Bethlehem
... These observations of the stars were accompanied by fasting, prayer, religious
ceremonies, and various forms of self-denial and purification. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xiii the journey of the.htm