When a follower of Christ fasts, they only rely on the Lord to fill them up with the Holy Spirit. By taking food and drinks out of their diet, a fasting Christian mediates on scripture from the Holy Bible and prays by talking to the Lord during the times they would regularly eat a meal. This article is here to inform others on different quotes are written by pastors, authors, and scripture on the topic of fasting.
What is fasting? Fasting is when a Christian eliminates food and drink from their diet for a particular amount of time, to focus only on the Lord, prayer, and scripture. Many Christians fast for a particular reason such as asking the Lord for an answered question in their life, for the injustice in the world, etc.
Fasting Quotes
Many Christians fast from all different types of leadership in the church, by authors, and the Bible. We have assembled this article filled with motivational and inspirational quotes from all three of these separate categories.
Fasting Quotes From the Bible
From the New to the Old Testament, fasting has been a significant asset to a good and healthy life for a Christian. The Lord wants each and every one of His followers to communicate and pray to him in secrecy. Spending time with God alone is important, but fasting is another main action that His believers should participate in. Here is a list of Bible scriptures pertaining to fasting throughout the entire book of the Bible.
In the book of Luke, it is written in chapter 4 of how Jesus, Himself went through His own temptation by the enemy when He fasted in the middle of a dessert. Satan probed the Son of God with pressuring Him with food. Christ only focused on the Lord, His father, when He was fasting and persevered through the pressure of the enemy.
For forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he [Jesus] ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.
—Luke 4:2
Moses spends 40 days and 40 nights in intercession, along with fasting. He repented every single sin that he has committed to the Lord and seek forgiveness to anything that would make the Lord have wrath.
Then I lay prostrate before the Lord as before, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin that you had committed, in doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord to provoke him to anger.
—Deuteronomy 9:18
Here, David fasts for the health of his child to the Lord for healing. David gave up food and drink (what he survives off of) and only relies on God’s word and prayer for the sake of his child to live.
Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
—2 Samuel 12:15-16
Paul and Barnabas prayerfully fasted while anointing all elders in every church. They dedicated each individual person to the Lord for them to be wise and preach the gospel without false teachings.
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
—Acts 14:23
Ezra pronounced the Levites to go with him on the journey from being Exiled from Babylon. In this Bible verse, he is giving everything to God through fasting; this is symbolic to show the Lord that he is being submissive to His authority.
Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.
—Ezra 8:21
When Christians fast, they shouldn’t be ungrateful and think negative thoughts while not consuming food or drink. Followers of the Lord should not be fasting and telling the public about it, but rather be more secretive. Only God wants to know about your fasting, a Christian shouldn’t be publically announcing that they are fasting to the world.
And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
—Matthew 6:16
After Paul and Barnabas prayed and fasted, they anointed all the elders in the church and they laid hands on them meaning they prayed and sent them off to teach the Gospel as missionaries. Through fasting and prayer, these missionaries were given to the Lord to follow His path to where they were commissioned to go.
Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
—Acts 13:3
The Jews fasted for three days and three nights for Esther. She was going to King Ahasuerus to stop the wicked plans of Haman to destroy all the Jewish people. She wrote a petition and gave it to the King risking her life for the Jews.
Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.
—Esther 4:16
Elijah ate and drank before fasting for a long period of time, journeying for two-hundred miles. He fasted and only relied on The Father to keep him alive so he could reach his designated destination.
And he [Elijah] arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
—1 Kings 19:8
Fasting Quotes From Pastors
From St. Augustine to John Wesly, many pastors write their sermons on fasting to inspire and motive Christians to partake in giving up food and drink to have am ore close and intimate connection with the Lord. Here is a variety of quotes from pastors sermons that touched on the topic of Christian fasting.
St. Augustine of Hippo was an Algerian-Roman philosopher and theologian of the late Roman / early Medieval period. He is one of the most important early figures in the development of Western Christianity and was a significant figure in bringing Christianity to dominance in the previously pagan Roman Empire.
Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of llust, and kindles the true light of chasity. Enter again into yourself.
—Saint Augustine
David Mathis is an executive editor for desiringGod.org and pastor at Citys Church in Minneapolis/St. Paul.
We fast because we have tasted and seen the goodness and are desperatly hungry for more of Him.
—David Mathis
Edwin Louis Cole (1922–2002), also known as Ed Cole, was the founder of the Christian Men’s Network, an American religious organization devoted to helping Christian men and fathers. He published many books and preached numerous sermons relating to men and religion.
A fast is not a hunger strike. Fasting submits to God’s commands. A hunger strike makes God submit to our demands.
—Ed Cole
Rev (Mrs.) Funke Felix-Adejumo, an accomplished Pastor and Teacher is a woman with deep insight into God’s word.
When you have tried prayer and fasting and nothing happens, praise Him.
—Funke Felix Adejumo
Mahesh Chavda is the founder and senior pastor of All Nations Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mahesh is a well known international evangelist. He and his wife Bonnie, has led more than 700,000 people to Christ globally.
We don’t fast to earn something; we fast to make a connection with our supernatural God, We are cleaning out the “pipe” that connects us to the anointing of God.
—Mahesh Chavda
Leonard Ravenhill was an English Christian evangelist and author who focused on the subjects of prayer and revival. He is best known for challenging western evangelicalism to compare itself to the early Christian Church as chronicled in the Book of Acts.
Quit playing, start praying. Quit feasting, start fasting. Talk less with men, talk more with God. Listen less to men, listen to the words of God. Skip trave, start travail.
—Leonard Ravenhill
Mike Bickle an American Evangelical Christian leader is best known for his leadership of the International House of Prayer. Bickle has written a number of books and served as the pastor of multiple churches.
When people pray and fast, there’s an increase of Holy Spirit activity.
—Mike Bickle
Silouan the Athonite, also sometimes referred to as Silouan of Athos, was an Eastern Orthodox monk of Russian origin, born Simeon Ivanovich Antonov who was a poet and monk of the St. Panteleimon Monastery.
By obedience a man is guarded against pride. Prayer is given for the sake of obedience. The grace of the Holy Spirit is also given for obedience. This is why obedience is higher than prayer and fasting.
—Silouan the Athonite
John Wesley was an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist who was a leader of a revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism.
I desired as many as could to join together in fasting and prayer, that God would restore the spirit of love and of a sound mind to the poor deluded rebels in America.
—John Wesley
Rev Dr. Andrew Alexander Bonar DD was a minister of the Free Church of Scotland. Bonar has written multiple books and preach his sermons all around the world.
Fasting is abstaining from anything that hinders prayer.
—Andrew Bonar
Temitope Balogun Joshua, commonly referred to as T. B. Joshua, is a Nigerian pastor, televangelist, and philanthropist. He is the leader and founder of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations, a Christian organization that runs the Emmanuel TV television station from Lagos.
Your prayers, effort, and fasting for years are not lost. This is the time you have been praying for breakthrough!
—T.B. Joshua
Fasting Quotes From Authors
There are so many different novels that were written from different authors on why Christians should fast and what the outcome is when someone does. Here are some inspirational and motivational quotes from different authors who are encouraging their readers to fast.
Clive Staples Lewis was a British writer and lay theologian. He held academic positions in English literature at both Oxford University and Cambridge University.
This Man (Jesus) suddenly remarks one day, ‘No one need fast while I am here.’ Who is this Man who remarks that His mere presence suspends all normal rules?
—C.S. Lewis
John Stephen Piper is an American Reformed Baptist pastor and author who is the founder and leader of desiringGod.org and is the chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
If you don’t feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because you have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Your soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great.
—John Piper
Andrew Murray was a South African writer, teacher, and Christian pastor. Murray considered missions to be “the chief end of the church.”
Fasting helps express, deepens, confirms the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves, to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God.
—Andrew Murray
Dallas Albert Willard was an American philosopher also known for his writings on Christian spiritual formation.
Fasting confirms our utter dependence upon God by finding in Him a source of sustenance beyond food.
—Dallas Willard
Rachel Myers is a blogger and author who wrote She Reads Truth because of recently losing her dad. Myers has inspired many fellow Christian believers through her writing about her life and testimony.
Fasting isn’t about inflicting pain upon our bodies and it’s not about removing sin from our lives- the latter would be repentance anf should not be limited to a season. Biblical fasting is a withholding of thins- good things- that have taken a too-important role in our lives. Fasting is about dependance.
—Rachel Myers
Adalbert De Vogue is a monk who wrote the novel “To Love Fasting”. He wrote a six-volume work on the Rule of St. Benedict as well.
In the afternoon the digestion of the meal deprives me of the incomparable lightness which characterizes the fast days.
—Adalbert De Vogue
Gary was the founding pastor of Countryside Community Church in the city of Oconomowoc. During his time in Wisconsin, he also worked for Great Lakes Church Planting by helping start 17 other churches through coaching, training and overseeing the church plants in his region.
Fasting is a discipline that should be a holy habit.
—Gary Rohrmayer
Henry Bennion Eyring is an American educational administrator, author, and religious leader. Henry Eyring is currently the Second Counselor to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Fasting can change hearts and minds.
—Henry B. Eyring
Jentezen Franklin is the Senior Pastor of a church located in Gainesville Georgia known as Free Chapel. This church is a multi-campus church with a global reach.
God is attracted to weakness. He cannot resist when we humbly and honestly admit how desperately we need Him. When we are empty vessels, He longs to fill us with His grace, love and goodness. This is God’s law of attraction.
—Jentezen Franklin
William Thrasher is a graduate professor of Bible and theology at Moody Theological Seminary located in Dallas Texas and is a frequent speaker for churches and retreats across the country. His ministry interests include campus discipleship, singles ministry, and evangelism.
The abstinence is not to be an end in itself but rather for the purpose of being separated to the Lord and to concentrate on godliness. This kind of fasting reduces the influence of our self-will and invites the Holy Spirit to do a more intense work in us.
—William Thrasher
Reading quotes can be inspiring. It’s not easy to devote your time to fasting. The temptation of cutting your fast is going to attempt to persuade you. Keep your focus on the Lord and read these inspirational and motivational quotes provided by authors, pastors, and the Holy Word. Meditate on scripture and stay persistent with meeting your goal.
As author Allene Van Oirschot writes, fasting does not only give someone an empty stomach, but it fills the person with the Holy Spirit. It gives that certain individual follower of Christ spiritual food to digest and survive off of. Fasting not only fills the body, but it also renovates a Christian physically and mentally. When someone fasts, they are giving up their mealtime to meditate on the Lord through prayer and devotions. The Bread of Life is what every believer should strive to ingest through communicating with the Lord.
Fasting empties the stomach and the mind; freeing up space to refuel our bodies with the Bread of Life.
—Allene Van Oirschot