In a purely traditional spiritual sense, fasting is abstaining from solid food for the purposes of mourning, repenting, and seeking the Lord's favor. In rare and radical cases, heroes of the Bible fasted food and liquids, including water. The Bible mentions many kinds fasts of throughout the Old and New Testaments.

If you trust the Lord for your time of fasting, He will lead you on the type of fast that He desires for your particular circumstances and needs. You may fast solid food for the entire 40 days; you may fast one meal a day; you may fast one day a week. Your journey will be unique and can not be compared to anyone else's experience. However, it is important to enter into this sacred time with the Lord earnestly and with a pure heart, hopefully anticipating the journey on which He will lead you. According to your faithfulness and willing spirit, the Lord will bless your intentions and sustain you during your fast.

Please understand that the fasting referred to throughout the Trumpet and Torch website is purely a spiritual discipline; no fasting references are intended for physical, medical, or other purposes. While we believe that the Lord will take you on the type of fast that He intends for you, we encourage you to seek medical guidance before beginning a fast, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or currently suffering an illness or disease.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1).

Fasting is a sacred and special sacrifice; it is for the Lord, not for human approval or notice. In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus cautions those who choose to fast for human admiration and approval, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, 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 men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, Who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

Please understand the spirit of Jesus' message. He is not saying that absolutely no one should know when we are fasting. In fact, it is very important to have a trusted Christian friend or a network of Christian friends who can pray for you while you are fasting. Jesus is cautioning against fasting for the approval and notice of man, just as He cautions against giving for sheer spectacle.

Below, in chronological order, is a representation of those who fasted in the Bible, but it is not a complete or exhaustive list.

Moses

(Exodus 34:28), in a 40-day radical fast (no food or water), sustained by the Lord as he received the 10 commandments

The Israelites

(Judges 20:26-27), in a corporate fast, to seek the Lord's guidance

(Nehemiah 9:1), in a corporate fast, confessing their sins and worshiping the Lord

(1 Samuel 7:6), led by Samuel in a corporate and intercessory fast, repenting for their sins

King David

(2 Samuel 12:16), in intercession for his ill son

(Psalm 35:13) in mourning and intercession for the illness of others

(Psalm 69:10) in humble repentance, asking God for personal mercy and restoration

Elijah

(1 Kings 19:8) in a 40-day radical fast, prompted and sustained by the Lord

Ezra

(Ezra 8:21-23), in humble petition before the Lord

Esther

(Esther 4:16), in a three-day fast, accompanied by fasting intercessors, as she sought the Lord's favor in interceding for the Jews

The Ninevites and the King of Nineveh

(Jonah 3:5-10), in a corporate fast, earnestly repenting of their evil ways

Jesus

(Matthew 4:2, Luke 4:2), in preparation for His earthly ministry

New Testament Leaders and Prophets

(Acts 13:1-3), in worship of the Lord before He instructed them to set apart Barnabus and Saul for His designated missionary appointment

Paul and Barnabus

(Acts 14:23), in committing the appointed church elders to the Lord

The Great Commandment, as Jesus replied to the Pharisees in Matthew 22:37-38 is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

Fasting, as outlined in Isaiah 58, accomplishes both the first and second greatest commandments and also highlights the "true" fast (indicated by actions representative of Christ's character) as opposed to the "legalistic" fast (indicated by actions representative of arrogant, sinful, and unrepentant human hearts).