Stay for a moment… because fasting is not simply about stopping yourself from eating. Jesus taught that true fasting is not seen so much in the stomach, but in the heart.
Many people hear the word “fasting” and immediately think about going hungry, suffering, or trying to endure several hours or several days without food. Others believe fasting is a way to pressure God into doing what we want. And others may see it as something very spiritual, but so difficult that they feel it is not for them.
But when we look at the Bible calmly, fasting is not a religious show, it is not a spiritual competition, and it is not a way to earn God’s love. Fasting is a time when we voluntarily leave something physical, usually food, in order to seek God with more attention, more humility, and more dependence.
It is like saying to the Lord: “God, I need more of You than anything else.”
Jesus spoke about fasting in Matthew 6. And something very important is that He did not say “if you fast,” as if it were something strange or impossible. He said:
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting.” Matthew 6:16
The key word is “when.” Jesus assumed that His disciples would fast. But He also taught them that the problem was not fasting itself, but doing it with the wrong heart.
In the days of Jesus, there were religious people who fasted so others would see them. They walked around with a suffering face, looking neglected and sad, so people would say: “Look how spiritual that person is.” But Jesus said they had already received their reward: the admiration of people.
And that is the strong lesson: if we fast so others will applaud us, our fasting stays on earth. But if we fast to seek God in secret, God sees it.
That is why Jesus said:
“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 Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:17-18
In simple words: do not fast to impress anyone. Do not publish it so you can look more holy. Do not use fasting as a spiritual medal. Get ready as usual, act normal, continue your day normally, but inside, seek God with sincerity.
True fasting does not shout, “Look at me.” True fasting whispers, “Lord, here I am.”
So, what is fasting for?
Fasting helps us humble our hearts before God. Not humbling ourselves as if we were worthless, but recognizing that we depend on Him. It helps us turn down the noise of the body so we can hear the voice of the Spirit more clearly. It reminds us that we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Fasting does not change God as if God were hard to convince. Many times, fasting changes us. It awakens us spiritually. It makes us more sensitive. It shows us how much we are controlled by appetite, anxiety, anger, habit, or comfort.
Because sometimes we say, “I control my life,” but we cannot skip one meal, we cannot put down the phone, we cannot let go of a worry, we cannot stop complaining. Fasting puts us face to face with our own weakness, and there we understand something beautiful: we need God.
There are also spiritual battles where Jesus taught that nice words or good intentions are not enough.
When the disciples could not deliver a boy who was being tormented, Jesus explained to them that there was a spiritual dimension that required more depth. In some translations, this teaching appears:
“But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:21
This does not mean fasting is a magic formula. It is not like saying: “If I fast for this many hours, then God is obligated to do this.” No. Fasting does not manipulate God. Fasting aligns us with God.
Prayer is talking to God, depending on God, drawing near to God. Fasting joins that prayer with a deeper surrender. It is like saying: “Lord, I cannot face this situation with my own strength. I need Your power. I need Your direction. I need You to cleanse my heart.”
That is why fasting without prayer can become only a diet. But fasting with prayer becomes a spiritual pursuit.
And here is something we need to understand simply: not everyone can fast in the same way. There are people with illnesses, medications, diabetes, pregnancy, heavy jobs, or delicate physical conditions. God is not looking for you to destroy your body in order to prove your love to Him. The body is also God’s creation, and we must take care of it.
Some people can fast one meal. Others half a day. Others a full day. Some can do a fast from certain foods. And others may need to fast from social media, entertainment, complaining, distractions, or something that is stealing their heart.
In the Bible, we see different forms of fasting. There are fasts where a person stops eating for a time; absolute fasts, where someone does not eat or drink for a short period; partial fasts, like when Daniel gave up certain foods; community fasts, when an entire people seek God; and fasts of repentance, when someone humbles themselves before the Lord to return to Him. But the most important thing is not the type of fast, but the heart with which it is done: humility, prayer, sincerity, obedience, and a real pursuit of God.
What matters is not showing off how much you endured. What matters is seeking God sincerely.
A correct fast could look like this: you choose a time, you pray before beginning, you tell God why you are fasting, you read the Bible, you avoid making it public, and during that time, whenever you feel hunger or discomfort, you use that moment to pray.
It is not only saying: “I am not going to eat.” It is saying: “Every time my body reminds me that it is hungry, I will remember that my soul is even hungrier for God.”
And it is also important to examine the heart. Because in the book of Isaiah, God corrected people who were fasting but still fighting, oppressing others, being unjust, and treating people badly. They stopped eating, but they did not stop sinning.
God does not want a fast where we close our mouth to food, but open it to hurt others. He does not want a fast where we give up bread, but remain full of pride, resentment, lies, or unforgiveness.
The fast that pleases God is born from a surrendered heart. A heart that says: “Lord, I do not only want You to change my situation. Change me.”
That is why, before fasting, it would be good to ask ourselves:
Am I seeking God, or am I trying to impress someone?
Am I willing to obey what God shows me?
Am I fasting with prayer, or am I only stopping myself from eating?
Am I willing to forgive, to change, and to correct my path?
Because true fasting is not about looking more spiritual. It is about drawing closer to God.
Jesus did not teach a fast full of appearances. He taught a secret, humble, sincere fast focused on the Father. A fast where nobody has to find out, but God sees it. And that is enough.
Maybe you are going through a battle you no longer know how to face. Maybe you have prayed, cried, tried, and you feel that something is not breaking. Perhaps God is calling you to seek Him more deeply. Not to punish you, not to make you suffer, but to draw you closer to Him with all your heart.
Fasting is not for the perfect. It is for the needy. It is for those who recognize: “Lord, without You, I cannot.”
Let me leave you with this reflection: fasting is not empty hunger; it is hunger directed toward God. It is not giving up food to feel better than others; it is leaving something temporary to remember that God is eternal. It is not a religious performance; it is intimate surrender.
And when it is done with humility, prayer, and faith, God works in places where our strength can no longer reach.
Lord, teach us to fast as Jesus taught. Not to be seen, not to feel superior, not to manipulate You, but to seek You with a clean and sincere heart. Help us depend more on You, listen to Your voice, overcome our spiritual battles, and surrender everything that pulls us away from Your presence. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Somos Cristianos, connecting hearts with Christ.
