PRAYER AND FASTING
Fasting can be defined as denying the body pleasure or food and drinks in order to seek
divine interventions. It is also to abstain from bodily necessities in order to seek God
Almighty and His help. The book of Isaiah 58:1.14 best describes the kind of true fasting the
LORD God almighty cherishes and approves. Our LORD Jesus Christ also taught the best
kind of true fasting His heavenly Father and our LORD God almighty likes. Let us read these
beautiful scriptures.
Isaiah 58:1-14 `Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my
people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins. 2 For day after day they seek
me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and
has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for
God to come near them. 3”Why have we fasted,” they say, “and you have not seen it?” Why
have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?” ‘Yet on the day of your fasting, you do
as you please and exploit all your workers. 4 Your fasting ends in quarrelling and strife, and in
striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to
be heard on high. 5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble
themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is
that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? 6 `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? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the
poor wonderer with shelter-when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not turn away from
your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing
will quickly appear; then your righteousnessa will go before you, and the glory of the LORD
will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help,
and he will say: here am I. ‘If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing
finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy
the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will
become like noonday. 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. 12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up
the age-old
A8 or your righteous One
foundations; You will be called Repairer of Broken walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
13 ‘If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy
day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honourable, and if you honour it
by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you
will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the
land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.’ For the mouth of the LORD has
spoken.(NIV).
Dear brethren you see as we pray and fast, and for our fast to be fully acceptable before our
LORD GOD’s beautiful and precious eyes we must fulfill what he requests and requires of
us. We must endeavor to stay holy as we fast, not to quarrel, insult others and do wicked
things. We must also share our food with the hungry, cloth the naked and welcome those
without shelter. Set the oppressed free and honour our Lord God Almighty and obey all his
commands for they are good and not burdensome.
Seek to do justice to all. Free the oppressed and untie the cords of the yoke and set
oppressed people free. Also help those people of your household. Stop oppressing the poor
and needy. Then after doing all these things when we call the LORD God Almighty as we
fast he will hear us and change our circumstances and situations as He has promised us. We
should not only fast and pray once and think we are done, no, we should endeavor to pray
and fast at all times and we will come out of our predicament and enjoy the LORD God
Almighty`s blessings. We should also endeavour to obey the Lord God Almighty, all his
commands for they are good, holy, beautiful and not burdensome.
In the entire Holy Bible there are several men and women of God who prayed and fasted
according to God’s will and their prayers were answered and their situations changed for
good permanently. For example in the Book of Esther when Harman wanted to annihilate
the Jews queen Esther asked her attendant to fast and pray together with mordecal and
entire Jews community and God answered queen-Esther`s prayers, Her life and entire life
of the Jews community was saved.
Esther 3:1-15 After these events, king xerxes honoured Haman son of Hammedatha, the
Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honour higher than that of all the other
nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the King’s gate knelt down and paid honour to Harman, for
the king had commanded this concerning him. But mordecai would not kneel down or pay him
honour. 3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, ‘Why do you disobey the
king’s command?’ 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they
told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behaviour would be tolerated, for he had told
them he was a Jew. 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him
honour, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the
idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s
people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.
7 In the twelfth year of king Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the
lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on a the
twelfth month, the month of Adar. 8 Then Haman said to king Xerxes, ‘There is a certain
people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves
separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the
king’s laws; it is not in the King’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the King, let a
decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talentsb of silver to the king’s
administrators for the royal treasury.’ 10 So the king took his signet ring from his finger and
gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews 11’ Keep the money,’
the king said to Haman, ‘and do with the people as you please.’
12 Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They
wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders
to the King’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of various peoples.
These were written in the name of king Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring. 13
Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and
annihilate all the Jews-young and old, women and children-on a single day, the thirteenth day
of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. 14 A copy of the text of
the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every
nationality so that they would be ready for that day.15 The couriers went out, spurred on by
the King’s command, and the edict was issued in the citade of Susa. The King and Haman sat
down to drink, but the city of Susa was be wildered.(NIV)
Esther 4:1-17 When Modercai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on
sackcloth ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as
far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it.
a7 The Septugint; Hebrew does not have And the lot fell on.
b9 That is about 340 metric tons
3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning
among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4 When
Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great
distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept
them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and
ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. 6 So Hathak went out to
Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7Mordecai told him
everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had
promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a
copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show
to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to
beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. 9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther
what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 ‘All the king`s
officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who
approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law:
that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold sceptre to them and spares their
lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.’
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: ‘Do not think
that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you
remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will a rise from another place,
but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your
royal position for such a time as this?’
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 ‘Go, gather all the Jews who are in Susa, and
fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as
you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I
perish, I perish.’ 17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.(NIV)
Esther 5:1-7 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the
palace, in front of the King’s hall. The King was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing
the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and
held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the
tip of the scepter. 3 Then the king asked, ‘What is it Queen Esther? What is your request? Even
up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.’
4 ‘ If it pleases the King,’ replied Esther, ‘ let the king, together with Haman, come today to a
banquet I have prepared for him’ 5 ‘ Bring Haman at once,’ the king said, ‘so that we may do
what Esther asks.’ So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. 6 As they
were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, ‘Now what is your petition? It will be given
you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.’ 7 Esther
replied, ‘My petition and my request is this: 8 If the king regards me with favour and if it
pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come
tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the King’s
question.’(NIV).
Esther 7:1-10 So the King and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, 2 and as they were
drinking wine on the second day, the King again asked, ‘Queen Esther, what is your petition? It
will be given you. What is your request?
Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.’ 3 Then Queen Esther answered, ‘if I have
found favour with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life-this is my petition.
And spare my people –this is my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed,
killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have
kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king. a ‘5 King Xerxes asked
Queen Esther, ‘Who is he? Where is he- the man who has dared to do such a thing?` 6 Esther
said, ‘ An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!’
Then Haman was terrified before the King and queen. 7 The King got up in a rage, left his
wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realising that the king had already
decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life. 8 Just as the king returned
from the palace garden to the banqueting hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther
was reclining. The king exclaimed, ‘Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the
house?’ As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Then Harbona,
one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, ‘A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits b stands
by Haman’s house
A4 Or quiet, but the compensation our adversary offers cannot be compared with the loss the king would suffer
b9 That is, about 23 meters
He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.’ The king said, ‘Impale him on it!’
10 So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury
subsided. (NIV). So dear reader you have seen and read for yourselves how prayer and
fasting is effective when presented to our LORD GOD ALMIGHTY in the right way. For
Queen Esther after the prayer and fasting the Salvation of the Jews and herself was
achieved and realised, death and destruction alleviated. The Jews were not destroyed.
Haman was impaled on the pole he had set up for Mordecai because he; Mordecai refused
to bow down to him; Haman the enemy of Jews. Also the Jews received special treatment.
Esther 8:1-17 verse 11-12. The kings edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble
and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or
province who might attack them and their women and children , and to plunder the property
b
of their enemies. 12 The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all provinces of king Xerxes
was the thirteenth day of twelfth month the month of Adar. (NIV). Prayer and Fasting can
provoke our LORD GOD ALMIGHTY to protect the whole country and its people. Just like he
did to the Jews during the reign of king Xerxes and Queen Esther. Haman’s estate was given
to Mordecai whom he wanted to execute because our LORD GOD KING of glory is just in his
judgment. He; our LORD GOD ALMIGHTY will turn our distress into joy and gladness when
we pray and fast sincerely according to God ALMIGHTY’S guidelines will and instructions.
The Jews celebrated their triumph. Esther 8:15-17.
15 When Mordecai left the kings presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white,
a large crown of gold and purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous
celebration. 16 For the Jews it was a time of happiness and Joy, gladness and honour. 17 In
every province and in every city to which the edict of the King came, there was joy and
gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other
nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them. (NIV). So dear brethren
you see how our LORD God King of glory can elevate his people when they are honest
truthful and faithful to Him. And when they pray sincerely with fasting. Mordecai was
elevated to high ranks, in king Xerxes kingdom because of His faithfulness to the LORD GOD
ALMIGHTY and because he saved the king when he was about to be killed by conspiracy of
two of his officers Bigthana and Teresh. Esther 2:19-23 When the Virgins were assembled a
second time, Mordecai was sitting at the King’s gate. 20 But Esther had kept secret her family
background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow
Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.
b11 or province, together with their women and children, who might attack them;
21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana band Teresh, two of the
Kings officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate king
Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told queen Esther, who in turn reported
it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 23And when the report was investigated and found to
be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals
in the presence of the king. (NIV) That’s how our LORD GOD ALMIGHTY elevated Mordecai
from being a gatekeeper to be a great and mighty man in the kingdom of king Xerxes. Our
LORD God Almighty is willing and ready to do the same to us if we remain faithful, honest
and true to him. Through obedience to His laws, decrees statutes and ordinances, and his
commands for thy are the true, light and not burdensome.
Our LORD JESUS CHRIST also prayed and fasted for forty days and forty nights and His
mission was very powerful and He accomplished it faithfully and perfectly. Luke 4:1-3
Jesus, full of the HOLY SPIRIT, left the Jordan and was led by the spirit into the wilderness,
2 where for forty days he was tempted by a the devil. He ate nothing during those days; and
at the end of them he was hungry. (Also Mathew 4:1-11)
Fasting helped our Saviour our LORD JESUS CHIRST to overcome the temptations of the
evil one the devil. Our LORD JESUS CHRIST was able to tell satan it is written. And JESUS
CHRIST overcame the powers of the evil one. Although our LORD Jesus Christ was both
man and God, he knew the power of prayer and fasting and he made use of it. (Luke 4:1-13)
Also Our LORD JESUS CHRIST told his disciples there are evil powers, demons or devils that
don’t come out except by prayer and fasting.
Mark 9:14-29. Verse 14 when they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around
them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus,
they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 ‘What are you arguing with
them about?’ he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, ‘Teacher, I bought you my son, who
is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws
him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your
disciples to drive out the spirit, but they will not.’
a2 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested.
b21 Hebrew Bigthan, a variant of Bigthana
19 ‘You unbelieving generation,’ Jesus replied, ‘how long shall I stay with you? How long shall
I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.’ 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it
immediately threw the boy into convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming
at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, ‘How long has he been like this?’ ‘From
childhood,’ he answered. ‘ It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can
do anything, take pity on us and help us’. 23` “ if you can”?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible
for one who believes.’ 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed,’ ‘I do believe; help me
overcome my unbelieve!’
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. ‘ ‘You
deaf and mute spirit,’ he said, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.’
The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a
corpse that the many said, ‘He’s dead.’ 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his
feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why
couldn’t we drive it out?’ 29 He replied, ‘ This kind can come out only by prayer . a’ (29 some
manscripts prayer and fasting). (NIV) So dear brethren you have seen for yourself that
some demons can only come out through prayer and fasting. Let’s pray and fast always so
that evil demons can come out of our situations and even from other people. Also there are
situations in our lives, and in our families, our nation, and our careers that requires serious
prayers and fasting. This is the advice from our Master and LORD our SAVIOUR JESUS
CHRIST King of heavenly glory and righteousness and justice. Nothing is impossible with
Him he conquered all evil under his feet. Colossians 2:9-15 And is seated at the right side of
our Father in Heaven. Psalm 110:1-2, Colossians 3:1-4. He is alive and omnipresent.
JEHOVA YHWH; ELOHIM. Emmanuel God with us. Matthew 1:22-24, Isaiah 7:10-17
Emmanuel God with us. Isaiah7:14 Therefore the lord himself will give you casign: the virgind
will conceive and gives birth to a son, and ewill call him Emmanuel.f (NIV) (14 Immanuel
means, God with us. Matthew 1:22-24
And our LORD GOD ALMIGHTY our creator commanded his people to fast one day a year,
on the day of Atonement. Leviticus 16:29-34 29 ‘This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On
the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves cand not do any work—whether
native-born or a foreigner residing among you— 30 because on this day atonement will be made
for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins. 31 It is a
day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. 32 The priest who is
anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on
the sacred linen garments 33 and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the tent of
meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the members of the community.
34 ‘This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: aAtonement is to be made once a year for all the
sins of the Israelites.’ And’ it was done, as the LORD commanded Moses. (NIV).
a29 Some manuscripts prayer and fasting
c 14 The Hebrew is plural
d14 a young woman
e14 Masoretic text; Dead Sea scrolls son, and he or son and they
f14 Immanuel means God with us
c29 Or must fast; also in verse 31
Fasting was started by our Father in Heaven King of glory and all truth and righteousness.
His Son our LORD JESUS CHRIST also fasted. Luke 4:1-12.
There are other various people who prayed and fasted and got what they wanted from our LORD
GOD ALMIGHTY through our LORD JESUS CHRIST and the HOLY GHOST and their
prayers were answered.
Most of these instances in the Holy Bible have been highlighted in this book in the subsequent
chapter. For example, the Book of Jonah; Jonah 1–3. the people of Nineveh prayed and fasted for
3 days — everybody including animals, herds, and flocks. They repented and turned from their
evil ways. And The ALMIGHTY GOD relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had
threatened.
Joel 2:12 `Even now,’ declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and
weeping and mourning.’ Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the LORD your
God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents
from sending calamity. (NIV).
Ezra 8:21-23 21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, 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.
22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the
road, because we had told the king, ‘The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to
him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.’
23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.(NIV).
Nehemiah: 1:4
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed
before the God of heaven. (NIV). (Nehemiah 1: 7-9) 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We
have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. 8 “Remember the
instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among
the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are
at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen
as a dwelling for my Name. Nehemiah 2:7-9 7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I
have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until
I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me
timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the
residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king
granted my requests. 9 So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s
letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me. (NIV).
2 Samuel 1:12 They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for
the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. (NIV).
Exodus 34:28 Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread
or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten
Commandments.(NIV).
Daniel 10:1–3 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who
was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding
of the message came to him in a vision.
2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks.
3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the
three weeks were over.) (NIV). (Read Daniel chapter 10)
In Matthew 6:16–18 16 ‘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.
17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
18 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.’ (NIV).
Our LORD JESUS CHRIST taught and emphasized sincerity, and seeking God's will over
outward display of piety.
