Fasting is a beautiful way to live out your religion, and it may encourage you to begin reaping the benefits of a solid relationship with God on a spiritual level.
Fasting has always been a part of spiritual growth, and it is a disciplined practice to fast to get closer to God.
It gives us a chance to understand God’s Word more fully, and we can only do this when we renounce our carnal desires and walk in Jesus’ footsteps.
Fasting Scriptures for Spiritual Growth
The Bible has numerous fasting scriptures for spiritual growth. 15 of them are listed below, which you can use to complement your reading
Ezra 8:21 – Fasting is a way to humble ourselves before God
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
Ezra 8:21 (NIV)
Ezra and the others were fasting to obtain God’s favor for their journey. Fasting is a way for us to humble ourselves and beg God to accomplish what He can do for us.
Thus it should be done with an attitude of humility, need, and spiritual growth. May God pierce our hearts with the awareness of our own needs so that we may approach him in humility by fasting.
Psalm 35:13- Strive to have a humble attitude
Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
Psalm 35:13(NIV)
This passage demonstrates that fasting is essential for spiritual growth and that humility is the most important quality required to achieve that growth.
Fasting is something between us and God so we must approach God with humility. Let us strive to have a humble attitude whenever we approach God in prayer and fasting.
Daniel 10:3 – Deprive yourself of comfort to show sincerity and humilty
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.
Daniel 10:3 (NIV)
According to biblical teaching, fasting is completely forgoing food and simply consuming water.
But before approaching God in prayer, we should deprive ourselves of any comfort in order to demonstrate to him our sincerity and humility regarding our needs.
Daniel fasted for three weeks without eating in order to comprehend the vision that was given to him and to advance spiritually. He also refrained from any sensory comforts or pleasures during that time.
Deuteronomy 9:9 – We receive God’s gift through humility
When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the LORD had made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water.
Deuteronomy 9:9(NIV)
In this chapter, God confronts the Israelites with their disobedience, and Moses tells the story of how he went up the mountain to fast for God with a humble heart to prevent everyone from being destroyed.
Moses fasted before God to receive the commandments and for God to keep his promise to Abraham and Jacob.
1 Corinthians 13:11- Put away your childish ways
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
1 Corinthians 13:11(ESV)
When we become adults, having acquired a great deal of knowledge, we are expected to behave, speak, and think like adults should because we have put away all of the manners and habits of our youth.
This future state of spiritual growth is as far beyond what can be attained in this world as our adult state of Christianity is above our state of childishness.
James 1:2 – Rejoice in your trials
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
James 1:2(ESV)
We must endure pain and adversity to advance spiritually.
But this verse gives us hope because it shows that our struggles in life are tests of our faith and that they help us grow as Christians and in our spirituality.
As we continue to seek the Lord’s face in fasting and prayer to have our faith in Him renewed, may we be encouraged by the words of this verse to count whatever we go through as a joy.
Hebrews 6:1 – Press on to Spiritual Maturity
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
Hebrews 6:1 (ESV)
We are told to mature spiritually in our Christian faith rather than stay in the stage of early Christianity.
Additionally, we must consider why we should enter spiritual adulthood rather than regress to spiritual childhood or adolescence.
God’s sovereign work in us only gives us hope that we will continue to grow. As a result, turn to him in prayer and fasting and trust in his omnipotent goodness, wisdom, and power.
Colossians 2:6-7 -Be rooted in Christ
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV)
We are fervently encouraged to walk in Him because we are to continue to live in Him just as we received Christ Jesus as Lord.
Through His death on the cross, we have received everything we need to walk worthy of the Lord.
The root of our spiritual growth in life must be built and established in faith and overflowing with thanksgiving in the Lord Jesus, the tree of life. This is the basis for our spiritual growth in life.
James 1:2- Setbacks breeds steadfastness
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4(ESV)
When we encounter situations that put our faith to the test, James encourages us to “consider it pure joy.”
Although Jesus experienced difficulties and temptations while fasting in the wilderness, He resisted them and defeated the devil.
Because of this, we can look upon our difficulties with joy. Setbacks breed endurance, and endurance develops our spiritual maturity. By enduring, we enable patience to do its ideal task in our lives.
Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
We should be aware that knowing Christ is the source of our joy.
Jesus strengthens us by giving us advice, leading, and guiding us through difficult times. If all you have is Jesus, that’s more than enough, and you have been given ample strength through Christ Jesus.
While you are fasting, remember that the Lord is with you and that He will lead you in your spiritual development to accomplish your goal.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
The Bible is the only thing that can keep us going through all of life’s circumstances. Christ’s words are meant to be pondered and absorbed fully since they give life and light to the spirit.
When faced with temptations and trials, God’s word can serve as our shield. As you grow spiritually, let it permeate your being and serve as a guide.
Luke 2:52
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man
Luke 2:52(ESV)
How can you become wiser in God’s eyes? It involves spending time daily in the scriptures, hearing from prophets, praying, and responding to the Holy Ghost’s nudges.
We shall experience great blessings if we strive daily to expand our spiritual knowledge. Our full potential will be guided toward and prepared for.
John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5 (ESV)
Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. We are urged to follow him and to walk in him.
While ultimately, God, Jesus Christ, took all of His strength from the Father in heaven, setting an example for how we should spend our lives as God’s children—drawing all of our strength from our Lord Jesus Christ so that His life may be lived in us and through us.
2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)
The purpose of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer is to conform us to the image of the Lord Jesus.
The old life in Adam cannot be changed into the new life in Christ that we were given at redemption; only the Holy Spirit has this ability.
Let’s pray that God would lead us and use the Holy Spirit to help us mature spiritually so that we might ultimately bring him glory.
Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13 (ESV)
Since it is impossible to please God without faith, we show dedication when we cling to Christ, put our trust in His Word, and live by His Word.
Let’s allow God to connect to our hearts so He can guide us. Let’s observe our fast in humility and ask Christ to dwell in us so we may grow spiritually as we live in spirit and truth.
Conclusion
Fasting has a potent effect that significantly elevates your spiritual life. We fast to become closer to God, learn humility and obedience, give to charity, recognize God’s blessings, and concentrate on spiritual matters.
Many health advantages come with fasting. But it also has a powerful impact on your spirits.
I hope you found this helpful. Additionally, while you rely on Him daily for all your needs, these texts will inspire you to pursue your spiritual growth.
