Fasting is intentionally going without food—or sometimes other normal activities—for a set time so you can focus more fully on God. In the Bible, fasting is often paired with prayer. It’s a way of humbling yourself, quieting distractions, and seeking God’s guidance, repentance, or strength. Fasting isn’t about earning God’s favor; it’s about drawing closer to Him. As Jesus said, fasting is meant to be sincere and God-focused, not done to impress others (see Matthew 6:16–18, NLT).
A simple way to think of fasting is this: you’re saying “no” to physical needs for a moment so you can say “yes” to spiritual growth and deeper dependence on the Lord.