Offering up some benefits that I can see, and hoping you can add as well! Exercise of denial and dying to ourselves as a spiritual principle! Next we are told that when we are weak, His strength sustains! When we deny ourselves, we can better focus on His will! Also told that it is an axiom for spiritual worship! Any other benefits?! TR People fast for: blood work, hoping to pass the colonoscopy exam and before a major operation. To lose weight?! TR One of several Q&A Examples from Jack Kelley: Question -- My question is about fasting. I know that there are examples in the New Testament of people fasting, but I’ve never had a pastor ever teach about it. How should we fast? When? For how long? How often? How does it work? What is it’s purpose? Please teach me about this subject and how I should incorporate it into my own life and walk with God. Thank you, as always, for all of your hard work. Answer -- Believers fast when they want to show that an issue has great urgency or importance to them. It could be for healing, direction, intercession or other significant matter. The length and type of fast depends on the person, and could be a partial fast, like foregoing only certain foods, or a complete fast. The important thing is that you do what you commit to and keep it secret. Matt. 6:17-18 says, “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.” Since the Lord didn’t say “If you fast” but “When you fast” it seems that fasting should be a regular part of our prayer life. https://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/fasting/ And another from GotQuestions.org: https://www.gotquestions.org/types-of-fasting.html Besides medical purposes, I never understood the need to fast. Personally if I go without food (just 1 meal) … I can’t think properly and I find myself making the wrong change at the check out. The Lord hears our prayers regardless of fasting … so why does a person do it in the first place?
