This article was originally taken from TheCall.
Almost every major biblical leader fasted at one time or another. They knew the power and importance of this practice. We should follow their example and the example of church leaders throughout history who had a lifestyle of fasting. John Wesley would not ordain anybody who did not fast Wednesdays and Fridays! If we are to see lasting revival we will need to pay the price and deny ourselves, being more hungry for God than for food!
MOSES FASTED
“Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water.” (Exodus 34:28)
ELIJAH FASTED
“So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.” (1 Kings 19:8)
EZRA FASTED
“Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.” (Ezra 10:6)
DANIEL FASTED
“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)
ESTHER & MORDECAI FASTED
”Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ‘Go, gather together 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.’” (Esther 4:15-16)
Fasting is continued in the New Testament.
ANNA FASTED
“And then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” (Luke 2:37)
CORNELIUS FASTED
“And Cornelius said, ‘Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing.’” (Acts 10:30)
EARLY CHURCH LEADERS FASTED
“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." (Acts 13:2)
“Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” (Acts 14:23)
PAUL FASTED
“For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.” (Acts 9:9)
He never forgot the lesson of prayer and fasting and later told the Corinthians, in his second letter, that he had been "in fasting often." (2 Corinthians 11:27 KJV)
MOST IMPORTANTLY, JESUS FASTED
“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.” (Luke 4:1-2 KJV)
Jesus was wise enough to know that without the Father he could do nothing. He sought the Father in prayer and fasting. He waited in the Father's presence until He was endued with power. Let us follow Jesus’ example!