26 Fasting Scriptures for Breakthrough (Plus Printable)

Are you in desperate need of God’s deliverance in some area of your life or a loved one’s life? So am I. Do you want to experience breakthrough in your prayer life?

Have you considered fasting? I don’t do it on a regular basis (because God doesn’t command that for us today), but I can say from experience that it is helpful. 

Fasting is a time of self-denial which helps us to cultivate a deeper intimacy with God, the lover of our soul. Fasting is not primarily about denying our need for food, but rather, drawing closer to God for Him to meet our needs in new ways. It’s about refining our desires so they are aligned more fully with God’s perfect will…so that our hearts are more fully surrendered to His will than ever before.

Here are 26 fasting scriptures for breakthrough that will encourage you as you deny yourself and seek God through fasting and prayer.

This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my full affiliate disclosure here.

Benefits of Fasting

God uses fasting as a tool to accomplish His purposes. He knows our capacity for self-denial and discipline is limited, but He wants us to trust Him more fully in all things. When we fast, God honors our submission and extends His hand to us in a unique way through the power of prayer.

(Matthew 6:18)  That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

When we fast, God rewards us…openly! In answer to our prayers!

Fasting Scriptures for Breakthrough

It’s not that fasting alone will bring about our breakthrough. Fasting doesn’t trick, or manipulate, God into answering our prayers. Fasting does not guarantee that we will receive what we want from God. (David fasted and prayed for the life of his son. But God had another plan. 2 Samuel 12:16-23)

But rather, fasting enhances our prayers and intensifies them, opening doors that might otherwise be closed to us. Some things only come by prayer and fasting.

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Matthew 17:21

Sometimes prayer alone is not enough.

Prayer and Fasting Scriptures for Breakthrough

Prayer and fasting go hand in hand when we would seek God for help in dire circumstances. God desires to deliver His children from all their troubles. (Psalms 34:17) But He wants us to ask and seek Him through prayer…and fasting…as we feel led.

Here are some Bible examples of God’s deliverance in answer to His children’s prayer and biblical fasting.

The Jews Protected Returning from Captivity

(Ezra 8:21)  Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

(Ezra 8:23)  So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.

As Ezra prepared to lead the Jews from captivity back to Jerusalem, he and the people fasted and prayed, seeking the Lord for protection from enemies as they traveled. And God heard and answered!

Esther and the Jews Protected from Haman

(Esther 4:16)  Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

(Esther 5:2)  And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

God honored the Jews’ and Esther’s fasting and protected Esther by granting her favor with the king. And then ultimately by delivering all the Jews from wicked Haman’s decree to annihilate them!

The City of Nineveh Spared

(Jonah 3:5)  So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

(Jonah 3:10)  And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

What a wonderful example for us of not only the power of fasting and prayer, but also the power of humble repentance! God rewards such fasting and prayer with His mercy! That kind of prayer changes things with God! To the point that God changes His predetermined course of action in answer to their prayers!

King Ahab’s Life Spared

(1 Kings 21:27)  And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.

(1 Kings 21:29)  Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.

Biblical fasting is not just going without food, but involves humility and genuine repentance of sins. Fasting done God’s way will help us get our hearts right with God. Only then can God work to answer and bless us. Because Ahab humbled himself repenting of his sins, God chose to spare his life! Wow!

Fasting enhances our prayers and intensifies them, opening doors that might otherwise be closed to us. Some things only come by prayer and fasting.

New Testament Scriptures on Fasting

Fasting is not required on a regular basis for us New Testament believers, but is definitely something the Lord still honors and expects from us His children as evidenced by the below scriptures, and many others.

I’m thankful to say that there have been several times when I felt the Holy Spirit impress upon me to add fasting to my prayers. And thankfully, with His help, I did. And God answered! To His praise and glory!

Jesus Fasted

(Matthew 4:1)  Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

(Matthew 4:2)  And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

Jesus is our example in all things. If He fasted, then how much more should we feel the need? We learn here that fasting will sustain us in times of great temptation.

Jesus Teaches the Necessity of Fasting

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Matthew 17:21

Jesus heals a boy possessed of the devil. When his disciples asked why they could not cast him out, Jesus teaches them what is needed in order to receive miraculous answers to prayer…faith…and fasting.

Jesus Teaches How to Fast and Pray for a Breakthrough

(Matthew 6:16)  Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
(Matthew 6:17)  But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
(Matthew 6:18)  That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

In Old Testament times some people would fast simply to make a show of how pious they were. Jesus here teaches us to fast in such a way that no one knows we are fasting. I will say, though, that sometimes your spouse will have to know. (1 Corinthians 7:5)

Fasting to Hear God Speak

(Acts 13:2)  As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
(Acts 13:3)  And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

If we would hear God speak to us and give us the guidance we are seeking, we must first get serious about seeking Him. Fasting helps us do that.

Paul Fasted

(2 Corinthians 11:27)  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Paul served God in fastings…often. If we would be used of God, fasting must become part of how we serve God, too.

Enjoy this free fasting scriptures for breakthrough pdf printable as you seek the Lord.

Encouraging Bible Verses During Fasting

Let these verses encourage you when the hunger pangs come. You can do this hard thing! God will sustain you as you earnestly, fervently seek Him.

(Philippians 4:13)  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

(Isaiah 26:3)  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

(Matthew 6:18)  That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

(James 5:16b) The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

(1 John 5:14)  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
(1 John 5:15)  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Encouraging Psalms for Fasting

(Psalms 55:22)  Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

(Psalms 37:4)  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

The benefits of fasting far outweigh the temporary physical discomfort. Fasting allows for great power in prayer!

By seeking God in this focused, fervent way, our hearts are first cleansed of sin, and our prayers become so aligned with His will that God does miraculous things to answer those prayers. As He has promised.

Drawing nigh to Him,

Teresa

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT

What are your thoughts on fasting? Have you ever fasted and prayed for a situation? How did God answer?

MORE PRAYER RESOURCES

3 Things God Looks For When We Pray

How to Pray in the Storms of Life

All Things in Prayer Coloring Book

God in the Storm Bible Study

Fervent: A Woman’s Battle Plan to Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer

Sharing is caring!