Fasting is seen in the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. Jesus Himself fasted 40 days prior to beginning His ministry. So what is the purpose of fasting?
For a start, fasting jars your body into “waking up.” Just as our spirit must be cleansed (1 Thess. 5:23) and our soul renewed, our physiology also needs a sanctifying work. Our body is, after all, the temple of the Holy Spirit. God chooses to manifest Himself through our members!
Often, we need to do actions that awaken us out of old routines and bondage we have been trained to operate in. When we get out of bed, we may have to give ourselves a talking to “Wake up you Son/Daughter of God!” When Satan’s entrapment of heaviness looms over us, we can actively take authority over our own body and choose to engage in ecstatic praise.