Here are 10 quotes from a variety of Christians, past and present, on the practice and benefits of fasting.

“In fasting … you are learning to be joyful, even when you don’t get what you want. You are practicing suffering and, through it, increasing your capacity for joy in all circumstances. …

“Fasting is hard, especially at first. Though it grows much easier with regular practice. But the “hangry” feelings that come up when we forgo meals often expose the areas of our soul most in need of grace—and, again, open us to God in surprising ways. We begin to feed on what Jesus called the “food to eat that you know nothing about.”

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John Mark Comer
Practicing the Way

“One way to begin to see how vastly indulgent we usually are is to fast. It is a long day that is not broken by the usual three meals. One finds out what an astonishing amount of time is spent in the planning, purchasing, preparing, eating, and cleaning up of meals.”

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Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015)
American Missionary, Author

“Of fasting I say this: It is right to fast frequently in order to subdue and control the body. For when the stomach is full, the body does not serve for preaching, for praying, or studying, or for doing anything else that is good. Under such circumstances God’s Word cannot remain. But one should not fast with a view to meriting something by it as by a good work.”

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Martin Luther (1483-1546)
Priest, Theologian, Author

“If you say ‘I will fast when God lays it on my heart,’ you never will. You are too cold and indifferent to take the yoke upon you.”

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Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
Evangelist, Founder of Moody Bible Institute

“Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God.”

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Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
South African Minister

“Fasting is a way to demonstrate to God, and to yourself, that you are serious about your relationship with him. Fasting helps you to gain a new perspective and a renewed reliance upon God.”

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Unknown

“When we forego food, there’s a dependency on Jesus that we can’t explain. He literally becomes the bread of life in a new way. … Don’t ask God “if” he wants you to fast, but how and when. Scripture is clear that it’s a part of our relationship with Him. Matthew 6:16 says “when you fast,” not “if.” Some of you have medical conditions that prevent you from fasting from food—and that’s fine! What is something else in your life that you can lay on the altar to spend more time with God? For those of you who can fast from food, don’t choose something else to fast from just because it seems easier than giving up food. When we see fasting in Scripture, it’s always from food.”

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Mary Margaret Collingsworth
Lifeway Women blog

“In giving us the privilege of fasting as well as praying, God has added a powerful weapon to our spiritual armory. In her folly and ignorance the Church has largely looked upon it as obsolete. She has thrown it down in some dark corner to rust, and there it has lain forgotten for centuries. An hour of impending crisis for the Church and the world demands its recovery.”

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Arthur Wallis (1922-1988)
God’s Chosen Fast

“Fasting without praying isn’t fasting. It is dieting or deprivation. The only reason to fast is to make space for you to seek the Lord with greater urgency. Here is what that might look like practically: During the times when you would be eating, pray! Use those hunger pangs as a reminder to pray. When your belly rumbles, seek the Lord. Pray passages of Scripture related to hunger.”

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Erin Davis
Revive Our Hearts blog

It’s silly when you put it in perspective. We think about missing a meal or two for the sake of becoming more like Jesus and we get anxious. And yet we willingly miss meals sometimes while shopping, working, recreating, or otherwise occupied. Whenever we believe another activity is at that moment more important, we will go without food fearlessly and without complaint. We need to learn that there are times when it can be not only more important, but much more rewarding to feast on God than food (Matthew 4:4). We should not fear the blessings of fasting.

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Donald S. Whitney
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life