No Specific Time to Fast?

To the untrained eyes, there may be no specific time when Christians should fast but the mature Christians see differently.

Today, many Christian Writers are confusing the notion of when should Christians fast with the motivation for doing it.

It’s easy to get distracted with the reason for fasting because it’s intricately connected to the time of it.

So, let’s investigate at what time the following four persons fasted and while we are doing so, we shall answer the question: When Should Christians Fast?

Therefore, I shall examine the biblical fasting of Nehemiah, Esther, Me, and Jesus, hoping to uncover whether there is a common thread that indicates when Christians fast.

My aim, in this Bible Study, is not to inquire into the reasons for fasting, but to know the timing of it. Elsewhere on this site, I have explained how, why, and what Christian fasting is, in detail.

When Did Nehemiah Fast?

I know that Nehemiah wasn’t a Christian. Then you may ask, why study his fasting habits? However, I want us to know that all the Books of the Bible are connected.

Additionally, the Old Testament is the New Testament conceived. What we learn about when he fasted will assist us to understand at what time Jesus fasted in the New Testament.

Now, keep in mind that I’m not investigating why Nehemiah fasted but, when? Let’s peruse Nehemiah Chapter One to obtain the answer.

Later, you will discover that he fasted when he knew of an unfavorable situation and he wanted to change it.

While he was in the palace, “Shushan” he asked Hanani, a Jewish man, about other Jews whom King Neb had taken captives and the state of Jerusalem.

So, it was after Hanani had explained the unacceptable state of the captives and of Jerusalem that Nehemiah fasted.

He told him:

“And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.”

Nehemiah 1:3

After Nehemiah Learned About This He Fasted

Nehemiah was OK before he got this news. He was not fasting and had not thought of doing it until he received the sad and disturbing report.
It was at that time that he decided to fast and began fasting.

“And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven.”

Nehemiah1:4

Now, everyone will not receive disturbing information like Nehemiah, but we will all have experience that will dictate that we fast.

Therefore, next, I’m going to explore what motivated Esther to fast, and learn at what point she fasted?

When Should Christians Fast – Did Esther Conform To The Same Time?

Now, when I discuss when Esther fasted, I don’t want you to be distracted by her motive. If you do, it will eclipse your perception of what time she fasted.

Why Christians fast is significant to the extent that it reveals the timing of it!

Therefore, when I examine when should Christians fast, I must also explore why they do it?

When Did Queen Esther Fast?

When she knew that she must approach the King without being called. She fasted immediately before her most important, suicidal, but necessary action to save herself and all of Israel!

When Queen Esther realized that she had come to the kingdom for such a time as this, she decided to fast.

She realized that she could be killed for going in to see the King unless he had requested her. But he had not requested to see her in the past month.

Thus, she requested a fast and decided to fast also to obtain favor with the King. She informs us:

“All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or women, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.”

Esther 4:11

Thus, Queen Esther fasted just before she acted as she had informed Mordecai.

“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 4:16

Nehemiah fasted at a specific time for a specific reason. Daniel fasted immediately before he did something important. Similarly, Queen Esther fasted just before she acted on an important matter.

Next, let’s see at what time Jesus fasted.

When To Fast As A Christian: The Jesus Scenario?

The Holy Bible has one record of Jesus fasting. Immediately before he did the will of his Father, he fasted.

The Scripture revealed that Nehemiah didn’t just fast, neither did Daniel, nor Esther. Similarly, Jesus did not just fast at any time or at no specific time.

He did his only humbling of his soul at a very specific juncture. Jesus fasted , or obeyed his Father, just before he started his ministry.

If there is no specific time to fast Jesus could have fasted any other time besides before his ministering started.

But like all those before and after him, he knew that there is a time to fast. The Christian Fast has its paradigm.

Conclusion

As a Christian, you may go about your daily activities for a while and not fast. However, at some point in time, something more than the ordinary will happen.

It will be at that time that you will realize that to enjoy a favorable, acceptable, or successful outcome you must fast.

Nehemiah changed the future because he knew when to fast. So too did Daniel, Queen Esther, and Jesus Christ.

There is a specific time for every Christian Fast. But what determines at what time to begin your fasting?

So, to answer your question: When Do Christians Fast, any time you desire to motivate Godly influence on any outcome?

That my friend, is the time to fast!