Why Should I Fast?

Cultivating Biblical Godliness

by Daniel R. Hyde

Today, the church seems to have forgotten about the spiritual discipline of fasting. Most of us have never heard a sermon about it, and few of us have ever practiced it. We think of fasting as an antiquated relic of the past. So why should we fast in an age of fast food? Pastor Daniel R. Hyde argues that “fasting is actually a basic biblical teaching and practice, one that is vital to cultivating godly living in an ungodly generation.” Fasting is a means to the end of abiding, deep, and personal communion with the triune God through prayer. The author explains what fasting is, provides biblical examples of it, reminds us of what Jesus taught regarding it, and tells us how to go about it. What Is Fasting? What are the Biblical Examples of Fasting? Did Jesus Address Fasting? How Should I Fast? Daniel R. Hyde is the pastor of the Oceanside United Reformed Church in Carlsbad/Oceanside, California. An author of several books, he serves as an adjunct instructor of systematic theology and missions at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. “If you like a lazy and complacent Christian life, this book is dangerous because it shows in a convincing way that fasting belongs to Christianity. Danny Hyde shows from the Bible, the words of Jesus, the early church, the Reformers, and the Puritans how and why Christians should fast. This message is an appeal to Christians that while our old nature would prefer feasting to fasting, our new nature will experience spiritual feasting by fasting.” — Dr. Willem van Vlastuin, professor of theology and spirituality of Reformed Protestantism, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Genres: Discipleship

48 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 20, 2015

About the author

Daniel R. Hyde (ThM, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary) is the Pastor of the Oceanside United Reformed Church in Oceanside, California. He is the author of over ten books, including Welcome to a Reformed Church, Why Believe in God?, and God in Our Midst.

Reviews

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise, helpful booklet on fasting

Hyde shows that fasting is taught in the Scriptures, and still has a place and purpose in the NT dispensation. In light of the teaching of Scripture, the practice of the catholic Church, and the spiritual benefits of fasting, the reader is greatly encouraged to rediscover this godly exercise.

[Ryan Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best work I’ve read on fasting. Readable, concise, and Biblical.

[Leon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and convincing read

A short and convincing treatment of the Biblical practice of fasting. Drawing from Biblical examples and a wide range of reliable and godly men in church history the author makes a convincing and helpful case to take up this practice for the love and worship of Jesus Christ

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little confessionally Reformed treatment of the practice of fasting.

Recommended.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Hyde accomplishes a lot in this booklet, interacting with Scripture and a broad cast of witnesses from church history.

[Jeremiah Horner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sweet, helpful.

[Peter Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent introduction to a much neglected aspect for the Christian life!

[Tim Sanduleac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful!

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why Should I Fast? by Daniel Hyde is part of the 12-booklet Cultivating Biblical Godliness series published by Reformation Heritage Books. This short booklet, at just 46 pages, looks at the biblical teaching and practice of fasting.

In his book, Mr. Hyde "argues that fasting is actually a basic biblical teaching and practice, one that is vital to cultivating godly living in an ungodly generation," (p. 5). He looks at fasting in the Old Testament and the New Testament. The author notes: "When you feel the weight of your sins, you are instructed to fast as a help to confessing your sins to the Lord in prayer. When you lack the Lord's presence, you are exhorted to fast as a help to drawing near to God through prayer," (p. 21).

Next, he looks at how a Christian should fast and gives these guidelines: Fasting should be done freely, humbly, seriously, evangelically, earnestly, and prayerfully. However, Mr. Hyde notes that fasting is not the end in itself, but a means. Therefore, he concludes: "Fasting is an aid and help to prayer," (p. 40).

This short primer on fasting is very well-written and well-referenced. The author even includes a selected bibliography to his work. I was encouraged by his exhortation to revive the practice of fasting as a means to aid my prayer life. I highly recommend Why Should I Fast? for all Christians, especially those in leadership position within the church so that they can encourage others within the church to consider this important biblical practice.

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"And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast," (Matthew 9:15).