Key Principles of Biblical Fasting: A 6-Week, No-Homework Bible Study

40-Minute Bible Studies

by Kay Arthur, Pete De Lacy

Discover the Purpose and Power of Fasting

Do you desire to feel His presence, hear His voice, sense His pleasure?

Since ancient times, fasting has been considered an essential means of drawing near to God. But this spiritual discipline involves much more than abstaining from food; it goes right to the heart of genuine faith. Through this invigorating study, you’ll gain a clear understanding of the principles behind this practice and be equipped to make fasting a key part of your relationship with God.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2008

About the author

Kay Lee Arthur was an American Christian author, Bible teacher, and co-founder of Precept Ministries International. Renowned for her accessible and inductive approach to Bible study, she helped millions engage deeply with Scripture. Arthur began her ministry informally, teaching teenagers in her living room alongside her second husband, Jack Arthur. Their work soon grew into a global outreach, headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, under the name Precept Ministries International. She hosted the daily Bible teaching program Precepts for Life and became a respected voice in evangelical circles. Arthur authored numerous books and was a four-time winner of the ECPA Christian Book Award for titles such as A Marriage Without Regrets and The New Inductive Study Bible. Her ministry was rooted in a personal reawakening to faith in the early 1960s, following a divorce and a return to religious life. She and Jack also served briefly as missionaries in Mexico before founding their ministry. Arthur remained active in public faith-based initiatives into her later years and was known for her firm stances on social issues. She passed away on 2025 leaving behind a lasting legacy in Christian education and publishing.

Reviews

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

This six-week study walks you through dozens of Scripture passages showing reasons to fast, focusing especially on the attitudes that should accompany this habit. (It is surprising how often the people of Israel fasted with hearts full of sin.)

I appreciated that the booklet lets the Bible speak for itself, allowing you to draw your own conclusions. It is a "why to" more than a "how to" book, but it does give one real life example in the conclusion of a pastor who saw much fruit when he learned to pray and fast.

Very helpful.

[Jessica Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used as a morning devotional, took about 15-20 minutes to complete (study) each lesson. Wonderful tool to break down scriptures pertaining to fasting and prayer

[Erika Bayot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good study on fasting. It clearly explains the biblical reasons for fasting (seeking direction, humbling, etc) and how to fast (joyfully, with thanksgiving, etc). I now have a clearer understanding of the principles of fasting. 40 minutes a day was a perfect amount of time to devote to the study. The devotional/study helps you discover God's word on your own through applicable scriptures. The study was written for small groups but I did it by myself and still thought it was an effective study.

[Kellie Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bible based study

This bible study is intended for small groups, but I worked through it on my own on a daily basis because I wanted to see what the scripture said about fasting. I like that this study is grounded in scripture and the questions are designed to help the reader understand the verses.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our Sunday School class used this book to walk through scripture and discover the purpose and meaning of fasting, how it was to be used and who was to do it. I encourage you to read this book if you want to increase you biblical understanding of fasting, and enhance your relationship with God.