<ul>
<li>Definition: <i>The act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time</i>
<li>First reference - Judges 20:26<br>
<i>Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God , and wept, and sat there before the LORD , and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.</i>
<li>Second - 1 Samuel 31:13<br>
<i>And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.</i>
<li>Third - 2 Samuel 12:16<br>
<i>David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.</i>
<li>Why
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<li>Ezra 8:21<br>
Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.</i>
<li>Esther 4:3<br>
<i>And in every province, whithersoever the king`s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.</i>
</li>Matthew 4:2<br>
<i>And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.</i>
<li>Matthew 17:21<br>
<i>Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.</i>
</li>Luke 5:35<br>
<i>But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.</i>
<li>Acts 10:30<br>
<i>And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,</i>
<li>Acts 13:2<br>
<i>As they ministered to the Lord , and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.</i>
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<li>Notes:
<ul>
<li>Psalm 34:18<br>
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.<br>
Psalm 51:17<br>
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God , thou wilt not despise.
<li>Matthew 5:6<br>
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
<li>James 4:8<br>
Draw nigh to God , and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
<li>Psalm 63:1<br>
O God , thou art my God ; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
Hosea 5:15<br>
I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
<li>Ruth 1:16<br>
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God :
Psalm 63:8<br>
My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
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