Jesus says fasting is required in certain cases to be victorious in life physically and spiritually. The disciples asked why they could not cast out demons in a child so Jesus told them they needed to fast to cast demons out. Jesus fasted for days and nights before choosing the 12 apostles. Moses also prayed 40 days and nights before God on mountain while he received 10 commandments. Bible says in Jonah 3:3-5 the whole city of Nineveh fasted to repent after Jonah directed by Yahweh God encountered whale belly. Jonah in Nineveh entered city to warn people saying, in 40 days, Nineveh will be destroyed!” The people of Nineveh believed God so proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth from king to animals.” The Ninevites believe God but drifted, needed stirring to activate faith in God. Acknowledging God on piece of paper to tick boxes as a Christian does not please God. Their true worship of God agrees in harmony with God’s Sovereign will. Ninevites realised they needed change immediately to stop destruction of God. True fasting action saved whole city of Nineveh who put on the sackcloth from greatest to least in Jonah 3:5.
Verses 6-8 says, when the news reached the king of Nineveh he rose up from his throne took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. He made a proclamation and published through Nineveh by decree of the king and nobles, saying, “Let no man or an animal, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water; but be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Ninevites declared fast as still done in a certain month at a time of year set aside for fasting to remember seeking Face of God to repent to ask forgiveness of sins. The purpose of fasting recorded in Bible reveals various reasons. The Ninevites responded to God’s message in a way pleasing to God, king humbled himself and proclaimed, all cry mightily to God. Yes, turn everyone from his evil way, from violence in their hands. Who knows if God will relent to turn away from HIS fierce anger so we might not perish as stated in Jonah 3:8-9. So the Ninevites confessed their wickedness, repented, turning away from evil. The Ninevites’s fast was genuine repentance and so God honoured and changed HIS mind and FORGAVE them. God saw the action of faith as they turned from their evil way. God relents of disaster HE said would do to them so did not destroy the people of Nineveh says Jonah 2:10. This fasting is kind God honours as sincere in line with the word of God. 
Esther’s proclaimed fast for 3 days saves the whole nation’s recognition of God’s the One True God celebration of Purim. Esther 4:16 in Bible states, “Go, gather all Jews found in Susa and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, if I perish, I perish.”This standard absolute Esther fast of no food or water for three days of duration maximum 40 days like Jesus fasted before beginning His public ministry. Moses fasted for 40 days and nights seeking the Face of God on top of mountain. Fasting is a natural consequence of situation in saddened, worried, burdened with sorrow so food is forgotten. When king Saul and sons were killed in battle king David tore his clothes and all the men who were with him. They mourned, wept and fasted until evening for Saul, for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, for the house of Israel; because they fell by the sword in 2 Samuel 1:11-12. The fast is also to present a petition before God on someone else’s behalf if mourning. Psalm 35:13-14 says king David prayed, when others were sick, my clothing was sackcloth to afflict my soul with fasting. My prayer returned to my own bosom. I behaved myself as though friend or my brother. Fasting seeks right direction of God in time of crisis in 2 Chronicles 20 : 2-4. When Jehoshaphat was told, that “A great multitude is coming against him beyond the sea from Syria, in Hazazon Tamar En Gedi Jehoshaphat set himself to seek Yahweh God. He proclaimed fast throughout all Judah gathered together, to seek help from Yahweh, came out of all cities of Judah to seek Yahweh. Ezra, a priest after return to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon, proclaimed a fast by river Ahava before our God, to seek a straight way for us, our little ones, and for all our substance. Was ashamed to ask king for band of soldiers, horsemen to help against enemy in the way. We spoke to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is on all those who seek God for good but HIS power, wrath is against all who forsake God. So fasted, begged God to hear us in Ezra 8:21-23. In Nehemiah 9:1-2 on 24th day of month, children of Israel assembled to fast with sackcloth, earth on them, stood, confessed sins and iniquities of fathers and so caused God’s anger to turn away from sinful acts and follow the right way pleasing God. 
God accepts fasting important to HIM by true faith fast by humble actions, so not just abstaining from food. Isaiah says on the day of fast the wicked find pleasure by exacting unfair labour, fast for strife, contention, strike by fist of wickedness, fast to make their voices heard on high. Such a fast God did not choose for man to afflict his soul, bow down his head so rushes to spread sackcloth, ashes, ritual unacceptable day to Yahweh God. So the fast God accepts is to release the bonds of wickedness, undo evil bands and let oppressed go free to break their yokes. To distribute bread to the hungry, and bring the poor cast out to your houses. When you see naked people cover him to hide the flesh. Then your light shall break forth as the morning and your healing shall spring forth speedily; and your righteousness shall go before you; the Glory of Yahweh shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call Yahweh and God will answer; you shall cry, and God will say, Here I am If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, putting forth of the finger, speaking wickedly; and if you draw out your soul to hungry people to satisfy afflicted soul your light shall rise in darkness and righteousness as the noonday says Isaiah 58:3-10. 
The Bible records fasting proclaimed by Jezebel to recruit false witnesses against Naboth to take away family’s vineyard. This type of fasting witchcraft used by people psychologically influences others to gang against them in hatred targeted by jealousy. May seem to get permissive will granted under durex but Yahweh God Almighty always pays them back at time they least expect God’s vengeance. Many fast to take other people’s spouses attacking or blaming failure of marriage on rival only to bear exact brunt later. After such take over bids realises what goes around comes around, boomerang. Again dominance of cause fast to pray to try to bend God’s will in their favour. Yet God makes it clear it is obedience to Sovereign God’s Will and His Son Jesus’ Kingdom first, then ALL OTHER THINGS will be added. Yet some prefer things gratifying lust asking God to bless defilement by sin. Those who point out truth of God’s words antagonized for not condoning sin. God wants personal deep relationship first before each of God’s Children before human desires of the flesh. Those bound in bondage to sin must fast and pray like Nineveh people. The endtime destruction coming upon Earth culminating in Armageddon can be averted so minimised by fasting and repentance. God warns unless people fast and pray seriously, the whole of humanity will be destroyed. All people must fast personally and cry to God for Mercy then join corporate prayer for all nations in Jesus Name. God says, day or night give HIM no rest until peace on earth is fully restored by God to say to all His creation everything is very good.
