St.Augustine & St.Monica

Fasting is a particular practice that was modeled for us by God Himself​.  Jesus fasted for forty days (Matthew 4:1-11 & Luke 4:1-13), to draw near to God the Father.  By Fasting, giving up physical food & water, Jesus also demonstrated that His nourishment comes from God. Then, when challenged by the devil, Jesus used the Word of God to defeat the devil, rather than depending on His human strength. 

 

Again in John 4: 4-42, when Jesus meets the woman at the well, He states clearly to His disciples, that brought him food, that His nourishment comes from doing the will of God (John 4: 31-38).

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Later, in the early church, the followers of Jesus also practiced fasting & prayer (Acts 13:2).  In Acts 14:23 we see how St. Paul and Barnabas instituted fasting & prayer as church practice.