What Are Good Bible Verses and Prayer Topics

Q: What Bible verses do you recommend I meditate on while fasting? What important things do I pray about while fasting?

A: Fasting is an important practice and a neglected practice. The best verse to meditate on again and again while you’re fasting is the simple statement of Jesus regarding His own fasting, by which He replied to Satan when He was tempted in the wilderness. In Matthew 4:4, Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'”

Friends, this is part of the great value of fasting. Look, there is value in fasting for health reasons. We should all fast more often, simply for our health. But more significant than the health reasons are the spiritual reasons. So, first of all, make Matthew 4:4 a key verse for you. One of the great passages in Scripture that speaks about the Word of God isPsalm 119. Why not begin with that? Psalm 119 deeply honors and glorifies the Word of God. Since you’re saying, “Lord, I want to take this time and, among other things, I want to value my communion with You. I want to meditate on Your word in a deeper way. I want to give an urgency to special prayer requests. I want to say ‘no’ to my flesh.” These are all marvelous spiritual benefits that come from fasting. Meditate on those words of Jesus and on Psalm 119.

Concerning what to pray for, here’s my regular habit. When I fast, I like to pick something that I’m going to really pray for and ask to be led by the Spirit in that decision. Maybe it’s for someone I know who is sick and needs to be healed. Maybe it’s for somebody who’s going through a very difficult time and needs help; I pray that God would draw near to them and be their rescuer and their deliverer. Maybe I’m going to pray for God to do something mighty in a particular ministry. Hey, if any of you want to fast and pray for the ongoing work of Enduring Word, the ministry that we have with our Bible commentary and delivering this Bible, teaching and resources in every way we can. We certainly would appreciate anybody who wants to pray for us.

For more information on fasting, go to Amazon and look up the book, Dedication through Fasting and Prayer by Nils Bergstrom, who happens to be my father-in-law. He’s the man who has shown me, both in teaching and example, more about fasting than anybody I’ve ever known.