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Fasting and Prayer

Ezra 8:21-23

In Bible times, fervency in prayer was often accompanied by outward expressions of repentance such as beating one's chest, tearing one's garments, and sitting in ashes or putting them on one's head. The most common expression of fervency was fasting. Christians today seem to have forgotten the act of fasting, but a brief look back through history reveals a long line of men and women who earnestly fasted: Hannah, David, Daniel, Jesus, the apostle Paul, the early church leaders, are among the more notable Bible characters who fasted. From a more recent period of history, we can add Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, John Wesley, David Brainerd, George Mueller, Rees Howells, and many others. Though fasting is not the only expression of fervency, it is certainly one way to express our intense desire to seek and know God.

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