Isaiah 58 is perhaps the most famous passage on fasting in all of Scripture. Often called “the fasting chapter,” it is a devastating indictment upon the religiosity of man and all its vain, self-righteous rituals. In Isaiah 58, God clearly articulates the ultimate purpose of fasting, and in the process, the ultimate goal of redeemed humanity as well. Not surprisingly, the two purposes are one and the same.

While Peter, James and John were off with Jesus, beholding His awesome transfiguration, the rest of the disciples were struggling. A desperate man had come to them with his son, who was experiencing epileptic-type symptoms and great suffering.

I was four days into my fast. On the night before I was to share the gospel and my testimony before a large crowd, I lay in bed, soaking in the manifest presence of God.

The fasters from Scripture read like a “Who’s-Who” of the Bible. Moses (40 days) came down from Mount Sinai with his face glowing. Elijah (40 days) called down fire from heaven. Daniel (21 days) shut the mouths of the lions’ when he was thrown in the lions’ den. And on and on and on.

There are such things as “secrets of life.” Treasures of knowledge and wisdom that are simple to understand, simple to apply, and absolutely life-changing, to the point where even the word “life-changing” seems cheap and meaningless. I’ve discovered several such secrets in my lifetime, and aside from salvation in Jesus Christ, the most life-altering, life-saving, life-giving, life-transforming secret I have discovered has been that of fasting.