Finding Encouragement in the Day of Atonement Fasting
When I asked my kids recently what their favorite Holy Day was, the answers came quickly. One mentioned the Days of Unleavened Bread. Another said the Feast of Tabernacles. Then one child chimed in with a laugh: “Dad, Day of Atonement is my least favorite Holy Day.”
I had to smile, because I could relate. For many of us, fasting on the Day of Atonement has always been the hardest command. It’s uncomfortable. It’s inconvenient. It’s not easy. And yet, when we pause and look deeper, fasting is not a burden – it’s actually a powerful encouragement.
The Day of Atonement fasting isn’t just about going without food and water. It’s about realignment. It teaches us humility, dependence on God, and spiritual strength. Even more, it reveals the loving foresight of a Creator who designed fasting to benefit us in more ways than we often realize.
In this article, I want to highlight three reasons fasting on the Day of Atonement can encourage us: it benefits the body, it draws us closer to God, and it helps us resist the enemy.
1. The Physical and Mental Reset of Fasting
On a physical level, fasting might feel uncomfortable, but God designed our bodies with remarkable resilience. Modern science is beginning to confirm what many of us have long sensed: fasting is not only spiritually meaningful, but it also benefits the body in surprising ways.
Research shows that fasting can trigger a kind of immune system “reset” by clearing out damaged cells and stimulating regeneration at the stem-cell level (Medical News Today; Cell Journal). Within as little as a day, your body begins to shift gears – repairing itself in ways researchers are only starting to understand (systematic review on fasting and immunity).
The brain also responds in unique ways. As glucose stores deplete, the mind turns to energy from fat, releasing ketones that actually sharpen focus, improve memory, and support mental clarity. Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman has explained how fasting can enhance learning and concentration, even calling it a tool to unlock higher levels of alertness (Huberman Lab; YouTube clip).
These benefits aren’t the reason we fast on the Day of Atonement – but they are a reminder that God built even our physical design to align with His spiritual purposes.
2. Fasting Draws Us Closer to God
More importantly, fasting brings us into a posture of humility before God. Scripture is full of examples: Moses on Mount Sinai, Esther before approaching the king, Elijah in his distress, and even entire nations like Israel at times of repentance.
These accounts remind us that fasting is a spiritual tool – something that sharpens our prayers, meditation, and study of God’s Word. It’s a way of saying, ‘I need You more than I need food. I depend on You more than I depend on my most basic needs.’
Jesus Himself fasted for forty days before beginning His ministry. If the Son of God found strength in fasting, how much more do we need it?
The Day of Atonement fasting is commanded (Leviticus 23:27), but it’s also a gift. It reminds us that we cannot rely on our own strength. It draws us closer to the Father and His Son and strengthens the unity we share as God’s family.
3. Fasting Helps Us Resist the Enemy
The Day of Atonement is not just about personal humility – it also pictures a world-changing event. Revelation 20 describes the removal of Satan and his influence for 1,000 years. On this day, God commands His people to fast, and that command is no coincidence.
Fasting helps us resist the adversary in our own lives. Scripture warns us that Satan deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9), prowls like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), and works even within our own human nature (Ephesians 6:12).
When we fast, we weaken ourselves physically but strengthen ourselves spiritually. Jesus showed us this connection in Matthew 17 when the disciples failed to cast out a demon. He told them, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Fasting and faith go hand in hand – it equips us with the endurance to stand firm against the devil’s schemes.
Think of fasting as training with God’s armor. Paul describes the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit. But even with the best armor, we can’t fight without strength. Fasting is like spiritual conditioning – it gives us the endurance to wield God’s armor effectively in battle.
When We Are Weak, Then We Are Strong
It’s easy to look at the Day of Atonement fasting as a dreaded command – a “least favorite” Holy Day. But God designed it to be deeply encouraging. When we set aside food and water, we’re reminded that we live not by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God.
Physically, our bodies reset and repair. Spiritually, we draw closer to our Creator. And in the battle of faith, fasting gives us the strength to resist Satan’s influence.
Yes, fasting is hard. It’s supposed to be. But in that weakness, we find strength – not our own, but God’s.
This Day of Atonement, may we embrace fasting not as a burden but as a gift, and may it remind us of the ultimate hope: a world free from Satan’s deception, where God’s Kingdom brings true peace.
