A helpful quote from John Calvin on fasting, and moderation, in the Christian life:
…The pastors of the church would not be doing ill today if, when they see ruin hanging over the necks of their people, they were to cry out to them to hasten to fasting and weeping; provided – and this is the principal point – they always urge with greater and more intent care and effort that ‘they should rend their hearts and not their garments.’ There is no doubt whatsoever that fasting is not always closely connected with repentance, but it is especially intended for times of calamity. Accordingly, Christ links it with mourning when he releases the apostles from need of it, until, deprived of his presence, they should be overwhelmed with grief. I am speaking concerning a public fast, for the life of the godly ought to be tempered with frugality and sobriety that throughout its course a sort of perpetual fasting may appear (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3.3.17).
