Fasting is an opportunity for God to refresh your mind, address sin, and express His will for your life.
WHAT IS FASTING? Fasting is a spiritual discipline that is taught in the Bible. Jesus expected His followers to fast, and He said that God rewards fasting. Fasting, according to the Bible, means to voluntarily reduce or eliminate your intake of food for a specific time and purpose.
WHY FAST?
- Fasting gives you more time for prayer. You can use the time you’d normally spend
eating as time in prayer for God’s will for your life. In the Bible, fasting is always connected with prayer.
“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for
me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had
fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” Acts 13:2-3 (NIV) - Fasting demonstrates the depth of your desire when praying for something. It
shows God that you are serious enough about your prayer to pay a personal
price. God honors deep desire and praying in faith.
“Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in
the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.” Joel 1:14 (NIV)
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and
weeping and mourning.” Joel 2:12 (NIV) - Fasting releases God’s supernatural power. It is a tool we can use when there is
opposition to God’s will. Satan would like nothing better than to cause division,
discouragement, defeat, depression, and doubt among us. Prayer and fasting
has always been used by God to deal a decisive blow to the enemy!
“So we fasted and prayed about these concerns. And he listened.” Ezra 8:23 (Msg)
“God says, “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of
injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every
yoke?” Isaiah 58:6 (NIV)
Often in the Bible, God’s people fasted immediately before a major victory,
miracle, or answer to prayer. It prepares us for God’s blessings! ✝
