Why Should I fast and pray?
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.
Matthew 6:16-18
“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
- Fasting gives you more time for prayer. You can use the time you’d normally spend
eating as time in prayer for what God wants to do among us during this Campaign.
In the Bible, fasting is always connected with prayer.
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
Acts 13:2-3 (NKJV) - Fasting demonstrates the depth of your desire when praying for something. It
shows you that you are serious enough about your prayer request to pay a personal
price. God honors deep desire and praying in faith.
Consecrate a fast,
Call a sacred assembly;
Gather the elders
And all the inhabitants of the land
Into the house of the Lord your God,
And cry out to the Lord. Joel 1:14
“Now, therefore,” says the Lord,
“Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”Joel 2:12 - Fasting releases power from on High. 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. United prayer and fasting
has always been used by God to deal a decisive blow to the enemy!
” So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer..” Ezra 8:23
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?Isaiah 58:6
Moses fasted before he received the Ten Commandments. ex. 34:28
The Israelite’s fasted before a miraculous victory 2 chronicles 20:2-3
Daniel fasted in order to receive guidance from God Daniel 9:3
Nehemiah fasted before beginning a major building project Nehemiah 1:14
Jesus fasted during His victory over temptation. Luke 4:2
The first Christians fasted during-decision making times. Acts 13:2-3
- Remember that fasting is not “earning” an answer to prayer. God cannot be blackmailed by human effort. God wants to answer our prayers and He answers out of grace. Fasting simply prepares us for God’s answer.
- Fast only if your health allows it at this time. If you are able to do only a partial fast – do it in faith and God will honor your intentions