Are we called to fast? Yes, we are absolutely called to fast, and it can lead to breakthrough in areas of our lives that feel stagnant or unmoving, areas where we have not seen the fruit of breakthrough. What does fasting do that regular prayer and worship cannot? Fasting denies the flesh, and sometimes, unbeknownst to us, our flesh can be what hinders our walk with Jesus. It's easy to blame the enemy for everything that goes wrong, or to credit him for the chaos in our minds. While the enemy certainly loves to take credit for any discord in our lives, he is not always the one to blame. Sometimes, chaotic thoughts within us come from our own human nature. It’s us, fighting against the Holy Spirit and resisting His direction for our lives. Our pride can pull us outside of ourselves, instead of allowing us to focus on our own journey with Jesus.
So, sometimes we are called to fast. Fasting can take many forms: a water fast, a dry fast, or a limited intake fast. In whatever form, fasting is about denying the flesh. The beauty of an extended fast is that it gives you time to understand what God wants from you. During a fast, you can practice serious spiritual discipline, but a shorter fast, such as a water-only fast, is useful when fasting for a specific purpose. However, we should aim to fast longer each year, to crucify the flesh and invite God to speak into our lives. Give Him your agenda and say, "Lord, Thy will be done in my life." Ask Him to show you what He wants from you and how best you can reveal His glory to the world.
If you're interested in a longer fast that includes food, consider doing a Daniel fast. This involves abstaining from caffeine, leavened foods, sugar, dairy, and animal products for 40 days. Daniel prayed three times a day, and this is a great time to implement this discipline as you fast, keeping your focus on the Lord throughout the day.
It’s important to understand that fasting is a deeply personal experience, and the results will vary for each person. The Lord uses fasting in different ways in each believer’s life. However, it is a spiritual discipline we are called to engage in, and anything we are called to do will bring glory to God. He wouldn’t ask us to do something that doesn't serve His purposes. And, honestly, it's worth denying the flesh just for that reason.
If you haven’t fasted before, I encourage you to try it and see what the Lord wants to produce in your life through it.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come before You today, seeking to honor You through the discipline of fasting. Help us to surrender our flesh and desires to You, that we may hear Your voice more clearly. Guide us as we fast and reveal the areas in our lives that need Your transformation. May this time of fasting bring us closer to You and strengthen our relationship with You. Lord, we give You our agenda and ask that Your will be done in our lives. Show us how to reveal Your glory to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
"But He answered and said, 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"
— Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)
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