Witness for Christ Blog

Prayer and fasting is not very popular in the 21st century Western church and one could wonder if there is a correlation with the lack of signs and wonders which are supposed to follow the preaching of God's Word.

(Mat 6:16-18 NIV) "When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Jesus didn't say "if you fast", He said "when you fast"... fasting is depriving oneself of food for spiritual reasons. If you do not fast you are depriving yourself of the reward. God cannot bless you if you do not meet the condition.

(Heb 11:6 NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Fasting is not dieting. Without proper care you are in danger of putting back all the weight you lost plus some. Fasting is not a hunger strike. You do not manipulate God to obtain what you want. Instead you humble yourself to seek God's face. Blessed are those who aim for nothing for they shall not be disappointed (!) For your fast to be successful you need to be quite clear in your mind as to why you are fasting. Keep a prayer diary to remember those things.

Here are several reasons as to why you should fast:

To humble yourself
(1 Cor 6:19-20 NIV) Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.

(2 Chr 7:14 NIV) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

(Psa 35:13b NIV) I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting.

(Mat 23:12 NIV) For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

To come closer to God
(James 4:8a NIV) Come near to God and he will come near to you.

To understand God's Word
(Isa 58:8a NIV) Then your light will break forth like the dawn

To find God's will and receive direction
(Ezra 8:21 NIV) There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.

To seek healing or deliverance
(Isa 58:8b NIV) your healing will quickly appear
(Mat 17:21 NKJV) However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

To get God's intervention in some particular crisis
(2 Chr 20:2-3 NIV) Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.

(2 Chr 20:17-18 NIV) You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.'" Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD.

To make intercession of behalf of someone else (unsaved loved one) or to appoint someone in authority
(Acts 13:2 NIV) While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

(Acts 14:23 NIV) Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Practical tips for fasting

Don't go on a week long fast if you have never done it before. You may want to start by just skipping the evening meal. If you drink coffee you will have severe headaches. Stop the caffeine one day before you start the fast. You stomach will contract. Do not end a fast with pastry or anything greasy, fat or heavy. You may block your intestines! Instead use salad, fruit, green vegetables, a tin of warmed peeled tomatoes, etc...

The first day of the fast you may face an attack of many symptoms. After that your body hits ketosis, where energy is now drawn from your fatty tissue and you are on a high. Even Eastern religions use it to get elated.

Never go without liquid. Use water, fruit juice, broth, soup, herbal tea, (not caffeine) etc...

Fasting is both our duty and privilege as Christians. Let us heed God's call to pray and fast, individually and corporately, trusting Him that He will fulfil His promise to reward those who diligently seek Him.

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