
Fasting is an opportunity to dialogue with God and ask him for intervention. There are not a lot of ways to do this that are listed in the Bible. With prayer included, fasting is one of only two ways to petition God for change, and it’s one we seldom use. The Bible shows us that it does indeed work. Fasting properly can be used to help us make important spiritual choices and it can also be used to ask God to have major intervention in our lives.
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 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 13:1-3
“When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” —Esther 4:12-17
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
If fasting is one of only two ways to petition God for something, why in the world is fasting one of the least practiced spiritual disciplines? Because it’s hard. Fasting is not meant to be easy. It’s meant to be painful and we often choose to pray, because it’s more convenient.
Growth Challenge
For this challenge I simply want you to commit to implementing fasting into your life. Fasting is a way to communicate with God and we don’t use it because it’s uncomfortable. Try fasting- whatever the reason for it- and commit to making it a regular practice. Some options you can use-
-Commit to fast once a week.
-Commit to fast for one week every 3 months.
-Commit to a fast for one month a year.
Fasting Reminders
-What you fast on should depend on your health. Consult doctors if unsure.
-The reason you are fasting can be to Glorify God, to Mourn, to Prepare, to Petition.
-You can have a partial or full fast. Partial fast is fasting from one type of thing. For instance you could fast from all processed food and sugar or from all forms of media.
-Matthew 6:16- Jesus assumes his followers fast. You should practice fasting.