Fasting and Prayer
What is fasting?
Fasting is a sacrificial expression that is taught in the Bible. Jesus told His followers to fast, and He even said that God will reward our fasting. Fasting is a voluntary reducing or eliminating of your intake of something (food, hobbies, etc.) for a specific time, and for a specific purpose.
Jesus tells his disciples:
“Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:16-18 (CSB)
Two Cautions
1. Fasting is not "earning" an answer to prayer. We can’t earn or deserve anything God does for us. God wants us to come humbly and ask him for our heart’s desires, so he can answer our prayers from His grace, not because of what we work to do.
2. Fasting from food is the most common fast, but only if your health allows. If you are able to do only a partial fast - do it faithfully and God will honor your efforts.
Alternatively, you can fast by cutting out an hour from a hobby or from social media, and focusing that time completely on prayer. But if you are physically healthy and don’t have dietary restrictions, chose a time (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) to fast and pray during that hour.
Why Fast?
There are many good reasons to fast. However, our Day of Fasting and Prayer on 9/30/21 for our upcoming Amen: the 40 Days of Prayer Campaign, is for three reasons:
1. Fasting allows us to focus on and have concentrated time for prayer. We can use the time we would normally spend eating, with hobbies, etc., as time in prayer, asking God what He wants to do through us during this Campaign. In the Bible, fasting is always connected with prayer.
An example in scripture is found in Acts:
"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)
2. Fasting shows the seriousness of our desire when we pray. It shows God that we are serious enough about our prayer requests to make a personal sacrifice. And, God honors our deep desire and praying in faith.
In the scripture it says:
“Announce a sacred fast; proclaim a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and all the residents of the land at the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.” Joel 1:14 (CSB)
And later in the same book it says:
“Even now this is the Lord’s declaration, turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” Joel 2:12 (CSB)
3. Fasting shows us God's power in our lives. Fasting is a tool we can use when there is opposition to God's will. Satan loves nothing more than to cause division, discouragement, and doubt among our church family. When we unite in prayer and fasting, God can use it to remind the enemy who wins in the end!
It says in scripture:
“So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer.” Ezra 8:23 (NLT)
The Prophet Isaiah says:
“Here is the way I want you to fast. Set free those who are held by chains without any reason. Untie the ropes that hold people as slaves. Set free those who are crushed. Break every evil chain.” Isaiah 58:6 (NiRV)