Power of Fasting
Matthew 6:17-18 “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others 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.” (NIV)
Fasting is; the willful refrainment from eating solid food or drinking liquids for a specified period of time. The word fasting comes from the Anglo-Saxon word faesten, which meant “to hold oneself from food.”.
Fasting usually is done for one of two reasons: some individuals fast for spiritual reasons and some individuals will fast in order to lose weight. While fasting to loose weight can help a person with weight loss, there may be very little if any spiritual benefits that will be attained.
Spiritual fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God, and can enable the Holy Spirit to reveal where a person is spiritually.
Spiritual fasting will help with focusing both our minds and our bodies on the word of God.
Spiritual fasting can provide unique spiritual benefits in the life of the believer, and will require self-control and discipline, as one denies the natural desires of the flesh.
While a person is on a spiritual fast, their focus should be on Jesus not abstaining from food.
The way a person starts a spiritual fast is very important. Begin the fast by preparing your mind, heart, spirit, and body, and have a clear purpose for the fast. It will help to have a goal, and what you hope to gain from fasting.
Next, and ask the Lord to reveal the motives of your heart, and any areas in your life that He desires to change.
Isaiah 29:13 “The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. (NIV)
Also prepare your spirit for your fast. Prayer and worship will draw us close to God. The key to any spiritual preparation is intimacy with Jesus.
John 15:7 says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”
Your body can be prepared for fasting through careful considerations and planning. At least three days before a fast is started, any type of red meat should not be eaten. Also a few days before your fast, a person can get their bodies ready by reducing their food intake. Start eating raw fruits and vegetables, and avoid foods that are high in fat and sugars.
Fasting can help give you to power to obtain the breakthrough you are seeking.
Matthew 17:14-21 “And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” 17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Lord Jesus thank you for the power of fasting…Amen!
Continuing in His service…Rev
