Fasting, prayer are not blackmail

WHAT IS FASTING?

Nowadays we hear a lot about fasting.

One of the buzz words is intermittent fasting.

Intermittent fasting is an eating plan that switches between fasting and eating on a regular schedule.

Not only does it help people lose weight but many say that it helps them by causing them to focus consciously on their daily activities.

The concept of fasting has been around for millennia. Fasting has been around for hundreds of thousands of years.

It began with the Ancient Greeks, especially Hippocrates and Pythagoras. Later, fasting caught on with Muhammed, Buddha and Jesus Christ.

This led to the spread of fasting through religion and other means.

Fasting is also a spiritual discipline that is taught in the Bible.

Jesus expected his followers to fast. Jesus said that God rewards fasting.

Jesus’ own mission began with a 40-day fast that was unprecedented in history.

Fasting, according to the Bible, means to voluntarily reduce or eliminate your intake of food for a specific time and purpose.

“When you give up eating, don’t put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They make their faces look sad to show people they are giving up eating. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward. So when you give up eating, comb your hair and wash your face. Then people will not know that you are giving up eating, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you.” Matthew 6:16-18

But why fast?

There are many good reasons, and even health benefits, for fasting.

Fasting gives you more time for prayer.

You can use the time you’d normally spend eating as time in prayer for what God wants to do among us.

In the Bible, fasting is always connected with prayer.

“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

Fasting demonstrates the depth of your desire when praying for something. It shows you that you are serious enough about your prayer request to pay a personal price. God honors deep desire and praying in faith.

“Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.” Joel 1:14

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Joel 2:12

Fasting releases God’s supernatural power.

It is a tool we can use when there is opposition to God’s will.

Often the Devil would like nothing better than to cause division, discouragement, defeat, depression and doubt among us.

Prayer and fasting has always been used by God to deal a decisive blow to the enemy!

“So we fasted and prayed about these concerns. And he listened.” Ezra 8:23

“God says, ‘Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?’” Isaiah 58:6

So, why fast?

Fasting demonstrates the depth of our desire when praying for something. It shows we are serious enough about our prayer request to pay a personal price.

Often in the Bible, God’s people fasted immediately before a major victory, miracle, or answer to prayer. It prepared them for a blessing by God.

Some of the heavy hitters in the Scriptures used fasting to prepare themselves for being God’s servant.

Moses fasted before he received the Ten Commandments.

“Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant — the Ten Commandments.” Exodus 34:28

The Israelites fasted before a miraculous victory.

“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 Chronicles 20:2-3

Daniel fasted in order to receive guidance from God.

“So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.” Daniel 9:3

“While I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, ‘Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.’” Daniel 9:21-2

Nehemiah fasted before beginning a major building project.

“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” Nehemiah 1:4

Jesus fasted during his victory over temptation.

“For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when the time was up he was hungry.” Luke 4:2

The first Christians fasted during decision making times.

“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

If one chooses to fast, there two cautions to consider.

One must remember that fasting is not “earning” an answer to prayer.

God cannot be blackmailed by human effort. God wants to answer our prayers and He answers out of grace. Fasting simply prepares us for God’s answer.

Fast only if your health allows it at this time, even if you are able to do only a partial fast.

If we do it in faith according to scripture, God will honor our intentions.

Rev. Frank Chlastak began work as senior minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Poplar Bluff in 2015. He is a graduate of Northeast Louisiana University.