By Steve

Fasting

Some things in the Christian faith just seem odd. They are hard to explain and may forever leave us wondering how or why they work. Fasting is one such issue for me. Why is it that when we voluntarily abstain from food our prayers become more focused and maybe even more effectual? I don’t know, but fasting has been a significant element to prayer throughout the history or our faith and should not die in our generation.

There are stories throughout the Bible where people fasted and encouraged others to fast with them. It seems that fasting is most common preceding a great work of God. In response to fasting, Hannah is given a child (1 Samuel), Ezra and company find safe travel (Ezra 7) and Jerusalem was not overtaken (2 Chronicles 20). When Jesus gets serious about his mission on earth, he begins with a fast (Matthew 4), Paul spends 3 days fasting after his encounter with God (Acts 9) and just before the launch of the first missionary efforts of the church the people in Antioch were fasting and praying (Acts 13).

Jesus, when teaching, assumes that we are people who fast, as described in Matthew 6. He says when you give…when you pray…and when you fast, each of these are considered common among people who follow the way of God.

So what is a fast? When you choose not to consume food for a period of time in order to focus on prayer, you are fasting. You can fast from just food and still consume liquids (normal fast), you can abstain from consuming anything (complete fast) or you can choose to not consume certain foods (partial fast) for some designated period of time. I don’t know why it works, but fasting seems to help us get more in tune with God. It can focus our thinking and open our hearts to the leading of God. And it seems to bring with it additional guidance, protection and blessing when we pray.

We are so conditioned to fulfill our own longings and needs, that fasting can be hard. When we feel hungry, we simply feed ourselves. When you fast and you begin to feel hungry, try denying the growl and replace the physical hunger with a hunger for God. Just maybe, prayer will satisfy. Fasting is one of those spiritual habits that is best understood when experienced. I want to encourage you to make fasting a part of your pursuit of God.