The purpose of this article is to encourage you to embrace fasting as part of your walk with God.
Let me say two things right up front:
- you can’t earn God’s love — He loves everyone.
- You can earn God’s attention.
Fasting is a discipline given to us by God as an optional extra. I say that because it’s one of those activities God encourages us to embrace, blesses us in the midst of, but never forces us to adopt. Like generosity, fasting is good for us. Like tithing, not everyone does it.
Dr Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, wrote a great book on fasting, which is quoted by Church at the Highlands as part of their support for Christians who include a fast in their life. Bill Bright says this:
“Fasting is the most powerful spiritual discipline of all the Christian disciplines. Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life.”
Dr Bill Bright
For me, fasting has become a way I position myself before God so that I am ready to receive the breakthrough He has for me. In short, fasting helps me with:
- Preparation
- Posture
- Perception
Preparation:
I must position my expectations so that I have faith to receive what God has prepared for me, (or those I am fasting on behalf of.) Remember, faith is a gift from God.
Posture:
I must become humble before the Lord, and fasting food helps me to become humble. This self-sacrifice takes my focus off of myself and meeting my needs and helps me to become more God-centred in my prayers.
Perception:
Fasting helps me to see what God has prepared. When I perceive I can agree. I’m a big believer in praying in agreement with God so that His will be done.
We must prepare ourselves to receive the miracles God has prepared to release in our lives. Therefore, you can begin fasting for your miracle — be ready to receive what god has in store for you.
On the CRU website, there’s a powerful resource for supporting anyone wanting to begin fasting. You can access this article here:
7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting and Prayer
I closing, why would you want to fast? Dr Bill Bright’s answer may motivate you:
“I believe the power of fasting as it relates to prayer is the spiritual atomic bomb that our Lord has given us to destroy the strongholds of evil and usher in a great revival and spiritual harvest around the world.”
Dr Bill Bright
Check out this post of fasting: Fasting Gives You Access to God’s Guidance