What is Fasting from a Biblical Perspective?
Fasting is a time you set aside when you need God to perform a breakthrough in your life on a spiritual level. For the Christian, God's Word is our Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth, aka the Bible, and gives us insight on why we should fast and the significance or importance of fasting.
During this season of Lent, we will focus the next forty days on increasing our walk with God and we will do that with Fasting, Prayer and Devotional Study.
During this season of Lent, we will focus the next forty days on increasing our walk with God and we will do that with Fasting, Prayer and Devotional Study.
What is Fasting?
Fasting is deliberate abstinence from physical gratification, usually going without food for a period of time to achieve a greater spiritual goal. Fasting is intentionally denying the flesh to gain a response from the spirit.
This simply means renouncing the natural in order to invoke the supernatural. When you fast, you say "NO" to yourself and your flesh and "YES" to God.
This simply means renouncing the natural in order to invoke the supernatural. When you fast, you say "NO" to yourself and your flesh and "YES" to God.
Why is Fasting Important for your Spiritual Development?
During this season, we will learn about fasting and the role it plays in the Believer's life. We have traditionally been taught to pray when dealing with life's struggles. We know that prayer is a powerful tool and weapon against the enemy, but when we combine fasting and prayer, these things can change your spiritual life with Christ.
The scripture tells us in Mark 9:29, "And he said unto them, this kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting." This was Jesus speaking to the 12 disciples after they asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" They were referring to casting out evil spirits.
This scripture highlights for us the importance of both fasting and praying.
Another example is after the death of Christ and Resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven. Jesus made clear to his disciples that fasting should be a priority in His absence. Matthew 9:15 states, "And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast."
Fasting is the spiritual link to the person of Christ while he is not here on earth with us.
The scripture tells us in Mark 9:29, "And he said unto them, this kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting." This was Jesus speaking to the 12 disciples after they asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" They were referring to casting out evil spirits.
This scripture highlights for us the importance of both fasting and praying.
Another example is after the death of Christ and Resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven. Jesus made clear to his disciples that fasting should be a priority in His absence. Matthew 9:15 states, "And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast."
Fasting is the spiritual link to the person of Christ while he is not here on earth with us.
The Principle, Purpose and Practice and Product of Fasting
Fasting is necessary when there is a need for a spiritual breakthrough due to the burdens of life. The various crises occur emotionally, relationally, ministerially, or circumstantially. We will reach a point along this journey when we need to fast and pray for a breakthrough.
When we fast, we are yielding to the cry of our soul and acknowledge that our souls are greater than the cry of our stomach (when fasting food) or our flesh (when fasting other things that keep us focused on ourselves). It is more important that God feeds us and meets our spiritual needs.
The principle of fasting means giving up a craving of the body because you have a deeper need for the spirit.
Fasting, as God intends, is meant to be a humbling experience. Sacrificing the desires of the flesh is self-denial, and self-denial brings about humility when your thoughts are not focused on yourself. During this time, you can turn those thoughts and focus them on God.
At the heart of Christianity, the Bible teaches us an important principle as found in Luke 9:23 "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." This is the sacrifice that we make as a true believer in Christ.
One of the purposes of fasting is to humble your spirit and acknowledge your need for God in all areas of life.
How do we commit to fasting? The latter clause of Joel 2:12-15 tells us exactly what the practice of fasting should look like. "(12) Yet even now, declares the Lord, Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning….. (15) Blow a trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast proclaim a solemn assembly."
Fasting is prayer, fasting is praise, it is a proclamation, and it is hearing God's Word. When we need a spiritual breakthrough, we can go before God in humility while giving up our flesh's cravings so we can focus on the GREATER need of our spirit.
We can fast and pray with the expectation that he will be our strength. The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God's grace is sufficient for us in our time of weakness. When we fast, the flesh gets weak, and when we are weak, God is our strength.
The product or bottom line of fasting is when we call on the Lord; He will answer and bring us to new spiritual heights in him. If we fast and deny our physical cravings, our mind and heart will be OPEN so God can do a great work in our spirit, thereby equipping us to deal with any crisis we may encounter by His power and grace.
When we fast, we are yielding to the cry of our soul and acknowledge that our souls are greater than the cry of our stomach (when fasting food) or our flesh (when fasting other things that keep us focused on ourselves). It is more important that God feeds us and meets our spiritual needs.
The principle of fasting means giving up a craving of the body because you have a deeper need for the spirit.
Fasting, as God intends, is meant to be a humbling experience. Sacrificing the desires of the flesh is self-denial, and self-denial brings about humility when your thoughts are not focused on yourself. During this time, you can turn those thoughts and focus them on God.
At the heart of Christianity, the Bible teaches us an important principle as found in Luke 9:23 "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." This is the sacrifice that we make as a true believer in Christ.
One of the purposes of fasting is to humble your spirit and acknowledge your need for God in all areas of life.
How do we commit to fasting? The latter clause of Joel 2:12-15 tells us exactly what the practice of fasting should look like. "(12) Yet even now, declares the Lord, Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning….. (15) Blow a trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast proclaim a solemn assembly."
Fasting is prayer, fasting is praise, it is a proclamation, and it is hearing God's Word. When we need a spiritual breakthrough, we can go before God in humility while giving up our flesh's cravings so we can focus on the GREATER need of our spirit.
We can fast and pray with the expectation that he will be our strength. The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God's grace is sufficient for us in our time of weakness. When we fast, the flesh gets weak, and when we are weak, God is our strength.
The product or bottom line of fasting is when we call on the Lord; He will answer and bring us to new spiritual heights in him. If we fast and deny our physical cravings, our mind and heart will be OPEN so God can do a great work in our spirit, thereby equipping us to deal with any crisis we may encounter by His power and grace.
Recommended Readings
You can Google these resources for further reading on this topic.
The Importance of Fasting eBook by Tony Evans
Prayer and Fasting Devotional Guide
Twenty – Two Bible Verses on Fasting and Prayer
Forty Day of Decrease – A Different Kind of Hunger: A Different Kind of Fast
Benefits of Combining Fasting and Prayer
