Fasting is now a fad in contemporary culture, and marketers are touting its weight-loss benefits. But what about fasting and prayer? Is that still trendy, or is it just an outdated Old Testament practice? The truth is while prayer is commonly understood in the Christian community, the lines are blurred on fasting. This article explores fasting from a biblical perspective – that is, abstinence from food for spiritual purposes. The benefits of this age-old spiritual discipline are recorded in the Bible as good, profitable, and beneficial. Over time, the church has come to realise its power. We can agree that if there ever was a good time for fasting and prayer, it is now. Now more than ever!
Fasting and Prayer connect you to God. It is no wonder, then, that for early believers, fasting was a prelude to significant decision-making (Acts 13:2; 14:23). First Assembly of God Wortmanville (FAOGW) church has been practicing the Daniel fast at the beginning of each new year for more than a decade. It is a partial fast adapted from Daniel as recorded in the book of Daniel, chapters 1 and 10. Over a three-week period, believers restrict themselves to variations of vegan meals and also abstain from sweet meats, processed foods, and other delicacies. During this time of consecration, congregants gather daily for prayer, and church leaders devotedly read the Word of God from a selected Book in the Bible and pray for individuals, families, communities, and nations. Written prayer requests are brought and placed on the altar, where elders pray over them. This practice is an act of faith that provides an opportunity for spiritual growth. It is a demonstration to God of our earnest desire to strengthen our relationship with Him. Submitting ourselves to God through fasting and prayer helps us to realise our brokenness and brings us to recompense. It also fosters renewed dependence on Him as our ultimate source.
Fasting should not be viewed as punishment to the flesh, and if it ever becomes just a religious ritual, it is pointless. Fasting complements prayer, and the advantages are multifaceted. We fast for strength (Ezra 8:23), guidance (Judges 20:18, 26), and deliverance and protection (2 Chronicles 20:3-4). We also fast to express grief (1 Samuel 31:12-13), to repent (1 Samuel 7:6), to minister to others (Isaiah 58:6-7), to worship God (Luke 2:37), and to show concern for the work of God (Nehemiah 1:3-4). It is not a tool that manipulates God to do what we want, but it can transform our lives.
I had the pleasure of sitting with the effervescent Assistant Pastor Loraine Cannings, one of FAOGW’s powerful intercessors, to pick her brain on the subject. She shared from personal experiences that fasting and prayers have cultivated in her a deeper understanding of God and helped her to uncover spiritual giftings and spiritual revelations. Fasting has been known to birth the gifts of healing, vision, revelation, and prophecy. These gifts, she asserts, defy human logic and reason.
Matthew 6:33 instructs us to seek first the kingdom of God above all else. In the same vein, Assistant Pastor Cannings cautioned that when we fast, our objective should not be to acquire material things but instead, to have a closer relationship with God. Our goal should be to set aside ourselves and deny ‘the flesh’ so that our spiritual beings can thrive. This, she said, is what draws us closer to our heavenly Father and unlocks the door to the revelation of God’s plans for our life.
The Bible is replete with examples of the results of fasting. Remember Hannah, the once barren woman who fasted and begged God to give her a child (1 Samuel 1:6-7)? Well, the Books of Samuel exist as proof that God answered. Nehemiah fasted for the restoration of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:4). The entire city of Nineveh fasted in response to Jonah’s call to repent (Jonah 3:5). Daniel fasted as he prayed for insight from the Lord (Daniel 9:3). Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast before a battle (2 Chronicles 20:3). Jesus Himself fasted before beginning His public ministry (Matthew 4:1-2). Paul fasted after his conversion (Acts 9:8-9). The elders of the church at Antioch were fasting and praying when the Holy Spirit told them to set aside Paul and Barnabas for their first missionary trip (Acts 13:1-2). Fast forward to when our own Assistant Pastor Cannings was battling cancer and was too anemic for radiation treatment. She fasted and prayed for a miracle, and within 24 hours, her hemoglobin level more than doubled from 7 grams per deciliter to 14.7. Further, she was healed of cancer. The point is God reacts when we fast and pray.
Assistant Pastor Cannings is so excited about this time-tested practice that she encourages young people to fast, also. Over her many years in ministry, she has observed the comparative advantage experienced by children who fasted and prayed. They tend to be more disciplined and often excel in their studies and walk with the Lord. She was religiously fasting even before she became a true believer. She fasted during the Easter weekend, and even then, she saw the benefits and rewards of it. At age 32, she genuinely surrendered her heart to the Lord and commenced fasting and praying as is taught in the Bible. She firmly believes that cultivating the discipline of fasting and praying in the younger generation is crucial for their overall well-being. For starters, it would make them spiritually stronger, train their focus and align their path to a victorious life.
Thus, Fast
The carnal man is at enmity with God and cannot please Him. Therefore, as an act of commitment towards the higher calling, we make a personal choice to suppress the desires of the flesh so that the spirit man can be filled. As Christians, we believe that our life here on earth is a dress rehearsal for the grandeur of eternity. With the prize of glory always at the forefront of our minds, we seek to be continually renewed and transformed to His likeness. Fasting is not easy, but it is a demonstrated commitment to seek after His righteousness. When we fast, we are essentially extending ourselves beyond the discomfort of physical hunger so that God can satisfy our spiritual hunger with His glory.
Fasting Precautions
If you would like to fast, caution is the watchword. People with medical conditions are strongly advised to seek advice from a medical professional before fasting. If you are new to fasting, it is advisable to start small and find the right plan that works best for you. While fasting, it is important to remain hydrated.
