Why and How Should We FAST

We should fast because it makes us more God conscious. It builds spiritual character and makes us stronger in defence against the enemy.

In Luke 4:2 it says that Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and then further in Luke 4:4 Jesus tells the enemy; “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God!
Deuteronomy 8:2-3 (New International Version)
2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

In Joel 2:12 it is said that the Lord wants us to turn to Him in fasting and weeping and mourning. This will reveal God’s presence in our lives to us and help us walk closer to the Lord. God wants us – His children, He’s creations to become and remain humble. Humility is good for the spirit; good for the soul; good for our being.

So; fasting means that we should abstain from food and drink for a period of time. Fasting is in place of ancient sacrificial burnt offerings. We should not only abstain from food when we fast though. We should think of sacrificing other things we hold near and dear to us – for example TV, purchasing lavish goods, eating exotic/extravagant meals when we break our fast, etc. This gives us a spirit of thankfulness and appreciation for what we have when we do enjoy it. It re-emphasises the point of humility too.

Fasting the right way and for the right reasons could also be beneficial in helping us cleanse the body of toxins. It can even help us lose weight and rest the digestive track. Through fasting for the Lord we could also eradicate chronic fatigue, improve sleeping at night and help slow down the aging process.

Of course there are many pro’s and con’s to fasting. The most important factor that goes with fasting is of course PRAYER!

Never can we expect to fast successfully without entering into humble plead with the LORD for strength and perseverance through prayer. When we pray we also establish contact with God which ultimately strengthens our relationship with our provider.

Make time to pray – the rewards are priceless.
Amen