5 Spiritual Reasons to Fast
Spiritual Life
Audio By Carbonatix
12:14 PM on Thursday, February 19
By Patrice Burrell Grant, Spiritual Life
1. When Desiring Closer Fellowship with God
Fasting starts with a desire to foster an intimate relationship with God. We are reminded in Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) that fasting also requires a willingness to walk humbly and honestly with God, so that He may lead us according to His ways for us. Although it will involve sacrifice, the blessings of fasting far outweigh the inconveniences we temporarily experience.
2. When Seeking Direction from God
Whenever we face major decisions or unexpected crossroads in life, we should turn to God for direction through fasting. If there is something you are unsure of and need greater clarity about, fasting gives us the opportunity to hear the voice of God without distractions.
I am reminded of Esther and how she fasted on behalf of the Jewish people, seeking God’s direction on what to do to spare their lives. She even declared a corporate fast so that they might collectively entreat the throne room of God with prayer and fasting (see Esther 4:15-16). Before making choices that could have potentially severe, irreversible consequences, it is wise to seek God first through fasting.
3. When Needing Deliverance from Sin Behavior
We praise God that our salvation has been purchased with the precious, incorruptible blood of Jesus. Although we are saved, it does not mean we will never sin. Sometimes, we will even find ourselves struggling with sin behaviors, addictions, or strongholds that must be overcome. One way we can receive deliverance is through fasting.
In the Old Testament, the prophet and priest Samuel assembled the nation of Israel to fast and confess their sin before God. As a result, they were then able to achieve victory over their enemy, the Philistine nation (see 1 Samuel 7:5-11).
In the New Testament, Jesus’ disciples questioned why they were not able to cast out a demon that had possessed a young boy. Jesus explained to them that they needed the power that comes from prayer and fasting in order to take authority over the spirit (Matthew 17:21).
If we ever attempt to deny the fact that we live in a world that has unseen powers at work, and that we can physically overcome in our own strength those supernatural powers that form against us, then we are deceiving ourselves. In order to experience a breakthrough, we will need to draw near to God through fasting and cry out to him for our deliverance.
4. When Petitioning God for Healing
One of the advantages of knowing God is knowing His heart to see us live in perfect healing, not sickness. Isaiah 58:8 (NIV) helps us understand how God responds to those who fast with pure motives and how that can impact our physical healing. The Scripture tells us, “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you.”
Healing, we know, is not limited to physical diagnosis and the eradication of symptoms, or to the experience of wholeness in the human body. Sometimes the healing we need is mental, relational, financial, or emotional. These are all reasons we can seek God through fasting.
5. When Interceding on Behalf of Someone
In all of our lives, there will be times we are moved by the pain or plight of someone we know. Although we may not be the person going through the trial, it causes us grief and sorrow because we don’t want to see our loved one suffering. In these moments when we often feel as if there is nothing we can do, that the situation is too hard and difficult, and possibly bigger than anyone’s ability to “fix it,” it is then that we must remind ourselves that the greatest act of love we can show another person is our gesture of fasting on their behalf.
Nehemiah 1:4-11 depicts a narrative that illustrates how God pricked Nehemiah's heart to stand in the gap through prayer and fasting on behalf of the remnant of Jews who survived exile and remained in Jerusalem. Even though He was the king’s cupbearer and did not live there, he was filled with compassion to intercede on behalf of the people. There will be many people in our path; God will touch our hearts and impress upon our spirits to “turn down your plate for them.” We should do so without the slightest hesitation.
5 Recommendations for Fasting
1. Identify your purpose(s) for your fast.
There should be a specific purpose for which God has led us to engage in fasting. Writing down our “why,” along with any instructions and insights God provides prior to the fast beginning, is a great idea. It may be helpful to journal each day of the fast.
2. Understand the different types of fasts.
The Bible offers insight into two primary types of fasts: an absolute fast (as Jesus did in the wilderness) and a partial fast (as Daniel modeled). With an absolute fast, we completely abstain from eating and drinking. A partial fast means we have particular criteria surrounding the conditions of our fast. Some ideas for partial fasting include abstaining from (or a combination of) meat, sugar, dairy, bread, caffeine, candy, etc. The Holy Spirit will guide us with peace, and we will know the type of fast He is leading us to.
3. Establish a duration for the fast.
The length of time we choose to fast may vary. We may choose to fast for intermittent periods, such as one, three, seven, twenty-one, or forty days. We may also decide to fast from sunrise to sunset, or sunup to noon, or only twelve hours in one day. This might look like only having one or two meals a day for a prescribed period of time. If we are refraining from something else in addition to food (electronics, social media, television, etc.), we will still need to decide time parameters as boundaries. Pray and allow God to give you His strategy for your particular details.
4. Decide what all to abstain from during the fast.
Clarifying what we are giving up during our fast helps us to establish expectations about what we can eat, our level of physical activity, and engagement in other ways. For example, we may not want to plan a coffee date with a friend during this time.
5. Determine a substitution focus.
Determining what will substitute our attention in place of what we are denying ourselves is crucial. This gives us the ability to focus on the goals and benefits of fasting rather than on what we are not able to eat, do, or be comforted and gratified by.
The replacement activities we chose should help redirect our focus back to God. This is not the time for self-indulgence, but an opportunity to soberly reflect upon our relationship with the Lord.
I invite you and challenge you to start by choosing one day a week as your built-in fasting day. Pray about it and let God guide you through the details. Once you have the green light, keep showing up weekly to keep growing by God’s grace.
Disclaimer: As with any changes to your diet and nutrition, please seek the counsel of your medical professional.
Related:
10 Things You Need to Know about Fasting
What Is Fasting and How Do Christians Get Started on This Practice?
10 Tips for Successful Fasting
A 21-Day Daniel Fast Prayer Guide
