21 Days of fasting

When we fast we choose to go without basic physical sustenance for a time to develop spiritual fortitude. The scripture highlights that amazing things followed when there was spiritual strength. At the beginning of these examples you find there is a common theme to how these were normally achieved. From Moses receiving the 10 commandments (Exodus 34:27–28), to Jesus in the wilderness for forty days(Luke 4), to Queen Esther fasting for courage(Esther 4:16), what follows is always breathtaking. The power of prayer is immeasurable, but when it is supercharged with fasting , the results are  life changing . 

The thing about fasting that most people do not realise is it shows more than anything, an outstanding level of faith! After all, even if you look at it from a physical perspective, no rational person would deprive themselves of a basic fundamental need unless they have complete faith in what they are trying to achieve.

Think about it, some children will refuse to eat at a friend’s house come what may, because their mum said she would cook their favourite meal for dinner. They have the assurance and confidence that their mother is cooking at home, so why should spoil their appetite? after all , they have never gone without, and a husband will go all through the day in anticipation of his wife’s cooking at home knowing that what she has for him will satisfy him completely. Our appetite for the things of God should drive us to hunger more for the spiritual ,as that appetite brings supernatural food to feed you in a time of pain, sickness, lack, isolation and insecurity.

Fasting brings you closer to God because it drowns out the physical longings and quietens our body’s cravings. This is something I would liken to a child being disciplined as they would have to readjust their attitude henceforth. It may be painful in the moment, but as a result your spiritual senses become more prominent, as you are now more attuned to the things of the spirit. Consequently, you have rebalanced your spiritual needs over your physical needs. 

And the amazing thing about it is that, in some instances, fasting amplifies the gifts of the spirit that you possess and reveals dormant gifts because you are now more receptive to God and the realm of the spiritual. 

In a year where we as a church are endeavouring and focusing on going from strength to strength, that assignment becomes much more achievable if we are leaning on God for sustenance, constantly seeking Him in prayer, disciplined and continually dying to the flesh.

Little by little, we will find ourselves building more robust worship lives, growing much more sustainable prayer networks, establishing more for the kingdom, more listening, hearing more, discerning more, and growing from strength to strength

Having said all of this, please always remember… Prayer without fasting is still powerful, fasting without prayer is just dieting