Fasting and Prayer
date posted: Feb 25, 2008
Fasting and Prayer
Thank you for expressing interest in entering into a period of fasting and prayer. You may be entering into a fast on your own, or with a friend, or a small group. May the grace and power of the Spirit of God transform your heart and mind in Christ Jesus! And may He deliver hundreds more with his saving power through the faithful prayers of our people!
The Purpose of Fasting
Fasting is a vital discipline of the Christian life, prescribed in scripture, and practiced through the centuries. There are about 56 references to fasting in the Old Testament and 30 in the New Testament. In Matthew 6:16, Jesus said, “When you fast”, not “if you fast”.
Though fasting provides many side benefits, the primary purpose of fasting and prayer is to know God. Knowing God is more important than seeking His help for any circumstance or need. As Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (other needs) will be yours as well.” Seek God’s reign over your life. Seek his Presence. Seek to love Him, honor him, serve Him, and obey Him. This is the purpose of prayer and fasting.
Beyond this, God does invite us to fast and pray for needs and circumstances. We pray for help, for protection, for wisdom, for answers. We pray for others. We pray for the salvation of a friend. These are all legitimate reasons for fasting and prayer, but they should never take priority over our first need: To know and love God.
When we fast, we experience a redirection of our appetites on to God. Our prayer life takes on new urgency, passion, and effectiveness. To fast without focusing on God in prayer is to do little more than go on a diet! You will be surprised how easy it is to skip a meal, then be so busy that you forget to pray. As you plan your fast, you must fast not only from food, but also from busyness and distraction. You will notice how often you reach for things to fill not just the emptiness in your stomach, but the hole in your heart! Take the time you would normally eat and go to a quiet place to pray – away from your place of work, away from the TV! You may prefer to be still or spend the time walking, but pray!
A good resource is “7 Basic Steps To Successful Fasting and Prayer”, by Bill Bright (New Life Publications).
Should I see a doctor before I fast?
If you have any diet-related health issues (including pregnancy!), you should consult with your doctor. Health issues do not necessarily disqualify you from fasting. You can usually find a way to fast that does not compromise your body’s needs for nutrients, yet still draws you into a place where your appetites are channeled towards God. One other option you have is to fast from some form of non-food related dependency – TV, media, video games, dating, shopping, etc. Again, a key dynamic of fasting is to identify and wean yourself from your emotional dependency on things other than God, i.e. the thing you look to to fill the hole in your heart!
NOTE: Those who suffer from any form or degree of eating disorder should NOT engage in a fast.
Should I fast alone or with a group?
It is always encouraging to fast with someone else or a group. Perhaps a friend or your community group may wish to join you. Be careful, however, to allow the Lord to lead others in His own time. It is the Holy Spirit that must draw each one into a time of fasting and prayer, not guilt, or the urging of a friend! Nevertheless, know that a growing number of people at SAFMC are engaging in a season of fasting and prayer. Share your experiences with others. Learn from them. You are not alone.
Should I expect my spouse or family to fast with me?
Not really, unless they feel led of the Lord to do so. For this reason, if you are the only one in your family, you should eat the one meal (in a partial fast) that you would most likely share with your family. Practice your fast at other times. It is good to share with your family what you feel called to do. Kindly ask them to support you in this venture. Do not hold it over them or make them feel less spiritual if they do not participate.
Keep a Journal
A journal is a good way to record your journey with God. It will help you track the progress of your fast. You can also track your spiritual progress. Buy an inexpensive spiral notebook and get started. Choose from among the following and write something every day:
- What is God saying to me today?
- What is God telling me to do today that I need to obey?
- What struggles and temptations am I experiencing today?
- In what way did I think more like Christ today?
- In what way did I act, speak, or respond more like Christ today?
- Who or what is the Lord telling me to pray for?
- How has God answered prayer today?
Keep a record of people you feel led to pray for. If you keep an evening journal, write down the names of people you encountered that day and pray for them. Put your family’s names on the front. Make it a priority to pray and thank God for them daily. On another page, keep a running prayer list of friends, neighbors, or co-workers who you desire to know Jesus Christ.
Plan your Fast
There are many ways to go about a fast. Feel free to devise your own. Here is a plan for a three month period of fasting and prayer. It is designed so that your periods of fasting always begin on the same day of the week. This will make it easier to remember, as well as to follow:
- I. Partial fast for 1 day (A “partial fast” is to eat only one meal of your choice for that day, with no snacks!) (Rest 6 days)
- II. Partial fast for 3 days (Rest 4 days)
- III. Partial fast for 1 week (Rest 7 days)
- IV. 3 Day water-only fast (or clear fruit juices if needed) (Rest 4 days)
- V. Partial fast for 14 days (Rest 7 days)
- VI. Partial fast for 40 days
The Rest of the World
This schedule describes what we would call a fast “lite”. Though it seems like a stretch for those of us in America, one meal a day with no snacks is how the majority of people in the world have eaten for centuries!
Caution
Your goal is not to “try fasting”, but to cultivate a lifestyle of prayer and intimacy with God. This includes a growing dependence on God to “fill the hole in your heart” As you fast, you will notice how conditioned you are to repeatedly “reach” for things to fill that hole, to take away the emptiness not only in your stomach, but also in your heart. It may be food, salt, sugar, or snacks. It can just as easily be TV, music, pornography, alcohol, video games, etc.
For this reason, after a period of fasting, it is tempting to “gorge” yourself and fall back into hold habits. A good approach would be to avoid snacks altogether during your rest periods. Eat two our three healthy meals a day because your body needs nutrition. Avoid eating to ‘”fill the hole in your heart”! You will know the difference! Even during the rest periods, let the discipline and heart posture of fasting and prayer continue to keep you in communion with God.
Don’t Give Up!
If you slip up, or lapse on any given day, don’t feel defeated, and don’t feel that you have to go back to square one! Pick up where you left off and re-engage your heart, mind, and body with the Lord!
Pastor Earl Habecker
Pastor Mark Van Valin