Prayer and Fasting

Mark 2:18-22 (NIV) “Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?” Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”

Isaiah 58:3-4 (NIV) “‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.”

Fasting combined with prayer is a kind of declaration that it is not “business as usual.” There is a sense of urgency when fasting is added to the life of prayer. It is an added intensity that is sometimes necessary for spiritual breakthrough. Jesus commented that a certain kind of demon only comes out through prayer and fasting. (see Mark 9:29) We can easily see that something extra is needed in order to bring about physical breakthroughs. For instance, in order to reduce their personal best times, athletes must increase or modify their training. In order for a business to compete in a tough market, they must streamline their processes and become creative in how to do more with less. Spiritual breakthroughs often operate in the same manner, and fasting is one tool that is used to push through for those breakthroughs.

There is a problem, however, when the act of fasting becomes “business as usual.” Regardless of how often a person fasts, if our approach in fasting is to see the act itself as the end goal, then we have misunderstood its purpose. The disciples could not fast while Jesus was with them because they were “feasting” on his presence. After Jesus left the earth, they began to fast because of their hunger for his presence and for what only He could do. We also should fast with the goal of feasting on His presence. When we fast as a matter of course or as one of the spiritual things we do, we are in danger of substituting religious activity for His presence. Yet, when our focus during fasting is on the Lord and to draw close to Him is our goal, we can experience tremendous spiritual breakthrough.

I don’t think it is an earth-shattering statement to say that we need spiritual breakthrough in our country this year. It seems like everywhere you look there are challenges to the advancement of the kingdom of God. Although I’ve not been led to fast very much even in the past couple of years, my spirit is heavy with the realization that fasting will be much more a part of the life and ministry of God’s people this year. It won’t be “business as usual”, and fasting will be a part of that. A couple of months ago I began receiving the word, “Intensity,” from the Lord concerning this year, and I have since been hearing that others have heard that from the Lord for this year as well. There is a time for a spiritual push, and I sense that we are entering into that period of time. As we fast, let us understand that Jesus is the goal and fasting is not. Fasting is simply a tool that can be used. It is not the only tool in our spiritual tool-belt. It is not the miracle tool that will solve every problem. Yet, it can be very effective. Let us also pray in faith and be encouraged because God is mighty to act in our corner of the world in supernatural ways. Jesus is the end goal of the Church, and He is coming soon!