Did you know that before the Incarnation, God often came to earth and ate a meal with the person He was calling on. We see this first in Genesis 18 when Abraham was visited by “three men.” The Father, Son and Holy Spirit came to visit Abraham, and they had a meal together.
The calendar for the nation of Israel was filled with feasts. You eat at feasts!
In the Gospels, the Son of God ate and drank so much with “sinners,” that He was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard (Luke 7:34)! Later, He says to the last church in Rev 3:20 that He is standing at their door knocking. He wants to be invited in to sit and dine.
Obviously, God loves to meet with His people around a good meal.
But God also desire to meet with you around a fast from food. Moses, Elijah and Jesus each fasted for forty days, and Esther fasted for three days. Daniel had a fast from rich, pleasurable foods for twenty-one days, while John the Baptist did the same, eating only locusts and wild honey.
What they received from fasting was a breakthrough from God. After the fast came to them wisdom, leadership, power, authority, favor and promotion.
The point: when you want something from God, your fast is a way of letting Him know that you are serious, very serious.
WHY FAST?
What am I after?
I’m after intimacy.
Fasting is the most powerful way to break through to a greater place of intimacy with God. Nothing will get you there faster and keep you there longer. When you want to hear His voice more clearly, or “see” Him from a pure heart (Mat 5:8), then fasting is an accelerator.
A benefit of intimacy is new joy, and the joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh 8:10), our strength to stand in His righteousness, which is our life of obedience.
When you are sick of some sin in your life, fasting is a powerful way to starve that sin out of your conscience. When you are burdened for a family member’ salvation, or you are burdened for someone’s deliverance from a stronghold (or your own!), fasting is a way to show earnestness to God on that person’s behalf. Fasting breaks chains.
PRACTICAL IDEAS
Your fast does not have to be a water-only fast. In fact, in our day and age, our American diet is so full of caffeine, sugar, carbohydrates and . . . well, deliciousness, that a water only fast could wreak havoc on your mind and body. Most of my fasts have included one protein shake/smoothie a day, lots of water, and maybe some tomato juice in the morning and/or evening as needed. But no meals. No food that I love! A protein smoothie is good for me, but I don’t want one! I’d rather have a catfish po-boy, a turkey-burger and sweet potato fries dipped in honey mustard dressing. I want a chai-latte, maybe, three times a day! But this is what I abstain from. No hamburgers, no fajitas, or cream gravy on mashed potatoes. No Schlotzsky’s! Nothing that my body craves.
The agenda is to keep my body mildly sustained, nutritionally, so that I don’t bail on the fast due to headaches, groanings and gnashing of teeth! I’m trying to tell my body and soul (who are in love even with the colors and signage of fast food restaurants!) that they are not in charge. I’m a spirit-being. By fasting I am saying, “Body and soul, stand down; You’re not in charge. I am not eating today because you are going to learn that our greatest need is spiritual, not physical. We want intimacy with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
I regard a one day fast as almost pointless. With two days of fasting, your body is still whining and arguing, and you can’t hear much from God because of all that hunger-noise. But on that second night, you will be starving, so go to bed early. The third day is when the noise quiets down, and you begin to be more aware of the presence of God. So, for beginners, spend a few days talking to God about a three day fast (then longer, next time), and start to get spiritually “psyched-up and ready.”
Whatever you are fasting for, remember that God rewards those who do it. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, When you fast, keep yourself groomed, “so that you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” (Mat 6:18).
Do you want to make a deeper change in your life this year? Do you need to break through a ceiling that holds you back? I commend to you the idea of fasting.
– Carter