TOPICAL BIBLE SUBJECTS
 Messages of Encouragement, Promises and Prayers

"SPIRITUAL FASTING"
By Evangelist Diana Gray
Copyrighted (c) 2000, All Rights Reserved
 KJV Bible For All Scripture

     Spiritual Fasting is a joy and a blessing.  The first couple of times, it may seem hard.  If you have never fasted, then you are missing an experience of (inner) spiritual revival.  It's truly wonderful! Overall it's generally neglected, a thing of antiquity. Is it for today? Yes, without a doubt.  Let's look at Biblical scripture.  We are saved by grace and this is bit of grace that we need to renew and revive in our churches.  Jesus set the example for all of us when He went into the wilderness to fast and pray.  Shouldn't we follow His example? If we are Christian we should! Let's study His Word, the Bible, and see what it has to say:
II Chronicles 20:3-4 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.  And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. 

Ezra 8:23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us. 

Joel 1:14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD. 

     In these verses great fear and inner turmoil drove these people to seek the Lord.  They knew deep in their heart's spirit the need to do more than just pray.  They knew that they needed to put their full attention upon the Lord.  By fasting, they were able to turn fully toward the Lord in their hour of great need.  Jehoshaphat knew disaster was facing his people; and by calling for a solid group fast, they would jointly cry out to the Lord for help together.  Food preparation and eating places their minds on food, but by devoting themselves to fasting this released all of their energies into seeking the face of the Lord.  Every time they would feel hungry it was a constant reminder to pray, pray, and pray.  The weakness and hunger of food denial forces one to realize how weak we are but how powerful the Lord is.  Fasting helps create a dependency upon the Lord.  When we are down, the only place is to look is up and when we look up we see the Lord.
     Do you ever have hours of great need? Do you have times that make you feel the need to seek the face of the Lord in a stronger more, profound way?  In your darkest hour, the greatest need, fasting and praying bring the Lord's comfort; and the prayers you pray get surprising answers.  Answers like the deeper commitment of ones inner resolve. Commitment to follow the Lord wherever He may lead.  If a person desires to become a strong, humble, spiritual leader, they need to fast and pray.  This enables a person to take themselves off of the throne of their lives and places the Lord at the center.  God then has the power and becomes Lord of a person's life.  A proper spiritual fast done with a humble sincere prayer, brings about proper humility in one's life.
     Ezra  knew just like a lot of us do that the Word of God carries many promises; but we must never, never, never take the Lord for granted.  He knew that he had to humble himself in the self denial of food as Ezra's sacrificial offering.  Prayer and deep meditation bring about a deeper spiritual walk and dependency upon the Lord.  How many serious prayers are answered by the Lord?
     Now ask yourself, how many frivolous prayers are casually thrown out only to land on silent ground?  They aren't answered!  When one is crying out to the Lord with all of the heart and soul that they possess, it can do no less than touch the heart of the very Lord we pray to.   Which type of prayer would you desire to hear? The gut wrenching, deeply sobbing passionate type that comes from a real heart full of sincerity, or the off handed casual prayer? The second one being said to appease the need of the moment but has no more heart than an inanimate object? Which type do you believe God cares to hear? 
     How much more can a person get in touch with their inner self, than to sacrifice their bodies physical need for food?  The self denial of physical needs, for a period of spiritual fasting produce deep spiritual growth.  Serious prayer requires deep concentrated effort on the part of an obedient servant.  How much greater is the concentrated effort than when a person concentrates their thoughts on the Lord rather than on food?  God's will and desires become known to us in a supernatural,  profound way.  Fasting and prayer help to bring about true repentance and a humbleness of spirit. 

Matthew 4:1-2 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.  And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. 

     Jesus showed here in this verse that He was humble and submissive to the Father.  He himself gives us an example that we should fast if we are able to.  Sinful pride was never a problem for the Lord because he was without sin.  Jesus had every opportunity to speak food into existence by Holy Spiritual power, but he refused to deny himself this humbling experience.  He wanted to get closer to the mind and will of the Father who sent him.  When we fast it is like going into a hard wilderness.  Our selfish desires and wishes get into line with the self-sacrificing surrender of self to the will of the Father. 
     Fasting also enables a person to resist Satan the devil.  Sometimes temptations become overwhelming and the only way to fight them is to go into a "Spiritual Fast with heavy prayer." Since the garden of Eden Satan has thrown three things at mankind.  Selfish Pride, Power corrupting the heart with material possessions  and sinful physical, sexual desires.  Seeking and reading the Word of God as one strives to get oneself into the will of God, cleans out the impurities of the soul's inner man.  Temptations begin to dim in the light of renewed spiritual growth and the glory of the Father takes residence within one's heart.  You want to fight Satan who is your real enemy not your fellow man?  Fight him on your knees before the Lord in a deep prayer, accompanied with fasting.
     The wonderful benefits of fasting allow you to get more in line with the will of God.  Fasting cleans the body of any impurities and toxins.  A person isn't eating but they still need to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day.  This flushing action cleans the system and clears the mind.  As one prays and meditates upon the Word of the Lord there is a renewing of the mind and spirit.  A person can be spiritually sick and disheartened going into a spiritual fast and come out a new and refreshed person.  Their spirit man, can become alive and refreshed as the person strives to get closer to the Lord. 

Matthew 17:15-21 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for oftentimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

     Jesus was trying to encourage His disciples into a deeper level of faith.  They had the Lord's authority to cast out devils but lacked enough Holy Spirit anointed power to do so.  Their lack of enough faith hindered the working of the Lord through them to cast out devils.  How could they know the mind and will of the Father to this great  existent?  By fasting and prayer!  These are not my words, but Jesus'! 

Matthew 17:20-21 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. 

     If a person desires to use the gifts of God with more Holy Spirit power and authority, fast, pray and get as deeply into the Word of God.  Eat His Word instead of food.  Eat it with your eyes and mind letting it sink deep within your heart.  Fill your ears with the sound of gospel tapes and CDs.  Listening to sermons, gospel music along with studying the Bible can reinforce your spiritual learning and growth.  Take a portion of the time to watch  gospel videos as well as attend every Church service that you can.  Eat and feed totally upon the things of the Lord.  Fasting and prayer help nurture the spiritual growth that the Lord would desire for you.  God moves the mountains in our lives if we have the faith to believe He will.  If our faith is weak when we go into a spiritual fast with heavy prayer, it will be strengthened. 
     How long should you fast? That one is a good question and for each individual the answer is different.  We have to be good stewards of the bodies that the Lord gave us.  Someone may only be able to fast but one day and another four days.  Maybe only one or two meals, and the next person can go a whole week.  It is different for each person.  Listen to the prompting and leading of the Holy Spirit for the answer that is just right for you.  What matters is the condition of your heart going into and coming out of a fast. 
      Please seriously note: Right after a surgery or sickness is not a good time to fast nor is it very wise.  Continue doing all medical procedures ordered by your doctors, until you have received a confirmation from them that it is safe to go on a fast. For people with various illnesses, fasting would be unwise to do as well as possibly dangerous.  On a true no eating fast a person could become quite ill if they have a medical condition.  For people with these problems who would like to fast, there are other alternatives that can achieve spiritual growth similar to fasting.
     Listen my gentle friend, God knows the desires of your heart.  He knows that you would like to but might be unable to because of health reasons.  You're special to Him and it's the conditions of your heart that really matter.  Try denying something else from your life rather than food.  Ask the Lord to reveal to you the truth special for your needs.  Sometimes one starts out fasting for short periods of time working up to longer ones.  If you are in a spiritual fast and you begin to experience stomach problems than use some Godly wisdom.  Ask yourself is this your body or is it Satan? If you know in your spirit that it's your body then it is time to quit.  It is better to have short fasting than none at all.  God knows your heart and will bless you accordingly.
     God desires us to fast but He also has given Godly wisdom whether our bodies can handle it at any particular time.  Just after an illness is not a good time to undertake a fast to any degree.  If you are ill and or under medical care, please check with your doctor first.  It's wise to ask them if your body can handle a fast. In other words wait until the doctor says that you are well before you undergo fasting. That is God given common sence! 
     Please don't ignore this recommendation because it comes from years of Godly wisdom.  The Lord needs our loving obedience curtailed with common sense.  Maybe for you, a gentle denial of a traditional favorite food might be in order. You could try eating the "Ezekiel Holy Bread" recipe that I give in my recipe book section might be substituted for a solid fast.  You could eat this Holy Bread as you pray and wait upon the voice of the Lord as He reveals spiritual truths to you.  Here below is the url address for the "recipes index" and click on the "Ezekiel Holy Bread" recipe. 
     I enjoy fasting as often as the Lord leads and I do it for various reasons.  One area of fasting is to pray intercession prayers for other people.  When the Lord strongly lays someone on my heart I will fast and pray fervently for them.  Consider a beloved one going into surgery or who just had a heart attack.  How about emergency car accidents where they are unable to pray for themselves?  How many times have you prayed for people like that?  What about the anointed power needed to set a demonic controlled person  free?  Jesus said to Fast and Pray, Matthew 17:20-21.  If Jesus said to do it, then maybe we need to pay attention to the desires of the Lord if we are physically able to!
     Whatever you plan to do, the main thing is to keep your mind upon spiritual growth as you focus upon the Lord.  A spiritual fast achieves nothing if your heart and mind are in the wrong place.  (In other words if you have any unforgiveness in your heart, you need to repent and forgive.)  Heavy prayer and fasting go a long way in the spiritual intercession for another.  Let the Lord lead you into doing what is right for you and your circumstances. May you grow into a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord as you spiritually fast. 

God bless your heart, Evangelist/ Sister Diana Gray

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