Fast Change!

Yes! I have been busy as ever. But very convicted that I could not blog as I did before.

But I’m back with something fresh from God!

Of late a lot has been happening. And we have been praying and fasting a lot. Sometimes as long as a week of fasting. And because I’m moving around in the day I usually stick to one meager meal before sunset. That’s all. But if I am home and not going anywhere for a few days, then I do a total fast. I’m used to that over the years. And I relish my ‘alone’ times with God immensely.

But…fasting without prayer is holy dieting and not without results, where you only get a wee bit thinner. Nothing else!

Fasting has tremendous rewards. Many Christians really do not know the power behind true fasting and prayer. Jesus taught us saying…But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

True fasting is actually going without food. When going through a fast for a season we actually stop food from entering our bodies. Food gives us sustenance, and when we fast we actually are doing the opposite. Stopping the sustenance that should come to us.

This actually begins a new dimension in our life. We are going against the norm, against the standard, against the rule…we are stopping our dependency on food for our strength and vigour. Instead now, we are trusting fully on God to supply us our strength through His Spirit and His Word.

We completely rely on God now.  That is when all our attention is focused on God and prayer becomes easy and delightful. Worship opens up dimensions you have never been in before. A new level comes into being and spiritual sensitivity increases to know God and His ways.

And hey! True fasting gives your body a rest. Revitalizes your insides and suddenly your toxins are separated, no longer to hinder your day and night.

Although the Bible’s definition of fasting means to go without food, did you know it means to go without water also? This is what is meant to ‘deny’ yourself and be ‘afflicted’. This is what the Jewish people do on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. We have so much to learn from this.

True fasting humbles us. It breaks us to pieces. It clears us of issues that lie dormant spreading their terrible toxins on our thoughts, feelings and ideas. It opens the way for God to intervene and be God.

Moses fasted. Esther fasted. Daniel fasted. Jesus fasted. The disciples fasted. The early Church fasted. And all were sustained by the power of God. They fasted forty days. I have done that before on just water…only twice…but certainly not without water! But the important thing is not how long we fast but that we fast and pray with a sincere and humbled spirit before our Heavenly Father.

But my heart goes to this old widow in Luke 2…and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

Eighty-four! A widow! Night and day! Fasting and praying! Challenged? I am! And she saw tremendous results. She got what she was waiting for. It can happen to you too.

As I mentioned before…we really do not know the power behind true fasting and prayer. We can hear of miracles and signs and wonders and great happenings. But I know one thing for sure…whenever I come out of a season for fasting and prayer, I’m changed forever!

Ask my wife that! She knows what happens!

Bless you!