Fasting and Prayer
Fasting is about asking God to take the physical hunger we feel and give us a spiritual hunger for Him!
Senior Pastor, Bryan Jones
Why should we fast?
Fasting is a genuine matter of the heart that we express physically by abstaining from food. Jesus has three things He expects of us as His followers: pray, give and fast. The common theme and call are found in our motivation, as we are to live our lives sacrificially and humbly before God.
We fast to see true breakthroughs in our lives because, as we see in scripture, some things will never happen unless we fast and pray (Mark 9:29). Though we know we cannot manipulate the heart of God, the very act of fasting is a testament that we acknowledge that we cannot do anything apart from God. We need His sovereign touch to heal, mend, undo and even resurrect.
What is a fast, and how should you do it?
The word fast means to abstain from food.
Some examples we see in scripture are in Esther 4:15-17, where she and the Jews fasted from food and drink for three days and in Daniel 10:3, when Daniel fasted from specific foods like meat and wine, only to eat things like vegetables and drink water. Today, we hear other uses of the word, such as when people go on a social media fast. However, as we mentioned earlier, the true definition of the word fast refers to abstaining from food.
While other ideas of fasting have their merit, abstaining from food is what we're asking you to do. A fast from food can be done in one of three ways:
- Abstain from food and partake in a liquid-only diet.
- Fast from sun up to sun down.
- Fast from one meal each day.
We recognize that some may have a medical reason preventing them from abstaining from all foods. If that's you, we encourage you to partake in the Daniel fast and omit a few items from your menu.
How can I grow closer to God while fasting?
It's important to note that fasting without prayer neglects the true purpose of why we fast. We encourage you to use the time you would spend eating, praying or going through our Daily Devotionals. Each time you notice your hunger, it emphasizes your need for God and reminds you of the area of your life you're asking the Lord to break through.
Remember: His ways are above our ways, and this is an act of obedience and surrender to His ultimate plan.
The Spiritual Discipline of Fasting
For many believers, fasting seems foreign, yet Jesus assumed we would do it. Why should Christians fast? What should be our motivation for fasting? How do we prepare ourselves for fasting? Join Brookwood Care Pastors in this three-part series on the Spiritual Discipline of Fasting.
Brian Heasley is the International Prayer Director for 24-7 Prayer and is part of 24-7's international management team. Brian also works at Lambeth Palace as an International Ecumenical Lead for Thy Kingdom Come. One of his books, Be Still, a Simple Guide to Quiet Times, is a prayer book for anyone looking to revitalize the way they pray or struggling to make space for devotional time with God. Copies are available in the Bookstore.
Brian and his wife Tracy pioneered the work of 24-7 Prayer in Ibiza, Spain, where they developed rhythms of prayer and mission. He is a gifted and passionate communicator with a genuine heart for prayer, mission and justice. Brian is originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, and now lives in England. Brian and Tracy have two adult sons.