Today we fast and pray. Fasting can be a great added measure for effectiveness in prayer. The Bible has many accounts of prayer and fasting done together resulting in a greater power in prayer! Think of the different times in the Bible when there was prolonged fasting and prayer: Moses on Mount Sinai (twice) spent 40 days with God. He fasted during this time. This season altered the entire relationship of God with Moses and the Israelites. This is what God used to forge a new covenant for the nation, a covenant that lasted for the next 1400 years! Elijah was 40 days alone with God, after which he launched the prophets’ school that gave an effective spiritual voice to a very broken nation. Jehoshaphat called the nation to fast and pray when a three-nation-alliance was coming to destroy Judah. God heard their prayers and defeated this triad and gave King Jehoshaphat a great victory. Ezra was three days fasting and pleading before God for the nation and its recovery. Daniel spent 21 days praying and fasting for the future welfare of the Jews. Jesus spent 40 days fasting before entering His public ministry. Each of these seasons of prayer, along with fasting, launched great spiritual movements that had long-term and even eternal impact! Jesus was asked by His disciples why He had greater power in his life and ministry. We see from His answer in Scripture, that Jesus tells us that the “difference maker” is to have greater faith! See in Matt 17:20-21; Jesus answered, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind of power does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” It is from prayer, along with fasting, that enables us to increase our faith into a greater faith! Give fasting a chance! Try joining us each time we fast on Wednesdays and see if fasting improves your focus and desire to grow spiritually. “Father, we separate ourselves in prayer and add our fasting to these prayers. We know that You love for us to hunger for Your Presence, and to desire to be holy as You are holy. Deepen us, that we may increase in seeking Your holiness, and may it be seen in the way we live our daily lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.”
