What is fasting?
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that we are called to participate in throughout the Scriptures. According to the Bible, fasting means to voluntarily reduce or eliminate your intake of food for a specific time and purpose. Jesus calls us to fast as His people but the heart behind our fasting is very important. “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” -Matthew 6:16-18 (NIV)
Why should we fast?
1. Fasting calls us to more prayer for our ONE. We can spend hours a day feeding our physical bodies. We spend hours on our phone. We feed our desire for sugary snacks. However, during this season, we are going to fast from food, desserts, drinks (outside of water), screens, and other good things that can sometimes pull our time, attention, and focus away from our Savior (Acts 13:2-3).
2. Fasting demonstrates the fervency of your desire when praying for your ONE. It reminds our souls that we care greatly about our ONE and their salvation. We don’t simply want this to be another sermon series or names on plexiglass – we want God to be glorified in our friendship and ultimately their salvation. God honors our prayers in faith (Joel 1:14, 2:12).
3. Fasting is a megaphone to Heaven, a mega blow to Satan. Fasting is one tool that God has given us to use as we discern His will and join in His mission. We know there is one enemy who does not want to see your ONE come to Jesus – and that enemy is Satan. Corporate prayer and fasting have long been called upon to deal a decisive blow to the enemy (Ezra 8:23, Isaiah 58:6).
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that we are called to participate in throughout the Scriptures. According to the Bible, fasting means to voluntarily reduce or eliminate your intake of food for a specific time and purpose. Jesus calls us to fast as His people but the heart behind our fasting is very important. “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” -Matthew 6:16-18 (NIV)
Why should we fast?
1. Fasting calls us to more prayer for our ONE. We can spend hours a day feeding our physical bodies. We spend hours on our phone. We feed our desire for sugary snacks. However, during this season, we are going to fast from food, desserts, drinks (outside of water), screens, and other good things that can sometimes pull our time, attention, and focus away from our Savior (Acts 13:2-3).
2. Fasting demonstrates the fervency of your desire when praying for your ONE. It reminds our souls that we care greatly about our ONE and their salvation. We don’t simply want this to be another sermon series or names on plexiglass – we want God to be glorified in our friendship and ultimately their salvation. God honors our prayers in faith (Joel 1:14, 2:12).
3. Fasting is a megaphone to Heaven, a mega blow to Satan. Fasting is one tool that God has given us to use as we discern His will and join in His mission. We know there is one enemy who does not want to see your ONE come to Jesus – and that enemy is Satan. Corporate prayer and fasting have long been called upon to deal a decisive blow to the enemy (Ezra 8:23, Isaiah 58:6).
