What I've learnt about fasting

In the last few weeks I've learnt a lot about fasting from the Holy Spirit walking me through it and from a book called "Fasting" by Jentezen Franklin. I am thankful to my Pastor (Ps Jack Hanes) for again challenging our church community to fast over the last three weeks.

Fasting is a normal and important part of life as a Christian.
Although I have fasted from time to time, I've regarded it as a fairly radical and fringe activity. Jentezen's book shows through scripture that it is quite a normal and even expected part of Judaism and Christianity (among other religions). Just as I invest myself in giving or prayer, I also want to be a person for whom fasting is a regular part of my life and worship.

Fasting is for spiritual breakthrough.
Fasting makes a difference to the power of our prayers. Where prayer alone may not work, fasting can be the element that brings the authority to bring a healing or an answer to prayer. Of course, Jesus Himself said this to His disciples. Breaking through physically can precede breaking through spiritually. Same God, same purpose, same prayer - but fasting brings greater power and authority to our prayers. I want to remember this when my prayers don't seem to be answered.

Fasting is not as hard as I thought.
Fasting of any kind has never actually been as difficult as I thought it would be. Before recently I believed that I couldn't fast completely on work days, that I wouldn't have enough energy and I'd get to grumpy without some sugar in my system. Now I know that isn't close to being true. I have even found that I could do (limited) exercise while fasting completely without any side-effects. I have learnt especially how important it is for me to know why I am fasting and to decide before I start exactly how I will fast - working it out as I go has never worked for me.

Fasting is for sanctification.
Fasting is a test. It's like putting your hand up to tell God that you're ready for your character to given a bit of pressure. It is a chance for God to work in our lives to bring sanctification. In this season of fasting God has very clearly walked me through different themes as I have continued - fear, pride, flesh vs. spirit and criticism.

Fasting helps you to get carried away.
Fasting was practiced by so many of my heroes in the Bible and more modern heroes of the faith. I don't know how I haven't fully recognised before how much fasting is a key to a 'deeper' spiritual life. Those with a clear presence of God on their lives and authority and miracles in their ministries have been people who fasted regularly. I want to be a 'carried-away' Christian.

I have a desire to make fasting a regular part of my life and worship. I want to be the kind of person who is quick to fast and pray for salvations and spiritual breakthroughs. I want to be led by the Spirit as I begin to fast more often. I want to crucify the flesh so that I might walk according to the Spirit.

What have you learnt about fasting lately?

Flesh or Spirit

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:24-25
Fasting helps me to realise some of the desires of my flesh and hopefully to reinforce the Spirit-desires that God has put in my heart. As I've been feasting on the Word in this time of fasting God has started to speak to me and challenge me about the flesh and the Spirit. I have noticed that Paul had a lot to say about the topic, and that there is much to learn from the life of David.

Paul made it clear that the distinction and indeed the conflict between flesh and Spirit is of great importance in the life of a believer. The flesh, writes Paul in Romans 8, is hostile to God, cannot please God and leads to death - the Spirit brings life! Paul encourages us to live according to the Spirit, the kind of life that is the opposite of the flesh-life. He warns us not to use our freedom to indulge the flesh (Galatians 5).

Paul said that he put no confidence whatsoever in the flesh (Philippians 3). He listed all the wonderful reasons he had for backing himself - his intellect, his breeding, his passion and his accomplishments; but made it clear that in Christ and in truth that his flesh could still not be trusted. Rather we should look to the Spirit for motivation, guidance, and strength.

I have been impressed as I read again about the life of David, the man after God's heart, the man full of the Spirit of God. Like Paul, he could have reasonably acted according to his flesh but rather chose to honour God. David prayed about going to war, when he could have gone ahead according to the power of his army or a desire to crush his enemies. When he had a chance to take his enemy, King Saul's life, he chose to spare him in order to honour God. David didn't put confidence in his flesh which had claim to revenge, self-preservation, anger, rights and even calling. David walked according to the Spirit and trusted Father God.

I have often thought of the influence of the flesh of course as the kind of nasties listed in Galatians 5:19-21. But this has left me off the hook for so many times that I am self-directed, self-indulgent or full of self-pity. Follow the flesh and it will lead to death. Walk with the Spirit and He will give you life. There is no basis for having any confidence in our flesh, rather we should trust our heavenly Father with everything and in every way.

Humbling

Fasting

Praying

Lacking

Waiting

Hurting

Kneeling

Mourning

Worshipping

Asking

Trusting

Listening

Giving

Learning

Loving

Forgiving


God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.
James 4:6

Fasting

At the beginning of the year, at the start of this journey, I knew I wanted to go deeper in my relationship with God, to become one of those people who are truly carried away – in love with God and walking in His presence. I wasn’t sure how that would happen and have been concerned that it may not really happen at all.

It’s been difficult enough just to define the goal of this journey, I mean, terms like “full on for God” or “on fire for God” are maybe helpful and worked when I was a teen but it’s hard to put it in words in a satisfying way. I’ve settled more for a vibe, a picture, or perhaps a mess of pictures. I guess the goal isn’t easy to define, like, to be able to do 100 push-ups. I want to be carried away.

But how? Well so far it’s been helpful to have this focus on my blog because it reminds to think about it and chew over it even when it doesn’t come up in may conversations. Of course, getting rhema from God’s Word and being led by the Spirit in prayer has been vital to the journey. I’ve also been thinking a lot about other people, heroes that have gone before us, who have been so devoted and passionate about God – their example and their writing is very encouraging. But right now, I’m excited about fasting!

I have been feeling led to fast and I am very encouraged that my church is fasting corporately over the next 21 days. Fasting is a big call, it’s an extreme measure. It’s a statement saying to God that He is much more important in my life than food and physical comfort. All the heroes of the Bible engaged in fasting and God achieved great things in their lives and ministries. I’ve been very encouraged as I’m reading a book on fasting by Jentezen Franklin, which discusses teaching and examples of fasting in a simple way.

I’m looking forward to seeing what God will do in this season of fasting. I’d like to be different. I believe that this time is going to cement some good things into place and overcome some things that I can do without. When I reflect on the big recurrent themes over almost 20 years of being a Christian I think of prayer and trusting God. I have regularly felt that I should pray more, and I hope to practice God’s presence in such a way that this becomes more part of my nature. And I have often been challenged in almost every season to trust in God more, I believe this season will also take me deeper in that way.

What could God do in you in a time of fasting?