“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 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.”
Matthew 6:16-18 (emphasis mine)
Last week God called me to a 3 day fast. I started the fast last Sunday night and ended Thursday morning. Saturday, my flesh started whining, knowing it would soon be told no to the foods it’s used to. Anything that denies our flesh (AKA Self), which is our second greatest enemy, is a good thing. I would have saved myself years of pain and sorrow if I had learned to starve Self instead of pumping it with what it wanted on demand.
The passage above in Matthew 6 doesn’t say if, but when we fast, meaning that fasting is meant to be a part of every believer’s life.
Fasting multiples the spiritual power of prayer. Prayer with fasting has a profound effect in the spiritual realm in ways we may never fully see this side of eternity. At the end of Daniel’s 21 day fast in Daniel 10 he had a powerful encounter with an angelic being:
“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground. And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.”
To fast is to “humble self,” which is pleasing in God’s eyes. The first day of fasting is usually the hardest, when Self screams the loudest while we’re going through withdrawals from processed foods and sugars. This screaming process is a good sign and means that Self is weakening.
As we fast we may become more in tune to the spiritual realm. God’s word makes a deeper impression in our soul. Unexpected bursts of joy and peace follow. The hunger for God intensifies. Our prayers become more passionate.
While fasting I’ll ask God often to align my heart, will, and prayer to His desires. In line with God’s open invitations to ask, I’ll also go after Him with petitions and intercession for others.
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
John 15:7-8
I pray for personal cleansing, breakthroughs, knowledge of His will, the power, strength, and anointing of the Holy Spirit, and for Him to open doors that only He can open. Certain situations are brought to the throne room of grace. I pray for these often anyway, but while fasting the focus may be sharper, more intense.
I try to listen for what God is saying, what He wants to teach me, and how He wants me to order the time with Him.
There is spiritual warfare. The enemy doesn’t want a church full of spirit-filled, prayer-powered believers who fast from time to time because we’re most powerful when we’re praying. I’ve had plenty of intense battles during times of fasting; Monday morning I got hit right out of the gate. Fasting and prayer tends to create prayer warriors.
Over the years I’ve done a water-only fast for 24 hours (just once, that was rough) and a number of liquid-only fasts. Today I use the Daniel Fast and find it just as effective spiritually. This is the fast Daniel used in Daniel 10, where all meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, processed foods, sugars (except for fruits), caffeine, coffee, alcohol, and leavened breads are eliminated from the diet. Basically we only eat what comes out of the ground, with water to drink. Susan Gregory has a great book on the Daniel Fast with recipes that I recommend.
Fasting isn’t easy; the intensity of withdrawals depends on how much processed and sugary foods you have in your diet. If you’re addicted to sugar or caffeine it may be rough the first few days. If you’re willing to push through and persevere to the length of the fast that God is calling you to there will be rewards, not the least of which is to draw closer to Him.
“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.”
Maybe God is calling some of you to fast.
