¹⁶ “And when you fast…” Matthew 6:16a

Biblical fasting is to abstain from eating food for a specific period of time for spiritual purposes. Now you may have already stopped reading at the definition of a fast but hang in there. Fasting, although has become something of an antique, is God’s method for breakthrough, healing, and the means of being a vessel in which His divine power works through us. Matthew 6 doesn’t say, “If you fast” but “When you fast.” Fasting is meant to be a part of a Christian’s regular diet.

Has your relationship with God become hum-drum? Has worship become monotonous? Is the bible a struggle to read and understand? These may be signs that your edge for spiritual living has become dull. There is only one remedy for a dull spiritual edge. It’s not a new church. It’s not a different bible translation. It’s not a different service day or time. The remedy is fasting.

Much of our spiritual living is impacted by our physical appetites. Reading the word, praying, worship, serving are all spiritual activities that are at the mercy of our physical being.Try doing anyone of them without a physical body, you can’t. If you have lost the drive for spiritual activity, fasting will refresh your spirit by breaking the control the flesh has over your spiritual appetite.

When you fast you are denying your physical appetites and breaking the grip they have over your spiritual hunger. Spiritual fasting works because we stop feeding our flesh (literally) and feast on the Spirit. Going without food for a period of time gives us a spiritual clarity allowing us to focus on spiritual development.

Jesus fasted for 40 days prior to beginning His ministry, selecting His first disciple and prior to performing his first miracle. Fasting re-tunes our hearing and vision on God, His word and will. We become more sensitive to His voice and gain clarity of God’s word.

If denying yourself specific foods for a period of time could bring breakthrough in your life, would you? If fasting for a specific amount of time would give you clarity of God’s word would you? If by fasting you could tap into the power of God as the bible describes, would you fast?

Fasting can and fasting will! Consider joining me and Calvary Assembly of God in Milpitas from January 4 through January 24 on a 21-day Daniel fast. Start your New Year off dedicated to God. Spiritual fasting impacts your life well-beyond the time you set aside to fast.

**If you have pre-existing health issues that could be complicated by a change in diet please consult your physician prior to beginning.