A Return to Fasting

We’ve spent many weeks, actually since the beginning of the year, on the study of prayer. Before we move on to another subject, I want to add another note about fasting prayer.

Fasting prayer: We’ve studied some of the biblical examples of fasting (there are more) and I have read several books by Christian authors about fasting prayer along the way, as well. What we need to remember about fasting prayer is that during a fasting prayer, especially one of a longer duration, we are setting aside the clamoring flesh for a time of growing closer to God, of actually being in His presence. And we’re doing this to gain closeness to God, and to receive power from God in every area of our lives.

When we put our bodies into a hunger fast, it is usually a time when we also fast from other appetites of the flesh or else we have accomplished little; in one way or another the flesh will be clamoring and distracting us from our purpose. Those other appetites might be different for every person, but would include abstaining from sex, cigarettes, alcohol…whatever the flesh clamors for….everything of the flesh “mortified” (killed) in order to hear and receive more clearly from God.

When we mortify our flesh for the purpose of “hearing” from God, God honors that greatly, and supplies all that we came to Him for: knowledge, direction, vision, power. I firmly believe that the longer the fast, the more we receive from God. I believe that lives can be turned upside down during a long fast to the extent that going into the fast the flesh was in control, but coming out of the fast, the Spirit of God is in control.

I fasted once for ten days. My cousin and I decided to try it. Unfortunately, my cousin managed to hold out only one day, while I managed ten. I still had to cook for my family, but when they were eating, I would go into another room and read my bible, feasting on the Word alone. I was very young in the Lord, and don’t believe that I understood what I was really fasting for, other than to see if I could even do it. Nevertheless, what I gained was knowledge about the fasting process itself.

After three days there was no hunger at all...not even a bit. There was no struggle after that third day. I don’t think I ended the fast after ten days because of hunger; I don’t think I WAS hungry yet. I think I was just experimenting to see if I could even do it. But now, knowing what I do, I think much would be accomplished spiritually if I were to fast for a longer period of time, in fact, until I “hungered” as Jesus did.

But there are two things one must know about longer fastings. I believe after three days, when the hunger has stopped, so also has the digestive system stopped...completely! When fasting for longer than three days, it is important, when you resume eating, not to gobble up everything in sight! That can actually be extremely dangerous! (It would be best to find a good book on fasting and read about the dynamics of fasting on the body. ) If the digestion mechanics have stopped, as they do after a prolonged fast, then when you eat a whole baked potato, as an example, even though you’ve chewed each bite well, it still manages to pass directly into your intestines as a “whole” baked potato…it is not digested. I believe you would end up in a hospital at the very least, if not dead! It is not something to be done haphazardly. Remember, during Jesus’ times, fasting was a frequently done discipline, they all knew what they were doing. We, who rarely ever fast, need a little instruction first!

Broths or other liquids, sparingly, are introduced for a few days after a fast to get the digestion system kicked back on, then once the digestion has begun again, after that few days, normal eating can resume; although we all hope that after the fasting one of the rewards we will have gained is “temperance” so that “gobbling” won’t even be an issue.

Oh, and by the way, age is not important when you fast. Remember Anna at the beginning of our study and how we calculate that she was about 105? Remember that the Word says: “Anna served God with fastings, and prayers night and day.” Luke 2:37. We’re never too old to fast.

One final note regarding fasting: if you want to know much more about fasting, purchase of a copy of the book by John Piper, called “A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer.” It is actually one that has been in my personal library for quite some time, but I am sorry to say that I haven’t picked it up again until this morning. A very brief glance through it this morning tells me that there is so much that I have not even begun to touch on concerning fasting prayer. And if I may be permitted to quote from the back of his book: “There is an appetite for God. And it can be awakened. I invite you to turn from the dulling effects of food and the dangers of idolatry, and to say with some simple fast: ‘This much, O God, I want you.’” How much do you want God?

Andrew Murray, in his book titled With Christ in the School of Prayer says this about fasting prayer:

“Jesus, Who Himself fasted and sacrificed, knows to value, accept, and reward with spiritual power the soul that is thus ready to give up everything for Him and His Kingdom.”

Are you ready for some spiritual power?

On that question we conclude our study of prayer.

Tomorrow we will read about Phebe, another woman mentioned only briefly in the bible, but her ministry opens up two main subjects for us to study: organization of the body of Christ and spiritual gifts.