The Power of Fasting

I didn’t even realize it’s been close to a month since my last post! It has been a profound season for me in growing closer in my relationship with God. I felt an urgent need to seek God’s face while there is still time, so that’s what I have been doing like gangbusters ;-) The time I’ve invested with Him has resulted in some amazing returns!

Fasting has been an essential component of me developing greater intimacy with the Almighty.

Before I connected with the guy I like to refer to as my spiritual Seal Team Six team lead, I had absolutely no idea how to battle demonic forces successfully.

In all honesty, many weapons of spiritual warfare I discovered “accidentally”. 

My spiritual warfare journey at the time was a lot like playing an unfamiliar video game, unintentionally clicking on a discrete area on the screen, and immediately afterwards realizing it was really a power up. 

That’s what the practice of fasting has become in my life - a SPIRITUAL power up.

I’m not a stranger to fasting, but in the past I only used it for weight loss or for its health benefits. Fasting has recently been popularized globally for these benefits, and those are fantastic. 

I’d be willing to even go so far as stating if many of us as Christians fasted regularly, we probably wouldn’t be dealing with many of the health and weight issues that are commonly experienced today.

But fasting has much more significant benefits than just those experienced in the natural realm. 

Have a look at what God said about fasting himself in Isaiah 58:6-9:

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’...”

Fasting literally loosens the bonds of wickedness, unties the straps of and breaks yokes so that the oppressed are freed. 

In other words, fasting is the God-designed tool to facilitate the process of deliverance from demonic oppression.

But, there’s an even BETTER benefit than that.

It also can help you seek God, tune in better to hear His Voice, and get your prayers answered! 

Who doesn’t want that?!?!?

So, why does it work?

Simply because it “afflicts” the flesh. The flesh being the body and soul.

The flesh is at war with the spirit. As the flesh (the outer man) is suppressed, the spirit (the inner man) is strengthened.  

Galatians 5:16-18  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

It’s only possible to connect with and serve God with our spirits! 

If your soul is dominating your spirit, it will be impossible for you to live the victorious Christian life. You can certainly attempt to live a righteous life under your own steam, but either you’re going to end up in constant failure and habitual sin or you’re going to turn into a modern day Pharisee.

We can only live as Christ successfully in the power of the Holy Spirit.

I only began fasting regularly last year. And it was under the direction of the Holy Spirit. If he hadn’t told me to do it, I probably never would have begun the practice voluntarily.

One day earlier in the year I had visited with a friend across town that morning. I was just pulling into the garage of our apartment building around lunchtime when I had what I can only describe as a loud thought in my head that said, “FAST!” 

I immediately silenced that thought, thinking to myself, “No way! I’m hungrier than a mug. Why in the world would I have a random thought about fasting right before my lunch meal? I’m about to get my eat on!”

Only after I took the first bite of my lunch meal did I sheepishly realize that the thought to fast was not actually mine.  

Afterwards, I started paying much closer attention to the “still, small voice” and began following His lead on when and how long to fast. I started in earnest the very next day.

It began slowly. A day here. Sometimes a few days at a time. 

Whenever I did as the Spirit led, I experienced freedom and healing.

Eventually, I began to be able to successfully fast for longer periods of time as my hunger hormones adjusted and it became practically effortless. 

I even pulled off a 20 day fast off later in 2023.

You’d be amazed at what you can actually do when you’re highly motivated.

Last September, I was convinced the Lord was going to return when I found out that the Feast of Trumpets in ancient times was literally referred to as “no man knows the day or hour”. At the time, I had convinced myself that I wouldn’t qualify for the Rapture battling demonic oppression - I hadn’t yet had a revelation of what grace ACTUALLY means. 

So, considering I thought I was a prime candidate for being left behind and walking right into a first-hand experience with the wrath of God, I gave up food for three whole weeks! 

Read through Revelation a few times and tell me you wouldn’t make that exact choice under the same circumstances!

Anyway, fasting is really just a mental game. 

If you’ve never done it before, start slowly. Fast for a part of your day, then work up to a full day over time. Once you get that down, try a 2-day or 3-day fast. Your body will adjust and you’ll reap all the spiritual benefits described in the book of Isaiah as well as physical benefits as well!

We do have a responsibility to participate in the Holy Spirit-led sanctification process. The Holy Spirit is called “The Helper” after all. Jesus didn’t call him “The Doer”. We have a role to play.

• 1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

• 2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

• 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

Fasting is one of the most effective ways to purify ourselves.

If you’d like more information about this essential spiritual discipline, check out the comments for two free eBooks by Derek Prince on what the Bible says about fasting as well as how to do it successfully.

Try it out. 

If Jesus fasted regularly, how much more should those professing to be His disciples do the same?