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Power Of Fasting N Prayer

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Connecting With The Father

The Power of Prayer and Fasting: 15 Purposes

Father, purify my heart, that I would be focused on You and You alone as I surrender to You in me. If I rely on anyones approval but Yours, make it obvious so I can turn that part of my life to You again. As I start my secret life with You, cultivate our relationship and make it something incredible! Amen.

When Should You Fast

A common question many have when it comes to fasting is: When should you fast? In Isaiah 58, God explains some of the reasons for biblical fasting, and others are modeled throughout the Bible, as well. Some of these include:

  • When you are seeking the direction of the Lord
  • When you havent received an answer to your prayer
  • For deliverance
  • On behalf of a friend who is under a heavy burden
  • Ultimately, you should be led by the Spirit before entering into a fast, and you should always have a purpose for doing so. If the Holy Spirit has been pressing on you to fastdo it!

    There are many rewards for spiritual fasting, but they are private rewards between you and God. Being spiritually proud of the fact that you are fasting will destroy everything you are trying to accomplish.

    In fact, in Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus says, When you fast, dont make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

    As you study the Bible, you will discover three specific rewards of fasting: Fasting subdues your flesh, fasting brings revelation, and fasting leads to deliverance. Learn more about each reward below.

    To Avoid Impending Destruction Danger Or Disaster

    Situations where the life of a nation, an individual or family is threatened as shown in the book of Esther. The lives of the Jews were threatened by Haman and Queen Esther proclaimed a three day fast among the Jews and the threat was averted as a result.

    Another instance is in the book of Jonah when the word of the Lord came through Jonah to the city of Nineveh about the impending destruction. The king proclaimed a fast throughout the city and neither man nor beast, heard nor flock could eat or drink. Yes, even the animals fasted, and God saw their works and did not cause the destruction to come upon Nineveh.

    When you see danger approaching, when someone threatens you or your family, when your city or country is under threat, that is a good reason and time to fast.

    3. To accelerate the fulfilment of prophesy where there is a delay in prophesy.

    A typical example of this is in the book of Daniel, when Daniel understood that the number of years specified by the word of the Lord through the Prophet Jeremiah about the desolation of Jerusalem was 70years, he began to fast and pray for the fulfilment of that prophecy.

    Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. Daniel 9:3

    We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12.

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    When You Are Hungry For More Of God Pray And Fast

    The amazing thing about the gospel is when you receive Jesus, you are satisfied like you have never been before, and yet you will always be hungry for even more of God.

    Paul said, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord . He had a hunger to know God more every day. Sometimes we are so hungry for God we will fast if it means we can experience Him more.

    There is something about that experience that opens our hearts to receiving more of Gods presence in our lives. It might not happen in the middle of the fast, because we will probably feel weak and frail. But either during or after fastingeven in the months or years following a time of fasting, we will see the strong results of seeking more of God.

    Prayer For Gods Strength And Guidance During Fasting

    FASTING FOR BREAKTHROUGH: Call to Fasting and Prayer

    Lord of Heaven and Earth:

    I am bowing in the spirit and the flesh. Humbling myself before you seeking your mercy, forgiveness, love, guidance, strength and your instruction.

    Father, you gave your Son, Jesus so that I might live and prosper and reflect your majesty. In my life you have blessed me so bountifully. Thank you.

    Thank you for creating and sustaining of my life, there is no measure of it that I can repay. You are Almighty and Omnipotent in your way. Also great and mighty. You have kept me until this day. Thank you, for without you I would not exist.

    I acknowledge, Lord, that you have spoken many times for me to fast a length of time and I have attempted to without success. In fact, I have seemed to be confused by many distractions.

    Precious savior, forgive me. I acknowledge that I am an imperfect servant. A lowly sinner who fails without your strength. Forgive me as I do seek to draw nearer to you. Show me great and wondrous things in the spirit. Help me Lord, to do as you request. To not resist your plans for my life.

    Lord, help me to renew an upright spirit and relationship with you that I might be of great service to You. Bless me that I may complete the fast and draw near unto you. That I may prophesy by the guidance of the holy spirit with Christ-like accuracy. Father, Bless me that spiritual and physical healing will flow through me into the lives and bodies of others as you see fit and for your glory.

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    Dos And Donts Of Fasting

    As Yeshua warned, it is useless to fast if we then cancel out all of our self-sacrifice by inflating our egos and boasting about it. Similarly, in Isaiah 58 we see that a self-justifying denial of food is counterproductive if we then selfishly refuse to take care of the poor. We need to check before we fast, asking, is my heart right before God? Its good to take a little time in repentance and confession, asking God to shine his light on any sin before we begin. Later in that chapter, Isaiah proceeds to talk about Shabbat in the context of fasting this is another opportunity to deny our fleshly indulgence and self-gratification in favor of concentrating on God, and making room for him. God challenges us to live a fasted lifestyle a laid-down, self-sacrificial life instead of just doing whatever we please. Am I willing to give my time to Gods pleasure rather than my own?

    We should not fast under compulsion or when driven by guilt. Our free will and our desire to fast is critical. However, its also wise to take note of the errors of King Sauls disastrous fast in which he was just pushing for his own human agenda and trying to force his desired outcome without being submitted to Gods will . Do I really want Gods will, even when it might contradict my own?

    from teaching by Chris HodgesPhoto by Bryan Minear on Unsplash

    ONE FOR ISRAEL

    Basic Steps To Successful Fasting And Prayer

  • 6 Vital Questions About Prayer
  • I believe the power of fasting as it relates to prayer is the spiritual atomic bomb that our Lord has given us to destroy the strongholds of evil and usher in a great revival and spiritual harvest around the world.

    Increasingly I have been gripped with a growing sense of urgency to call upon God to send revival to our beloved country. In the spring and summer of 1994, I had a growing conviction that God wanted me to fast and pray for forty days for revival in the United States and for the fulfillment of the Great Commission in obedience to our Lord’s command.

    At first I questioned, Is this truly Gods call for me? Forty days was a long time to go without solid food. But with each passing day, His call grew stronger and more clear. Finally, I was convinced. God was calling me to fast, and He would not make such a call without a specific reason or purpose. With this conviction, I entered my fast with excitement and expectancy mounting in my heart, praying, Lord, what do you want me to do?

    I believe such a long fast was a sovereign call of God because of the magnitude of the sins of the United States and of the church. The Lord impressed that upon my heart, as well as the urgent need to help accelerate the fulfillment of the Great Commission in this generation.

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    Prayer Is The Most Important Part Of A Proper Fast

    It is not merely refraining from food or an action, but it is coming before the Lord in prayer to hear the Holy Spirit speak to you and work in you. The Bible says this on when to pray, on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests . Prayer is communication with God, and it is truly the most important aspect of life. From the Garden of Eden, it has always been Gods heart to have relationship with His creation, and prayer is the vehicle of communication in which that can work. The Father knows your heart in fact, “the Father knows what you need before you ask Him . We can rest assured that it need not be the most stunning words ever spoken to Him He knows what we are trying to communicate. Romans 8:26 shares He can even understand our groans into prayers. The Father desires interaction with His children, and prayer opens the door to just that.

    Things To Avoid While Fasting And Praying

    Understanding The Power Of Fasting | Dr. Myles Munroe

    Fasting is not about weight loss or causing health complications or marriage issues. Anytime a fast is being seriously considered, look at the calendar to ensure you wont be doing anything to jeopardize your fast. Its not a good idea to fast while taking the family to Disney World. Its not a good idea of fast from sex unless you have the support of your partner. While you fast:

    – Avoid drugs, even natural herbal drugs, and homeopathic remedies.

    – Medication should be withdrawn only with your doctors supervision.

    – Limit your activity. Exercise moderately.

    If you sincerely humble yourself before the Lord, repent and seek Gods face, you will experience breakthrough and his presence. Fasting and prayer are difficult, and it takes time to build spiritual muscles. Consider starting small. If you fail to make it through your first fast, do not be discouraged. You may have tried to fast too long the first time out. Fasting changes us for the better.

    This article is part of our larger resource library of Christian practices and disciplines important to the Christian faith. From speaking in tongues to tithing & baptism, we want to provide easy to read and understand articles that answer your questions about Christian living.

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    How Does Prayer Work

    Without God, man cannot do anything on earth, and without man, God will not do anything on earth.

    Prayer is the partnership of man to allow Gods will on earth.

    What happens on earth or in your life depends on your ability to agree with God.

    God can do nothing on earth without human beings giving Him release.

    Matthew 18:19

    Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

    Earth depends on heaven to get things done, and heaven depends on earth to release blessings.

    Without you, God will not do anything in your life.

    Prayer is the earthly license for heavens interference in earths affairs through mans faith.

    So Why Would We Voluntarily Give Food Up During A Fast

    The spiritual discipline of fasting is important. The people of God have fasted for thousands of years, often in times in which securing food was a matter of survival and not convenience. Some early Christians even made it their practice to fast twice per week! Jesus Himself spoke about fasting several times. He always affirmed its importance but also reminded the disciples of its purpose.

    Jesus was once asked why His disciples didnt fast like the Pharisees. Jesuss reply is a powerful reminder of why we fast: Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

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    What Is A Partial Fast

    A partial fast is also known as a three-day spiritual fast. We see examples of Daniel and his friends eating veggies, fruit, and drinking water for ten days. They used this fast to honor God while in captivity. Others fasted using different lengths of time and how. This fast could last from part of a day to an entire day to several days or weeks .

    How To Look When Fasting

    The Power of Prayer and Fasting eBook by Ronnie Floyd

    Stop announcing to people, maybe except your spouse or somebody close.

    Act normal. You are fasting to God, not people.

    Matthew 6:18

    But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

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    The Bible Has Much To Say About Fasting

    Often verses we read of men and women in the Bible going into deep war or decision in prayer, it is accompanied by fasting. One of the most famous fasts is the one performed by Daniel in the Book of Daniel.

    Daniel 9:3-5 shares, So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled we have turned away from your commands and laws. Daniels heart ached for his country, so he took a vow of a fast from certain foods and remained deeply in prayer. It continues on in the book that an Angel comes to see Daniel, and the Angel shares that he left the exact moment Daniel started praying. Remarkably, it took twenty-one days for the Angel to get past the forces of Darkness to reach Daniel. This is evidence that from the first moment we commit to a fast, the Lord hears us. He is always working in action to come near to us, and to send help.

    Fasting And Prayer Can Create Miracles

    One of the benefits of fasting and prayer is that it creates miracles. When we fast our body, mind and spirit is under Gods authority. When we pray, the spirit of God becomes so powerful that there is no space for outward chaos or distractions. Its a moment where all the chaos is transformed into peace and solace. The earth meets heaven and a beautiful moment and miracle is created. But we should keep in mind that our fast is to attain rewards that are heavenly and not earthly. God will bless us if our fasting and prayer is done with the utmost sincerity.

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    Why Do People Fast And Pray

    “Fasting and prayer? Didn’t those go out of style decades ago?” The woman who said this to me was a godly woman, a woman who had been in the church all her life, and a woman intent on obeying the Lord. She knew her Bible. She was very serious in her questions.

    Yet for some reason, she had concluded — at least subconsciously — that fasting and prayer were no longer intended for believers in today’s world.

    The truth is, fasting and prayer are for today! In fact, now more than ever!

    The combination of fasting and praying is not a fad or a novelty approach to spiritual discipline. Fasting and praying are not part of a human-engineered method or plan. They are not the means to manipulate a situation or to create a circumstance. Fasting and praying are Bible-based disciplines that are appropriate for all believers of all ages throughout all centuries in all parts of the world.

    Through the years, I have learned that many people in the church have never been taught about fasting and prayer, and many have therefore never fasted and prayed. As a result, they don’t know why fasting and praying are important, what the Bible teaches about fasting, or how to fast. To many, fasting sounds like drudgery — or a form of religious works. To others, fasting sounds extremely difficult. People tend to stand in awe at reports of those who have fasted for several weeks. When I hear about such fasts, I no doubt think what they think: If I fasted that long, I’d die! I couldn’t possibly do that!

    You Cant Fast Or Pray To Receive What Is Freely Given

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    There are certain things that people fast and pray for that has already been freely given. When we accept Jesus Christ as our lord and savior, He gives us ALL certain gifts. I believe the enemy keeps many Christians stuck because they believe they have to do something to get the gifts and breakthrough. Or, they become prideful when they received more of these free gifts and breakthroughs than others.

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    The sanctification process happens as God purifies our hearts and mind, so that we are not blind to what has ALWAYS been ours. In other words, God has to undo lies and remind us that He created us in His perfect image . Christs death and the free gift of the Holy Spirit gives us the power to operate in the purity that He intended in the garden. When we accept Christ We get the free gift the Helper who helps us AVOID sin.

  • Nothing can separate us from the Love of God.
  • Do not boast. Faith is a free gift. Your ability to believe in God and trust him is a gift.
  • Everyone is given different spiritual gifts for the common good.
  • Related Article:God Doesnt Break Promises: 10 Promises in Scripture For Your Every Need!

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