Commit to Memory: “They said to him, John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking. Jesus answered, can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” (Luke 5:33-35 NIV)
In today’s commit to memory, a time came in the earthly ministry of Jesus, I mean in the days of his flesh certain Pharisees came challenging Jesus why His disciples didn’t fast like they did or like John the Baptist’s disciples did. His answer was that while He (the bridegroom) was there they didn’t need to fast but to rejoice. Because He- Jesus fasted and prayed for them and also on their behalf. But one day He would be gone when he would have finished his assignment on earth and then His disciples and every Jew and Gentile that believe in him would fast. Friends, you and I are living in the time that Jesus spoke about and you know what that day is today and even now. Make up your mind to take a fast today to draw closer to God.
Every General of old were engaged in fastings. Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life. With Fasting, we gain victory to fight the enemy at the gate. But then how do you fast? Shut the door behind you, let it be done in the secret, you don’t need to wear a sad countenance to show and tell everyone you are fasting, but let your spirit man align and do the communication with and to God. (Matthew 6:16-18).
Friends, what are you a slave to? What are your bottom line passions? Fasting is God’s testing ground and healing ground. It is the place of incubation where soldiers of the cross are made. Will we murmur as the Israelites murmured when they had no bread? Will we leave the path of obedience and turn stones into bread? Or will we “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”? Fasting is a way of revealing to ourselves and confessing to God what is in our hearts. So why fast? Fasting is a scriptural way of seeking God’s Presence and walking daily in his glory. If you do not fast, you cannot last and stand tall in the deep things of God. It is even good for the body to shed weight and burn fat. In as much it empowers us and more than any other thing our spiritual senses becomes activated when we engage in fasting as it draws us closer to God.
Reflection: The quality of your results is a function of your preparation and one key to this is fasting.
Prayer Lines: Father, purify me and draw me nearer to you through fastings.