Fasting and Praying

In my squad I shared a short devotional on prayer and fasting and thought I would make it into a blog. 

 

First I’m going to start out with definitions of what prayer is and what fasting is. 

 

The definition of both worlds are as follows:

 

Prayer: a request for help or an expression that is addressed to God. 

• Prayer is communication or a conversation with God. And the request is not to ask for what you want, the Lord is not a genie, but to seek his will and thank him for his provision.

 

Fasting: to abstain from all or some kind of food or drink. 

• For the purpose of growing into deeper communion with God and being more in tune with His Spirit. Setting aside the things of earth that you seek for satisfaction in order to seek satisfaction from God. 

 

The Bible talks about prayer and fasting and there are a few I want to point out. 

 

Matthew 6:6 

• “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen.”

Matthew 18:20

• “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 6:17

• “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face.”

Matthew 9:15b

• “The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”

 

I just want to point out that the Bible doesn’t tell us if we decide to pray and fast, or if we want to, or if it’s a good time. No! It clearly states “when” we pray or “when” we fast. We are commanded to do these things in obedience to Christ. So why does it seem like we are not? Maybe you are and praise for following the Lord, but maybe you aren’t. Why is that? 

 

I am currently sitting in a room at our hosts house in Utah after coming from a prayer and worship session (with my squad) fighting a spiritual battle over a girl I do not know. All I know is she is being overcome and beaten down by a demonic spirit and my job since I cannot physically be where she is, is to intercede, be filled up with the holy spirit, and fight a spiritual battle that I have to put on the full armor of God.

 

Ephesians 6:12-15 says this:

• “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace.”

 

Reality check. We are facing spiritual battles people! Wake up and realize. We don’t have time for games and fluffy gospel preaching. We have to do what scripture says and be armed with the full armor of God. One of those steps is acting in obedience to fasting and praying. There was a wonderful woman that my squadmate and I got to have dinner with and she poured out some wisdom in saying that there are things in this world where all we can do is fast and pray. Some things we may face head on but other things are out of our control. What we can control is our reaction and what we can do from our homes. 

 

If you have seen Hamilton, you’ll appreciate this line (FYI, changed a bit)

 

“We need to handle our spiritual situation. Are we a nation of States? What’s the state of our nation? Our shot? Rise up Christians! Fast and pray for our nation.” 

 

America has never been perfect and never will be perfect. Our country has made mistakes, learned from some, and made the same ones over and over. Friends, we have some potentially hard times facing our nation and my question is where are the Christians who are stepping up to fast and pray for our nation? I’m not talking about an end times debate, that’s not where I’m going. With Covid and things not functioning the same, and our country demanding to accept the sins of this world we are in for a whirlwind. Are we sitting back and feeling sorry to watch it all happen or are we actively obeying what the Bible tells us and engaging in obedient prayer alongside, with fasting? 

 

The same lady my squadmate and I had dinner with dropped a lot of wisdom on us that night. She was talking about our world and the fact that most of us are not responsible people, or people who trust the Lord to truly provide. She looked at us and said “if the ants of this world have sense enough to store up food for the winter, how much more sense did our creator give us to be responsible? And we have dominion over the ants!” And my mouth dropped, I had no words to say. Because she was right. The Lord created an ant to function a certain way and he created man to also function a certain way. Well he commanded us to obey him, trust him, fast and pray. So again, are we doing those things? 

 

Take a look into Nehemiah 1:1-7. While reading those verses if you do not think of America, read it again. Verse four says “when I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before God of heaven.” I’m not saying to stay down in the dumps all day, but open your eyes and realize the turmoil of this world. Pull reality in the face and step into a phase of mourning, fasting and praying for our country. God is not put into a box, he works for His children that are obedient to His word. And maybe not in the ways we thought, or how we think things should be done. But he is still good and still to be praised for his provision.

 

Now I can sit here and type words until my fingers hurt, but the only thing that will make a difference is to be activated, step out in faith and change. 

 

Here’s my challenge. What is something that you can fast? I think it’s easy to say social media, etc. But truly sit with the Lord and ask him to provide an answer of what you can fast. Because the question should be is he enough, and are his people enough? Is he enough for you, and are his people enough to go after? I would encourage you to think of a meal, a physical need and let that time of not eating be a time to be filled with the spirit. Get hungry for His word!! 

 

Fill up with the holy spirit. Stay hungry for the Gospel. Step out in faith. Fast. Pray. Be obedient. Rise up!