What Is Fasting? Why Should We Fast?

This is a guest post by Mercy Ndirangu.

I had promised to be writing on Inspiration and I have been writing on  Back to Basics but this is a special one that I told Wallace (the gentleman in charge of Kkrew bible study Worship team) I will write so that we can understand what is prayer and fasting and why we should . David a friend from media team in KKrew bible study also motivated me to write because he really wanted to know more about prayer and Fasting.

What is fasting? Who should fast? Why should we fast? These are some of the questions that most Christians ask themselves. It is important to be an extraordinary believer. Apparently in my church we are fasting for 21 days and I will be sharing a few guidelines that our senior pastor Rev. Dr. Mathews Mwalw’a gave us that will make both of us understand more about fasting and prayer.
As believers we can multiply our effectiveness in prayer by utilizing the discipline of fasting. Mathew 6:16-18 state that God has given each of us a powerful tool to use in order to increase our effectiveness in prayer, our spiritual power and our ability to know God’s will is FASTING. This leads me to answering the question; what is fasting?

Biblically, fasting is abstaining from food, drink, sleep and many more to focus on a period of spiritual growth. Specifically, we humbly deny something of the flesh to glorify God, enhance our spirit, and go deeper in our prayer life. Fasting should not be considered a “dieting method” either. We shouldn’t fast to lose weight, but rather to gain deeper fellowship with God. Yes, anyone can fast. Some may not be able to fast from food (diabetics, for example), but everyone can temporarily give up something in order to focus on God. Even unplugging the television for a period of time can be an effective fast.
So why should we fast?

1. We fast in obedience to Jesus’ teaching (Matthew 6:16-18) In Mathew 6, Jesus gives some foundational teaching about some activities that he assumes will be part of the life of his followers. Fasting is for everyone who follows Christ. It is a tool God has given us to increase our spiritual power and help us communicate more in intimately with God. If we don’t make use of it, we will be disobeying Jesus clear instructions.
2. We fast to demonstrate our dependence upon God ( James 4:10, 1 Cor 9:24-27) There are many ways we can demonstrate our humility before God, but choosing to go without food for the sake of spiritual growth is one of the more practical ways. That physical urge is a test when we’re fasting. The big question is, will we do what our flesh is urging us to do, or will we rely upon God for his strength?
3. We fast to demonstrate repentance from sin and intercede for others who need to repent (Daniel 9:3-5, Jonah 3:5-10) from the book of Jonah we read of a story of a prophet who receives instructions to take a message to his archenemies the Ninevites. Jonah Response is an incredible story. We read of how Jonah obeyed the word of God and went to Nineveh. He proclaimed on what was to happen to Nineveh and the Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast and all of them put sackcloth. We see that God had planned to wipe these people but when they turned to him in fervent prayers accompanied with fasting, God changed his mind and saved them. Have been convinced we should fast or should I continue giving more proof why we should fast? Okay
4. We fast to receive God’s wisdom and direction (Acts 13:1-3, 14:21-23) The early church was blessed with prophets who were gifted with ability to lead the church but instead of relying on their own gifts, we find the leaders fasting and praying for wisdom on how to proceed as a church. God revealed to them the next step after Fasting.
5. We fast to receive deliverance in times of crisis ( 2 Chronicles 20) When you have diagnosed a situation and it’s bad news, it calls for fasting. These are times to go beyond our normal routines and prayer and determine that we need to have God’s intervention in our lives much more than we need food.
   It is important however to note that fasting is not ‘magic’ way to make our prayers get answered or to somehow force God into answering our prayers in a certain way. God cannot be coerced. We may still have to go through the difficult circumstances, but the more we are willing to fast and pray through the process the more will be rewarded with the power and the presence of God to strengthen us and give us faith for the journey.

Hope the above pointers will give us more reasons to fast even when we are not told to. Isaiah tells us, fasting encourages humility, loosens the chains of injustice, unties the chords of the yoke, frees the oppressed, feeds the hungry, provides for the poor, and clothes the naked. This concept of fasting isn’t a one day thing – it’s a lifestyle of servant living for God and others. May we be obedient to his Word. Questions and comments are welcomed.