And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. Mark 9:29
There are things that cannot move until you fast. Sometimes we pray bind and loose prayers, but nothing seems to be moving. Not because God is not hearing or not willing to answer our prayers, but because there are times when we have to utilize certain spiritual principles for something to happen.
In the opening scripture, Jesus reveals to us how to overcome certain challenges. In saying it, He lets us to know that prayer and fasting are spiritual tools for acquiring victory over stubborn challenges. Therefore, we must adopt prayer and fasting regularly, to acquire victory in situations.
However, fasting must be done in the proper way. Some fast and abstain from food but they don’t see results. This does not mean that fasting does not work, but it is sometimes applied wrongly. When some people fast, they fill their lives with busy schedules. In exception of not eating food, they actually run the same schedules they normally do, and in the evening, they remember to break the fast with a short prayer. This is not the fast, which God requires.
Remember when you fast, it is a time of humbling; a time to minister to God; a time to subdue the desires of the body. If you have too much TV usually, you reduce it; if you normally go out for fun on that day, you stay in and engage in prayer as frequently as you can.
Fasting is a date you have with the Lord. If there is anything that is not right in your life, you put it right. Fasting is not only abstaining from food, but it must inspire change and prayer. Without these things, your fasting will not be different from a hunger strike.
In Is. 58, God rebuked people who fasted and exhorted labour on the day of their fast. They never gave themselves to change and this in return delayed their requests. However when the right fast is done, the Lord promises in Isaiah 58:8 saying Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.
Notice when fasting is done correctly; there will be restoration, a new beginning, and the power of a new life. Your relationship with God goes before you, to prosper your way and make peace with all as His glory guards your back.
Therefore, adopt fasting in your walk of salvation. You will inevitably encounter victory. I remember as a church we fasted during the time of buying our building. The bank had offered us money but for long, they could not release it within the period they set. The day we started a five days fast, the money was released. So, humble yourself before God in fasting and you will encounter victories in your life.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly father, I thank you for your word. I pray when I fast, I do it appropriately, ministering to you in spirit and truth. I humble myself to your will that my light may break forth as the morning. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen