Fasting intensifies prayer; it transforms your prayer life. Fasting is an expected Christian discipline. Regular fasts should be a part of every believer's life. Fasting is scriptural and it involves abstaining from food, drink or pleasures for a period of time to focus on God. Great men in the bible fasted. Fasting basically goes with prayer. Please set aside some regular times for fasting. Most importantly, be led by the Lord in fasting.

 

The tremendous importance of fasting is numerous. People have fasted when they desperately need to hear from God, or wanted God to act. Fasting helps in spiritual preparation and in seeking direction from God. The Bible gives numerous examples of God's people combining fasting with their prayers. For instance; Jesus fasted for forty days (Luke 4:2), Moses fasted for forty days in preparation for receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28), Queen Ester fasted for 3 days without food and water (Esther 4:16), Daniel fasted for three weeks before receiving his vision (Daniel 10:2-6).The Lord honors genuine fasts.

 

The power and importance of fasting

 

-Fasting helps us to draw closer to God. Fasting can transform your prayer life that is your communication with God. It helps revive you spiritually, resulting in a more intimate relationship with God.

 

-In certain areas of deliverance, fasting is necessary. Without fasting and prayer, some demonic bondage would never leave. Demonic bondages are the reasons for certain, illness and problems. For example in Mark 9:28-29 ,“After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting”.

 

-In the bible, when people of God sinned, they often fasted in repentance. (Jonah 3:3-9, 1 Samuel 7:6, Judges 20:26). The day of atonement, Yom Kippur was set aside in Israel as a day for fasting and intensive prayer.

 

-Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21 Isaiah 58:5).

 

True Fasting (Isaiah 58:5-12,  please heed to the warning in Isaiah 58 written below)

 

When you fast, you make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think I will be pleased with that? "The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives. "Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side. When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond. "If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word; if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon. And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never goes dry. Your people will rebuild what has long been in ruins, building again on the old foundations. You will be known as the people who rebuilt the walls, who restored the ruined houses." Isaiah 58:5-12