Fast & Glorious
Fasting Feb is when we call the whole church to fast! Our prayer is that this season will bring greater focus to what God wants to do in us. Paul talks about the work Christ is doing in us in these words;
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord”
Fasting is a powerful practice for disconnecting from our natural desires, to connect with the divine, growing in intimacy, seeking guidance, and allowing God to develop Christlikeness in us in increasing degrees of glory! Despite it being called fasting, it never seems to go very fast, and the process of developing Christlikeness is much slower. There is no fast road and there are no short cuts. In this blog, I want to share a few lessons to help you thrive in fasting.
1. Lasting While Fasting
- Rely on God’s Strength. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Lean on God’s strength to endure your fast, knowing that He is with you every step of the way.
- Seek Spiritual Nourishment: Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” Matthew 4:4.
I have decided to dovetail my fasting with memorising scripture. Every time the hunger pains hit, and the well-established neural pathways kick in telling me I need biscuits, I am instead reciting scripture I have memorised and then praying that scripture over my life. I have been memorising entire Psalms and repeating them every time I crave food. Because it is not easy, it gives me a great distraction from the hunger, and a great focus on God’s word. I can’t recommend it enough.
- Keep a Grateful Heart: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Maintain a heart of gratitude for the opportunity to draw closer to God through fasting.
2. Masking While Fasting
- Keep It Between You and God: Jesus taught in Matthew 6:16-18 not to look somber when fasting but to “anoint your head and wash your face,” so your fasting will not be obvious to others but will be seen by your Father in secret.
We all need accountability to help us last the fast. Choose someone that you can fast with or someone who can hold you to account, we just don’t need to let our faces tell everyone else at the same time.
- Maintain a Joyful Spirit: Fasting is a time for joy, not sorrow. In Joel 2:12-13, God calls for fasting with a heart turned toward Him, symbolizing repentance and renewal. Let your outward appearance reflect the inner joy of seeking God.
- Pray Continually: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 encourages us to “pray without ceasing.” Use your fasting time to stay in constant communication with God, masking your hunger with prayer and praise.
3. Asking While Fasting
- Ask with Faith: James 1:6 instructs us to “ask in faith, with no doubting.” When you bring your petitions to God during fasting, trust that He hears and will answer according to His will. We call this becoming a MasterAsker.
- Seek God’s Will: Jesus demonstrated in Matthew 26:39 to seek God’s will in prayer, saying, “Not as I will, but as You will.” Let your fasting and master asking align with God’s greater plan for your life.
I always know when my car needs a wheel alignment, because the car has a natural bent towards going in a direction I don’t want it too. When this happens, the tyres wear down much quicker trying to keep the car on the road. It’s the same with our personal WILL. If it is not aligned to God, it can lead us in directions God doesn’t want for us, and it can wear us down to the point where we struggle to stay on the road! If Kwik Fit did spiritual WILL Alignment tests, here are some great questions, they might get you to ask God.
- What do you want to say to me?
- What do you want to do in me?
- What do you want me to do for you?
- What area of my life, or what circumstances in my life am I not currently being thankful for? (The will of God is that we are to be grateful in all circumstances. Maybe you are facing a great challenge or pain right now – learning to be grateful to God despite what is going on is a powerful will alignment practice!)
- What am I currently holding onto that you want me to let go of?
- Pray for Guidance: Proverbs 3:5-6 advises to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Use your fasting to seek divine guidance and wisdom in your requests. It’s worth investing in a journal to record your prayers and revelations. Don’t do the hard work fasting, praying and denying your flesh, to then forget what God has spoken to you about. My brother is Mr SatNav – before TomTom existed, I had MikeMike. When lost in the middle of nowhere, I could call on him and he would give me directions. I am confident He could find his way out of anywhere in the world. If I didn’t write his directions down, as soon as I would get to the first junction, I would often forget what he told me. Writing down our prayers and revelations gives us a map book or journey planner to return to when the going gets tough and we are struggling to know what direction to take.
Ps Chris Williams
