Fasting

Recently, I participated with a group of people in a fast for 21 days. We were fasting together with the purpose of bringing God's presence into a particular neighborhood in our city. This was the longest fast I had ever done. Many of us followed the Daniel fast spoken of in Daniel 1 and Daniel 10:1. In Daniel 1, Daniel asks the official if he and his friends can be given only vegetables to eat and water to drink. The official agreed for 10 days and then checked their appearance thinking that they would look worse than the other men. When he checked them, they looked healthier and better nourished than the rest.

I am bringing this up because a strange thing kept happening as I was fasting. People kept commenting on the clearness of my eyes and the glowing nature of my skin. Many people who did not know I was fasting wanted to know why they could see a physical difference in me. It was very encouraging to know that God had given me a physical effect!

Jesus says in Matthew 6:16; "When you fast..." Notice He does not say IF you fast, but He says WHEN you fast. This shows me that fasting is not an optional thing. It is part of my existence while we are here on earth. I know we go to at least one banquet in heaven, but I am hoping heaven is full of all the food we love except without the calories or maybe the effect of calories here on earth:)

So, when is the proper time to fast? I can't answer this for you, but I can tell you what causes me to consider fasting. When I see a stronghold in my life. A stronghold means "a fortified place or a fortress." This is a really strong place that is tough to breakthrough. When I have been praying for a long time and don't see breakthrough, I fast. When my heart is very burdened with a situation, I fast. Sometimes when I feel very burdened, I start fasting without thinking about it, because I am so burdened I don't feel like eating. Othertimes, I begin a fast to bring my heart to a desperate place so I can pray in a focused and desperate way. Not eating much and especially not eating ice cream and enchiladas reminds me often during the day to focus on praying.

Some people eat to live, but I am a person who lives to eat! During this long period of fasting, I became desperate and focused in my prayer. Many breakthroughs occurred. Both personally and in the neighborhood we prayed for. God showed us He was present and did miracles in the lives of people. He transformed the neighborhood and He also transformed my heart. I can truly say, I will never be the same. So, if you have not tried fasting, start today. You can give up a meal and pray. Or maybe the radio in your car for a week. How about the computer games that eat up so much time. Pick something that is hard for you. I picked food because that is hard for me. And then ask God to show you something to pray for and watch for the miracle!!!