ByFasting is like a hunger strike for many people because the average believer hasn’t been taught in church why he needs to fast alone. In many cases, several believers fast when the ministry they belong to declares a fast for the entire congregation. Meanwhile, Jesus never taught us to only fast as corporate people in the Lord, although it helps.
When Jesus was driven into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit after John baptised him, He fasted for forty days and nights alone, not with others to encourage and strengthen Him. If the Bible says, “…as He (Jesus) is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17), then we can fast alone just as Jesus did with the same Holy Spirit in us, but not without a purpose for doing it.
I don’t see any particular verse in the New Testament that teaches believers why they need to fast. However, I know that Jesus said we’ll fast after He has left the earth (Luke 5:35). Moreover, in Matthew 6:16-18, where Jesus taught about fasting, He began by saying, “…when you fast,” not “if you fast.” So it’s clear that fasting is part of our spiritual exercises in Christ, just like how we have to pray, study the Word and apply what God teaches us frequently.
Today, I would like to share three reasons why you need to fast as a believer in God’s Word.
1. Fast to prepare for God’s assignment in your life
Before Jesus began His ministry, He fasted for forty days and nights and was tempted by the devil (Mark 1:12-13). Even though that period of His life had several purposes, I also believe it was a final preparation He made before beginning full-time ministry.
When you fast before embarking on any spiritual assignment you’ve heard from God, it prepares you for what’s ahead of you. Don’t be surprised when the devil tempts you many times during that season of your life. But as you overcome each of them, anything wrong in your heart will be filtered out by the grace of God.
If Jesus hadn’t overcome all the temptations the devil brought to Him, He would have submitted His allegiance to satan, and that would have adversely affected God’s plan for the salvation of the world. What a mystery. Don’t jump to the beginning of what God has told you to do. Pray and fast about it, and be open to hearing from God.
2. Fast to settle controversies
Some issues in life necessitate us to add fasting to our prayers. And I must say this is especially necessary when there’s a plea before God to solve imminent issues or the ones that have prevailed for long such as family curses.
For imminent issues, we see the Israelites applying fasting to address them in the book of Esther. Haman wanted to end the entire Jews in the citadel Shushan. But Mordecai and Esther stepped in. Esther knew that going before the king uninvited may lead to her death. So she told Mordecai to let all the Israelites, as well as her own servants, fast for her. So that when she breaks the law to go before the king, she will not die, and the Jews will also be saved. And yes, it worked.
Salvation is different from repentance. You might be saved but still have attitude problems.
Yes, God’s name is never mentioned anywhere in that book, but His mighty works were so evident.
Do you have any pressing issue in your life? Don’t just pray about it. Add fasting to it. Be serious and don’t think about hunger. Fast with all your heart, and God will hear you because of your seeking after Him.
3. Fast for repentance
Well, this reason for fasting is rarely used by people because it may look obsolete. But I believe it still works, not because God doesn’t remember our sins anymore (Hebrews 8:12), but because it changes our attitude from the core of our hearts. The Ninevites are an example of this.
After Jonah preached that God would destroy them in forty days due to their evil deeds, their king commanded them to fast, including animals. God, seeing that they have repented, relinquished His plan to destroy them (Jonah 3:4-10).
Salvation is different from repentance. You might be saved but still have attitude problems. If you’ve done something wrong and want to seek godly repentance, you can do so by fasting. That doesn’t mean God hasn’t already forgiven you. He has done that long ago on the cross of Jesus. But to change your own actions and wrong way of doing certain things, it’s useful.
In conclusion, fasting isn’t wrong, but for our good as children of God. Fast purposefully. You’re a blessing.
