KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9:14 KJV” Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?”

Man’s fall from the beginning of creation was caused through food. (Gen 3:1-7) Satan attempt to get the master into sin was initiated by food. (Matt 4:4-5). Medicine tells us the major cause of most terminal diseases is precipitated by wrong foods. Fasting which is an abstinence from food in order to dedicate oneself to prayer, reading the scriptures and meditation on the scriptures, can help us free ourselves from the wrong appetite for food. . The disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus, that John’s disciples used to fast often, and why does His disciplines do not fast?  The Lord answered that when he leaves them, then they would fast. 

Fasting is not a magic wand to twist the hand of God. Fasting is a discipline that ‘fine tunes’ us up to receive from God. Apostle Paul remarks about his fasting in the following verse, as follows, 2Corinth 11:27 KJV” In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness”. He talked about watching often, fasting often. Watching means praying throughout the night, and then he also fasted often. To pray through the night, accompanied with fasting is a very high sacrifice that would definitely attract God’s attention. A study of the scriptures reveals that anytime the people of God made grave sacrifices, God’s attention is drawn to the individual making that sacrifice. A study of most men and women of God who walked in the demonstration of God’s power were people who fasted often and also spent lots of hours praying in the presence of God.

HOW can one develop a life of fasting? The following is a suggesting to help you develop a life of fasting.

1.Read about the great benefits of fasting and the fact that, it is not an option but an obligation for every child of God. (Matt 6:16)

2.Start fasting for a day by forsaking breakfast and lunch. Continue fasting   a day for each week for some time.

3.Go for a whole day without food but with water. Do this for some months. I mean you can fast once a week, You can make it your weekly program.

4.Now decide to have three days without food once every month. Meanwhile can maintain your once a full day fast for each week.

5.You can now increase it to more days as your body adjust to longer days of fasting without eating. Make sure you pray fervently alongside. As you observe this program you would improve your spiritual life so strongly and your health would likewise spring up.

I will look at the science of fasting in our next study

PRAYER

Thank you, heavenly Father, for your love for me. Thank you for the ability to abstain from food for some time. My prayer life is strengthened as I fast and pray.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 4:2, 4 KJV “And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Luke 4:14 KJV” And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.”