Why spiritual fasting?
The Bible mentions fasting over 70 times. Here are seven circumstances in which believers sought God through this discipline.
- To prepare for ministry
- To seek God’s wisdom
- To show grief
- To seek deliverance or protection
- To repent
- To gain victory
- To worship God
What does fasting look for me?
Fasting can be approached in several ways. The Bible describes several types of fasting.
Traditionally, a regular fast means refraining from eating all food. Most people still drink water or juice during a regular fast.
This type of fast generally refers to omitting a specific meal from your diet or refraining from certain types of foods.
These fasts are complete – no food and no drink. Acts 9:9 describes when Paul went on a full fast for three days following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.
Although not mentioned in the Bible, Christians today commit to fasting from other activities as well. Some give up entertainment such as TV or movies, social media to concentrate on prayer. Others fast from sleep or another activity for a specified period of time.
Examples
Be mindful of any health issues that could make a fast unwise. For example, if you are a diabetic or have any other physical condition that requires a strict diet, be especially mindful not to put yourself in a compromised position as a result of a fast.
Please check with your doctor if you are concerned to see if there are any physical limitations on how you should fast.
How can we experience this discipline for the journey we are on?
As we journey together seeking God’s man for His church we should especially be focused on Seeking God’s wisdom for our Search Committee, protection from Satan, repenting of our sins and victory in calling God’s man.
Pray for:
Search Committee and Church Family
- Repentance and Cleansing
- Spiritual and Physical Cleansing
- Commitment and Endurance
- Humility
- Purity
- Rest and Refreshment
- Unity
- Wisdom
- Discernment
- Seeking God First
- Dependence on God
- God’s Will
- God’s Plan for Mobberly
Mobberly’s New Pastor
- God’s Calling on His Heart
- His Wife and Family
- Humility
- Discernment
- Conviction
- A Heart for the Mission of Mobberly
“Fasting should have a specific spiritual purpose. Identify what that is and design a focus to replace the time you would have spent eating. Without a purpose and plan, it’s not Christian fasting; it’s just going hungry.”