GIVE GOD 90 DAYS // How to FAST together
Welcome to the second part in our teaching series supporting NVCF’s…. GIVE GOD 90 DAY’S Prayer effort!
The idea of fasting basically means to go without food. Fasting’s purpose is to give the time of your eating as time to pray for a particular concern you may have. In a real sense, fasting adds a sense of urgency, humility and intensity in wanting to approeach God with our issue. Again, Jesus teaches us about fasting in Matthew 6:16-18. Fasting is not to be a showy effort to impress people but a private act to connect with God and present our petition. Fasting is a form of “humbling ourselves” before God as we approach him for help and answers (Ezra 8:21; Nehemiah 9:1). It is a time of “afflicting our soul” which means to deny what our body wants in a sincere effort to make an intense connection with the Lord. (Ps.69:10) In other words, fasting is an intensifying of our seeking God in prayer.
Fasting can also be a denial of more than food. it can be giving up time and giving effort to help the helpless and the oppressed. (Isa.58:6) It can be a fasting of sleep in order to spend time with the Lord. (Isa.21:8) If fasting food brings up health issues for some people they should consult their doctors in what they can and can not do in doing a fast. Some people because of health issues may choose to fast TV, computer time or recreational activities in order to give them more time with the Lord in prayer and to “afflict their soul” (displine their wants) in seeking God.
Fasting can also be a community effort (Joel 1:14; Jonah 3:5). Here is where a group or nation recognizes their need to humble themselves before God to gain God’s forgivness and mercy. In the case of the Ninevites in Jonah 3:5, God was moved by their fasting and prayer to turn his anger away from them and to not judge them. Corporate humbling and afflicting of soul is a poweful way to unite God’s people in prayer and in moving the heart of God (2Chron.20:3).
Fasting is something an individual or group needs to enter into carefully with clear goals and purpose. When done correctly it is a powerful ally to prayer.
end of teaching.