Why Fast?

Biblically, prayer and fasting go together. And as with prayer, fasting is about God. However, in our day, the biblical principle of fasting has been almost forgotten. Throughout history, God’s people have made fasting an important part of their worship and prayer. Fasting is God’s way of helping us focus on matters of the Spirit; it enables us to gain control of our appetites so that we can direct our mental and spiritual energies toward Him.

What a statement! After Dr. Bright engaged in a 40-day personal fast, during which God gave him the vision to call churches and individuals to times of fasting and prayer on an unprecedented scale, he stated:

This proves to be the most important 40 days of my life. As I waited upon the Lord, the Holy Spirit gave me the assurance that America and much of the work will … experience a great spiritual awakening … But before God comes in revival power, the Holy Spirit will call millions of God’s people to repent, fast, and pray in the spirit of 2 Chronicles 7:14:

If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

The scope of this revival depends on how believers in America and the rest of the world respond to this call.

Our Pastor is calling us to pray and fast for spiritual revival in our families, our church, our community and beyond. We are called to seek the Lord as never before as a church body, to ask God’s spirit to renew and revive us again for His purpose and plan in our personal lives and in the corporate life of Prestonwood Baptist Church. As we consider further growth, we are asking God to truly take us Beyond All Limits as we reach out to our community. The task is huge; it is bigger than any of us; it is God-sized. Therefore, we are being called to fast and pray for God’s purpose and plan to be accomplished.

How we respond, individually and collectively, will determine whether Prestonwood will be in the center of revival, spiritual awakening and the greater works God has planned for us.

What is Fasting?

"To fast" means primarily "not to eat." Biblical fasting always centers on spiritual purposes. Fasting normally involves abstaining from all food, solid or liquid, but not water, for a determined amount of time with specific spiritual goals. A thorough definition might be: "The fast is an act of the will through which the individual Christian exerts spiritual control over the flesh (through not eating, or through the laying down of other distractions and hindrances) with a view to a more personal and powerful experience with God in prayer." It involves giving up the physical to attain the greater spiritual insights.

Is Fasting For Today?

In his book Celebration of Discipline, Richard J. Foster writes:

“The constant propaganda fed us today convinces us that if we do not have three large meals each day, with several snacks in between, we are on the verge of starvation. This, coupled with the popular belief that it is a positive virtue to satisfy every human appetite, has made fasting seem obsolete.”

We need to realize several things about fasting as we try to answer that question.

Is Fasting Biblical?

The list of biblical characters who fasted includes such greats as Moses, David, Elijah, Esther, Daniel, Anna, Paul and Jesus Christ the incarnate Son. Many well-known Christians throughout church history fasted and gave testimony to its value and power. Among them were Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards and David Brainerd.

Which Scriptures Support Fasting?

Fasting has solid scriptural roots. Here are several examples of fasting:

In the book of Joel, God called His people to fast and pray for a time of repentance, personal commitment and revival among the people.

The people of God faced national extinction in the days of Esther the queen. Esther called for her own people to respond with a fast in Esther 4:16. God called His people to pray and fast during a major crisis, and God delivered His people.

Ezra proclaimed a fast for protection as the people returned to the land following the rebuilding of the walls. God heard, and He answered by giving them supernatural protection (Ezra 8:21).

When Daniel was faced with spiritual battles, he fasted and prayed: “In those days, I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled,” (Daniel 10:1-2).

Joel called a national fast at the beginning of a locust plague. “Consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord,” (Joel 1:14). We may never see a plague of locust, but we are seeing a plague of unrighteousness. Abortion, pornography, violence, terrorism and lawlessness show the rebellion of the people against God’s Word.

Is Fasting Appropriate Today?

Yes, it is! Our nation is in need of revival. Our world is in desperate need of salvation from the bondage of unrighteousness. Our church is in need of protection, direction and power as we strive to do great things for the Kingdom of God in this world. Our families are in need of direction, support and protection to stand firm and equip future generations of believers.

Yes, fasting is for today, and it is for the now!