What Happens When You Fast?
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces) to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
In the Bible fasting is going without food for the purpose of intentional times of prayer and seeking God.
It is often done in response to difficult situations, or sacred moments, or out of an increased desire for God’s presence and direction.
Jesus says to his followers, when you fast…
Not if….
“More than any other discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us. This is a wonderful benefit to the true disciple who longs to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. We cover up what is inside of us with food and other things, but in fasting these things surface. If pride controls us, it will be revealed almost immediately. David said, “I humbled my soul with fasting” (Ps. 69:10) Anger, bitterness, jealousy, strife, fear—if they are within us, they will surface during fasting….We can rejoice in this knowledge because we know that healing is available through the power of Christ.”
Fasting can reveal what controls us.
Fasting is like handing God a shovel that digs up the darkness that is underneath the surface of our lives.
A lot of our character defects and “issues” are hidden underneath comfort, food and other luxuries.
When we remove those things, even for a short amount of time, issues come more readily to the surface.
The temptation is to think that fasting is creating the issues: “I’m angry because I’m fasting, I’m impatient because I am fasting”.
The hard and humbling truth is that fasting is revealing issues that are already there.
We are like sponges.
Fasting squeezes us.
And what is inside of us comes out.
Fasting reveals the things that control us, and it exposes the depths of our hearts to the love of the Father and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
In this way, fasting can lead to repentance, repentance can lead to personal renewal, and personal renewal gone viral is revival (Mark Sayers)— revival which doesn’t happen apart from prayer and fasting.
When you fast…
Not if….
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