The Power of Fasting and Prayer
God’s word reveals to us that fasting has many benefits, such as it being a channel of healing, health, answered prayers, and a great way to cast out unbelief from our hearts.
I'm sure that if God is leading you to fast, He is preparing you to receive a manifestation of blessing!
One benefit we are going to look at is increased sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s voice. We can sense God’s directions for our lives better when we fast.
When the disciples in the early church fasted, it seems like they became more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. They were able to receive God’s instructions and leading easier. It also helped them to make the right decision when faced with a big task.
“Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts 13:1-3 WEB)
If you are at a crossroads in life and need to make an important decision, the Holy Spirit may lead you to fast to seek God for His guidance and wisdom.
I believe that fasting makes one’s spirit more in tune with the spiritual things of God so we're able to hear from Him with greater clarity.
This is likely because when we fast, we are denying the flesh of its desires and are more focused on the Spirit.
Whenever fasting is mentioned in the Bible, it is mostly combined with prayer. I would liken fasting to an amplifier, making your prayers more effective by casting out unbelief from your heart and also making you more sensitive to the Holy Spirit and what He wants you to pray for.
Do you need to receive wisdom to make an important decision? Maybe you feel like you can’t sense what God wants from you at this point in time. Perhaps it’s time to dedicate a fast to the Lord, and make it a season to receive and hear from Him.
“Let the husband give his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife her husband. The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife. Don’t deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn’t tempt you because of your lack of self-control. But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.” (1 Corinthians 7:3-6 WEB)
The Apostle Paul taught that there are seasons whereby we should put aside fleshly indulgences like physical intimacy with your spouse, and just commit time to fasting and prayer.
The last time I fasted, I had to make a decision whether or not to listen to someone who was many years older than me. He preached God’s word locally and overseas.
After my fast, we met up. I could clearly sense that he was speaking nonsense, and I could easily discern the motivations that were shaping his words. It was obvious that his words were not to be trusted.
If I had listened to him I might have wasted precious years of my life doing something that was not God’s will for me.
Don’t overlook the powerful combination of fasting and prayer. We need to hear clearly from God, especially in difficult seasons and moments of standing at crossroads.
You can learn more about New Covenant fasting in my eBook “How to Fast Under Grace”. It is a short read, and it will clear up many misconceptions believers have about fasting: https://www.miltongoh.net/store/p20/how-to-fast-under-grace-milton-goh.html
