Why do we fast and pray?
Most of us know why we pray. It’s a connection, relationship, and communication with God. But why consider fasting?
Fasting combined with prayer is God’s design to access His power and His presence. If you fast and don’t pray, you’re just dieting. When you add in the fast, it’s a spiritual discipline.
In Daniel Chapter 9, we find the story of Daniel praying. Daniel was engaged in prayer and fasting for his nations. That was his purpose. He was praying for a breakthrough. Daniel recognized that his people had walked away from God – so he confessed sins and inequities of his nations, prayed, and fasted for his people. On the 24th day, Daniel received a word from the angel Gabriel. Maybe Daniel wondered what took so long. We read further and learn what happened,
“Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”
It’s important to understand that we don’t wrestle with flesh and blood; we wrestle with dark spiritual forces and principalities, just like what was happening in Daniel’s time. We have to connect with God in Heaven and bring His presence here to battle those forces. If we are willing to humble ourselves and pray not just for ourselves but the community and culture around us, we can break those dark forces and open the heavens. When we pray, worship, fast, wait (have patience), and join together declaring His Word, we pierce the darkness and allow for an open Heaven.
We also need to understand that Jesus gave us this authority. In Luke Chapter 10, Jesus gave seventy-two authority to go and speak His peace. He told them when you find a house where God’s peace remains, stay, and
“Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
So they did, and,
the seventy-two (who Jesus has sent out) returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.“
So, why should you fast and pray?
We are living in a time where often we feel like the power of the enemy is everywhere. We know that we have authority over the dark forces. But we must be willing to do the hard work. Let’s follow Daniels’s example and release the power and presence of God.
Yes, it’s a sacrifice, but it should be a part of every Christians’ life.
I hope you will join us during this season!