Throughout this month our church family has been participating in 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting with our Foursquare denomination. I know many of us make prayer a regular part of our lives, but fasting is one of those things many of us read about in the Bible, but haven’t necessarily participated in.
Fasting is when we willingly abstain from something for a set period of time—maybe food in general or a specific meal or type of food, social media, or TV—to instead spend time praying and seeking the Lord. It’s a conscious decision to set aside worldly distractions and draw closer to God. When we fast, we create space for divine revelation, allowing God to speak to us in the stillness of our hearts.
In the fast-paced world we live in, it’s so easy to get distracted and to focus on anything and everything but God. Those distractions may start off small, but they have a tendency to take us farther and farther away from Jesus. Like using a compass, if our bearing is off by one degree, it may not seem like a big deal at first. But the longer we travel off track, the farther we get from our intended destination.
When we find ourselves off track, a great way to get back on track is through the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting. Consider a habit or routine that has subtly taken control of your life. Whether it’s the constant pull of social media, the comfort of indulging in certain foods, or the escape provided by television, these habits can become obstacles in our journey of following Jesus. Fasting from these distractions serves as a reset button, breaking those habits and bringing us back into right relationship with the Lord.
In Luke 4:1-2 we read: “And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days.”
This account in Luke 4 reveals that even Jesus, the Son of God, engaged in a period of fasting. His example teaches us that fasting is not a sign of weakness but a source of spiritual strength. In the wilderness, Jesus overcame temptation and emerged stronger, ready to begin His ministry. I believe that times of prayer and fasting can do the same for us.
We don’t need a denominational campaign for us to pray and fast. We can do it anytime. Where are you in your relationship with Jesus? Do you feel far away from Him? Taking time to pray and fast is a great way to get back on track. And quieting some of our everyday distractions allows us to hear His voice more clearly as we seek Him and ask Him for guidance.
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