There are different types of fasts in the Bible that were carried out for a variety of different purposes - and for differing lengths of time. But fasting, in the simplest definition of the word, is the discipline of abstaining from food for a given period of time in order to devote one’s self more to prayer and the Word of God.
For most believers, fasting is likely the most neglected of all spiritual practices, but this powerful discipline has the ability to increase the effectiveness of your prayer life. When the disciples encountered a demon that they could not expel from a boy, Jesus told them that certain demonic beings could only be removed through a combination of both prayer and fasting.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” 20 And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. 21 “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:19-21, NAS)
For every natural act of faith, there is a divine reaction. Whatever it is that occurs in the realm of the spirit when we fast and pray, it’s safe to say that there is something to be said of acting in faith out of obedience to God’s Word. Even if we don’t understand exactly how or why fasting intensifies the potency of our prayers, we know that it does. Like a sledge hammer chips away at a brick wall, so our prayers chip away at stubborn spiritual barriers. And fasting adds more strength to the strike.
Furthermore, fasting helps us to weaken our greatest enemy - the flesh.
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. (Galatians 5:17, NLT)
Whatever strengthens my Spirit weakens my flesh. So if my spirit is strengthened through fasting and praying, then my carnal nature is weakened by the same. Therefore, every benefit that you can receive from a weakened flesh or from empowered prayer, you can receive from fasting. Though there are many more, here are 10 benefits of fasting:
1: Fasting can bring clarity to the voice of God. (Acts 13:2)
2: Fasting can help to properly establish a new ministry. (Acts 14:23)
3: Fasting can bring favor. (Esther 4:16)
4: Fasting can bring healing. (Psalm 35:13-14)
5: Fasting can prepare you for the call of God. (Matthew 4:1-4)
6: Fasting can prepare you for temptation. (Matthew 4:1-4)
7: Fasting can bring about freedom. (Isaiah 58:6)
8: Fasting can bring protection. (Ezra 8:21)
9: Fasting can increase Spiritual Authority. (Matthew 17:19-21, NAS)
10: Fasting can teach you dependance on God. (Matthew 4:3-4, NLT)
If you will respond with faith to the Word of God and implement fasting as a frequent discipline in your life, you will see spiritual growth, such as you never imagined possible. Begin to see the effectiveness of your prayers increase and the desires of the flesh weaken. Step into depths of the Spirit that you’ve never known. Take God at His Word. Watch what begins to happen in your life as you fast and pray.