10 Benefits of Fasting

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.

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Praying with Boldness

When teaching his disciples how to pray, Jesus began by saying this:

Matthew 6:9

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Notice that Jesus didn’t begin His prayer with a plea to be heard. He did not beg for God’s attention. He did not cry out to be received. He prayed with a confident knowing. Assured of His identity, Jesus prayed with a holy boldness. 

The key to praying with boldness is knowing that God is your Father and that you are His child. We find our confidence when we can sincerely pray, “Our Father.” 

When the believer is assured of his divine identity, he can pray unhindered by doubt and shame. Doubt and shame are the great destroyers of your prayer life. Doubt tells you that God can’t hear you; shame tells you that God won’t hear you.

And both doubt and shame can be overcome by knowing one simple yet powerful truth. That Truth is found in the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 4:15-16

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Because of what Christ accomplished on the cross, because we have a High Priest representing us before the Father, we can approach the throne of God with confidence and boldness.

The disciple of Christ does not doubt God’s existence, but the disciple of Christ does, at times, doubt God’s ability to perform His Word. And it’s not that we imagine that God is powerless. Instead, we imagine that we ourselves are unable to receive. That’s the great hindrance of doubt. In the same way, shame causes us to question whether or not God will hear our prayers. 

Shame and doubt go hand-in-hand. Shame and doubt energize one another, and they are rooted in the same lies. 

“Your past isn’t forgiven.”

“God is unwilling to hear you.”

“You’ve made too many mistakes.”

“It’s too late for you.”

Shame and doubt can hinder your prayer life, yes. But there is a holy boldness within - a boldness that has the power to destroy the weakening bondages of shame and doubt. 

When you begin to pray, start from the place of identity. Maintain a divine audacity. Know to Whom you belong. Know that you are accepted and forgiven. Cry out, “My Father!” Let the Holy Spirit persuade you. Let Him convince you that you belong to God.

Romans 8:15

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

Trust the voice of the Holy Spirit. Ignore the voices of doubt and shame. When you pray with boldness, you’re not afraid to ask of God. When you pray while free from shame, your confidence in the Lord is renewed.

Imagine how much time you could save while praying if, instead of begging God to hear you, you simply believed that He already did. Imagine how boldly you could approach the throne if you knew the sin that causes you shame was wiped from God’s records. You’re already His. You belong to Him. Remember: we don’t pray to connect with God; we pray from connection with God. Go boldly before God.

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Waiting Upon the Lord

One of the most common frustrations that people express to me concerning prayer is this: “I don’t know how to begin”.

Anyone can pray. Satanists can pray. Religious people can pray. But only the Holy Spirit can make your prayer more than an act of human effort. If it begins with human effort, prayer remains powerless. If it is born of the Spirit, prayer becomes effective.

So how can we ensure that prayer begins and remains spiritual?

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. - Psalm 40:1

We ensure that by simply waiting.

Many approach the Lord in a hurry and rush into their prayer requests, making declaration of their needs.

Of course, there is nothing inherently wrong with presenting your needs to the Lord. In fact, the scripture encourages us to ask the Lord for what we need.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. - Philippians 4:6

But we cannot stop at the prayer request. The prayer request is only the beginning of prayer. It unburdens you and allows your mind to be put at ease. When you know that the Lord has heard your requests, you are filled with a certain peace. That peace enables you to focus your heart on pursuing the Lord simply for the sake of His glorious presence.

So the prayer request is a valuable tool in prayer.

But beyond that, prayer will take you to a place of waiting for the Lord. Notice that you’re not just waiting but waiting for the Lord. Wait. Expect. Patiently wait for the Lord to touch you through His Holy Spirit and guide you further into prayer.

The Holy Spirit wants to take you into the depths of prayer, but He waits for you at the gate of stillness.

So I encourage you, dear reader, to add to your prayer time a moment of pause. Wait for the Lord to quicken you so that you can call upon His name, not from a place of human effort, but from the Spirit.

So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. - Psalm 80:18

Wait upon the Lord. Be still and wait to sense His guidance. He will lead you from there.

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Praying “Our Father”

Remember this: the Holy Spirit is the One Who helps us to pray. Jesus instructed us on how to pray, and the Holy Spirit helps us to obey those instructions.

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. – Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)

Our Father…

Notice here that Jesus does not instruct us to pray, “My Father”. He is teaching us to pray from a point of unity, from the sense of collective belonging. In fact, Jesus taught us that we should reconcile our issues with each other before approaching our Heavenly Father. Unity is so important to the Lord that He will not even hear your prayers until you have forgiven others.

…leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. – Matthew 5:24 (NLT)

Unity brings about a greater power when we pray. But unity isn’t just about praying corporately or in groups. To pray from the collective sense by truly declaring, “Our Father”, we must pray without offense within our hearts. In this way, even when we are praying in solitude before the Lord, we can still rightfully pray, “Our Father”.

True unity is about being free from offense. True unified prayer is prayer without grudges or bitterness.

So how do we live in this unity and, thereby, pray from the right posture?

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. – Ephesians 4:3

The Holy Spirit is the One Who promotes unity among the brethren and is, therefore, the One Who helps us to rightfully pray the “Our” in “Our Father”.

Our Father…

Think about what that means. Jesus begins the prayer by recognizing His Sonship. He starts from faith, not from questioning. He enters prayer with confidence, not with begging. Prayer begins with Sonship; it is not a means to obtain it.

How much time could you save in prayer if, instead of begging God to hear you, you believed He already did?

We must enter prayer knowing that we are children of God. We must come to Him in confidence. Don’t waste another moment begging for God to hear you. Know that He hears you now!

“Our Father which art in Heaven!”

Here again the Holy Spirit is our Helper, for He convinces us of our rightful place as God’s Children.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. – Romans 8:15

And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” – Galatians 4:6

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. – Romans 8:9

Perhaps the most important work that the Holy Spirit will ever do is convince us of our identity in Christ. He convicts us about who we are. Conviction is deeply held belief. The Holy Spirit doesn’t just convict us about sin – He convicts us of our identity and God’s righteousness.

And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. – John 16:8

He convicts us (causes us to deeply believe) that we are children of God.

The Holy Spirit helps us to truly pray, “Our Father”. He helps us to stand in the collective sense of “Our” by helping us to live free of offense and in unity with one another. And He helps us to identify God as our “Father” by convicting us of Sonship.

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The Divine Challenge

Dear reader, I want to give you a simple challenge, a practical and immediately applicable truth that will help you to become more like Christ each day. King David understood this simple principle:

“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” - Psalm 1:2

God’s Word is the law, and Jesus is God’s Word.

We must fix our minds upon Christ. The eyes of your heart must lock a gaze upon the majestic countenance of Christ.

For all our toil and strain, we so often come up empty. It’s not complicated. It’s beyond human effort and exhaustion. Stop struggling. Be still. Just think upon the Word of God. Be still and look at His face by meditation on the Word.

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:” - Proverbs 23:7

Think about Christ, meditate upon Him, and you will become more like Him.

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” - 2 Corinthians 3:18

We are changed in His presence as we behold Him.

You can’t get more of God. All that God was, is or ever shall be abides within you. When the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you, He comes in fullness. If you’re hungry for that ‘something more’, you will discover it when you realize this: it’s not about how much you have of God; it’s about how much God has of you. And one of the many ways that we can surrender more of ourselves to Him is our thoughts.

I am being completely honest with you when I tell you that, when I am awake, not more than 5 minutes can usually go by without me giving a thought to the Lord. I live in an awareness of His presence. I am looking forward to the day when I can get that down to 1 minute.

It’s possible to surrender the mind to the beauty of Christ. I encourage you to take up this challenge today: Think of Christ more today than you did yesterday. Do that everyday and you’ll see transformation.

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He’s Near to You

We don’t need to wait to die until we can begin to experience Heaven here upon the earth. For the very mention of the name of Jesus has the power to transform the atmosphere. When you describe Jesus, you think about Jesus. And it is the thought of Jesus that is the awareness of God.

Such awareness is a key to a fulfilled Christian life. If we can be mindful of Him – from moment to moment – our every second can be Heavenly. Your every hour can be filled with the sense of His nearness.

“I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!” - Psalm 139:7

I first began to apply the power of this awareness in my personal relationship with the Lord when I was 11 years old. Prayer became more simple. Instead of begging God to hear me, I simply accepted that He already did. Since then, I have also learned to apply this reality in my times of ministry.

When I begin to describe Jesus or retell a Bible story, a spiritual picture is being painted by the Holy Spirit. He takes the Word and makes it flesh. He takes truth and makes is apparent in our reality.

Jesus is the Word (John 1:1;14).

“…but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season…” - Psalm 1:2-3

When we meditate upon the Word, with revelation by the Holy Spirit, we experience Jesus.

This is why, when I talk about Jesus the Healer, people get healed. When I talk about Jesus the Savior, people get saved. And so on.

Focus on Him today. Let your mind be filled with His Word.

He is real. He is near. He is here with you, right now. His eyes are fixed upon you. He can hear your every whisper, your very thoughts. Talk to Him. Call upon His name. Experience His presence in this moment now.

Lift your hands and say, “Jesus”.

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3 Keys to Clearly Hearing God

In scripture, when looking at the God’s mighty prophets and anointed ministers, you’ll notice that it was rare for any of them to doubt that they were hearing God. Sure, they sometimes doubted situations, and they were met with many of the same inner struggles that we face today. But those men were confident in their ability to hear God. Compare that confidence with the uncertainty of many of today’s believers, and you’ll be forced to ask yourself this important question: why do believers today struggle to hear God?

Dear reader, I want you to know this: it’s possible to hear God with such certainty, such clarity, that there will be hardly any room for doubt. The Christian is not supposed to struggle to hear God, yet that struggle is widely accepted as normal.

Hearing God is simple, and don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise. His voice is unmistakable, completely unique.

In fact, the most shocking reality about God’s voice is this: He is already speaking to you.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” - John 10:27

Jesus made it clear. If you belong to God, you hear His voice. So the real question you should be asking is not, “Can I hear God?” but rather, “Am I a sheep?”.

Even Samuel, when growing and being trained as a prophet, heard God’s voice without realizing that it was God speaking (See 1 Samuel 3). Samuel heard God’s voice, but he didn’t recognize it. And that, believer, is the key: recognizing the voice. You already hear it.

So how does one come to hear God clearly, to recognize when He is speaking?

So here are three basic Biblical keys to hearing God’s voice.

#1 Silence and Stillness

There are three voices that speak to you – the flesh, the demonic and the godly. That is the secular, the Satanic and the Spiritual. The secular includes your own flesh, worldly people and worldly thinking. The Satanic includes demonic lies, actual demons and manipulative influences (example: people who control you by guilt). The Spiritual includes scripture, the voice of the Holy Spirit and counsel from godly people.

To distinguish these voices from one another, we must submit ourselves to Silence and Stillness.

“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” - Matthew 6:6

Jesus instructed us to pray in private for two reasons. Firstly, praying in private eliminates the focus on the praises of men. Secondly, the privacy of prayer helps to cultivate an atmosphere of silence.

Silence is the putting away of outer distraction – turning the phone off, getting alone and removing distractions. Comparatively speaking, silence is the easy part.

The difficult part is stillness.

“Be still, and know that I am God!…” - Psalm 46:10

Be still… and know. Stillness precedes revelation.

If silence is the putting away of outer distraction, then stillness is the quieting of the soul.

Stillness is the silencing of inner noise – depression, fear, anxiety, worry, doubt, guilt, anger – and all forms of chaotic inner distraction. To find this stillness, one must look away from the troubles and concerns of this world and fix a gaze upon the countenance of Christ. Whatever has been revealed of Christ to you – let that be your focus, and you will find the stillness that brings about clarity.

#2 The Word

If I were to ask you to describe the voice of a friend or loved one, you might be able to lend me a few descriptions of their voice’s quality and cadence. However, despite what information I might be able to gather from your description, I would not be able to pick your friend’s voice from a crowd of speakers from your description alone. But you would be able to do so.

Because you hear them regularly, you become familiar with how they sound. And you wouldn’t just know how they sound. You would be able to find clues based upon the content of what is being spoken – the words and the ideas. Your familiarity with the sound of their voice and the content of their voice gives you a distinct advantage in identifying their voice.

So how might one become familiar with God’s voice?

This familiarity comes about through the reading of God’s Word.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…” - 2 Timothy 3:16

As you read the Word, you will become more familiar with God’s voice – in quality, tone and content.

#3 Obedience

This is probably the most effective key I can give you when it comes to hearing God. Obedience to God actually causes you to become more keen on hearing His voice.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” - Psalm 37:23

All throughout scripture, God speaks to sinners and even disobedient men. But they failed to obey God because they did not recognize God as Lord in their lives. Cain, after He slew his brother Abel, was immediately confronted by the presence and voice of God. But from God’s presence, Cain was banished. You see, God is everywhere at all times, but you must become aware of Him if you are to experience Him. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. In other words, God guides the obedient. So, simply obey the written and moral laws of God, and you will find your mind more clear. Sin blinds, but obedience clarifies. As you obey what you already know to be God, you will find yourself more able to receive personal communication from the Lord.

God offers His guidance to those who are godly, those who walk in obedience toward Him.

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly.He delights in every detail of their lives.” - Psalm 37:23

God will not tell you about step 3 if you haven’t obeyed Him in taking step 1. Sin doesn’t keep God from speaking; it keeps us from hearing.

Are you struggling to find direction at this point in your life?

Then obey what you definitely know to be the Lord for right now – whether you heard it through the Word or through the Holy Spirit directly to your heart. His next word of guidance will come after you’ve obeyed what He’s already spoken.

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Beholding the Glory

One of the scriptures I consider most often is this beautiful verse:

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord–who is the Spirit–makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” - 2 Corinthians 3:18

Jesus is the Glory of God.

And, because of the work of the Holy Spirit, you and I can fix a clear gaze upon the face of Jesus. It is that fixation, that divine obsession, that brings about God’s transformative power in our lives. We behold the very glory of God.

Behold…

be hold…

As we hold the gaze, He causes us to be like him.

In Exodus 33:10 the scripture says, “But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.” To behold the Glory, to gaze upon the countenance of Christ, is to experience the death of self and life unto God.

The scripture also says, “But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.” (Psalm 1:2). According to John 1:1, the Word is Christ. So Christ is our meditation. Upon Him, we meditate. And as we meditate upon Christ (The Word), the Holy Spirit takes the Word and causes it to become revelation.

Jesus is revealed.

The veil is lifted.

And we are changed as we behold Him…

The very Glory of God.

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