Fasting is not on my top ten favorite things to do. Not eating for a period of time tends to remind me of how much I miss food. Fasting leaves me feeling fatigued both physically and mentally. These 26 days of Fast.Pray.Serve. has been no exception. If this has been my experience with fasting, then why fast? I fast because after wards I have the sense of being more connected to God. It is through this connection that power is released into my life. That power enables me to fulfill God’s call on my life.
In the book of Mark we read that Jesus, along with Peter, James, and John came down from the mount of transfiguration, and the first thing they were confronted with was a boy who needed deliverance. The other disciples had tried unsuccessfully to cast out the evil spirit. The distraught father turned to Jesus for help who cast out the spirit, restoring the boy to health. The disciples asked Jesus privately why they had been unable to cast out the evil spirit. Jesus answered “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” (NKJV)
As I ponder this event I am struck by the fact that Jesus does not tell the father and son to wait while He spends time in fasting and prayer. He simply addressed their need by casting out the spirit with a word. Jesus practiced a lifestyle of prayer and fasting so He was always prepared for what work the Father brought His way. If we will follow Jesus’ example and practice a lifestyle of prayer and fasting, we too will be prepared and empowered to meet whatever challenge God brings our way.
