Stage217

Fasting…ugh when I hear those words I cringe. It has always been my Achilles heel, my struggle. However, when I would fast my sensitivity to God’s voice and will intensified! But why do we have to fast? I mean I get revelation and understanding already from the Word of God, is there more to Him that I have not discovered? David, in Psalm 42 was fasting and he got to a point where he was past his earthly desires and was able to cry out from the deep of himself into the deep things of God. That’s a good place to be. I’m reading a book by Jentezen Franklin called “fasting” and he says something that I think we need to all hear, “the practice of fasting is not limited to ministers and special occasions” (9). I believe this to be true and a struggle of most people. Fasting was to be a normal part of a relationship with God, but we use it normally for special events, hoping God will show up and bless our events, or we think that only the ministers should fast elevating fasting to a level of exclusiveness that is was never intended for. Fasting isn’t exclusive (for the select few) it is inclusive (for everyone). “The three duties of every Christian are giving, praying, and fasting.”(11) Imagine that. Jesus said in Matthew 6 when you pray…when you give…when you fast…He made it clear that we should give as much attention to fasting and we do to giving and praying. “If Jesus could have accomplished all He came to do without fasting, why would He fast? The Son of God fasted because He knew they were supernatural things that could only be released that way. How much more should fasting be a common practice in our lives”(14).
I just wanted to encourage you today to fast, pray and give. God has so much more for you today that if you would position yourself on His wheel and remove all the impurities by the blood of Christ His perfect plan for your life will be revealed! Spend time with God today. Go into your room, close the door, don’t announce to the world that you are doing it, and just keep it between you and God. He has much more in store.

Psalm 42-“As a deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirst for God, for the living God.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 “a threefold cord is not easily broken” -Prayer, giving and fasting

Matthew 6 “The Beatitudes”