I believe that fasting is one of the most powerful ways we can get God’s attention. As we deny ourselves food for a period of time, sacrificing our basic physiological need, with every hunger pang, we are reminded of our goal to press into God as we appeal to him. Some fast out of desperation, crying out to God for an answer to a pressing issue or for deliverance from something or someone, while others fast regularly as a spiritual discipline, beating their flesh into submission as they also refine and hone their spiritually submission to God. Whatever the reason for our fast, our behavior, and our actions, during our fast are just as important as the act of fasting itself. Isaiah puts it this way in chapter 58 of his book, in verses 3 and 4 which says:
“‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.”
God honors the fast. I’ve seen it with others and I’ve experienced it myself. There have been times when I’ve fasted where God has given me a clear answer to a problem I’ve been facing, when he has redirected my ministry work, or when he has moved mightily on my behalf. You may have experienced the same. But, as we learn in Isaiah, our heart and our actions must be in step with the Spirit during our fast for our efforts to be most effective. God said, “you cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.” We cannot walk in sin, or disobedience to God, and expect our fast to move God’s heart. So denying ourselves food for a period of time is only part of the fast. We must also walk in step with the Spirit by disciplining our heart and our will. And I believe that this can best be accomplished if we are in regular communication with the Father through prayer and the reading of his word. That way, not only will he influence our actions and our countenance, but God can uses these two communication methods to speak back to our heart and answer our cries.
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Isaiah reminds us that fasting is more than an act of sacrifice. I believe it is also a purification process, and an act of spiritual submission in obedience and humility. To most effectively move God to action through our fast, we must have our entire self involved in the process; body, mind, soul and spirit. After all, Jesus told us that the greatest commandment is for us to love God with all of our heart, soul and mind. So it would track that our fast should engage these parts of ourself as well. And if we fast the way that Jesus modeled; denying ourself while honoring God, I believe that it would be his pleasure to move on our behalf.
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