The Burning Bush Church

The Power of Fasting

By Sharon Vlacich

In The Basics of Fasting we had discussed some of the spiritual benefits of fasting and the kind of fast God considers to be acceptable, found in Isaiah 58. Here we are going to discuss the power of fasting.

First, the act of fasting in itself does not signify that the one doing it is more spiritual than the one who does not or seldom does. God knows the heart. However, I believe that fasting on some kind of regular basis can certainly lead a person to develop a deeper and more intimate relationship with the Lord. It is something that God does in a person while they are fasting and seeking Him, perhaps even if they are not fasting primarily for that reason only, but for other issues for which they need some kind of breakthrough.

Why Does Fasting Work?

One of the most common questions asked about fasting is why does fasting work? Here are some of the different speculations on this: it is an act of sacrifice, it is humbling yourself before God, it makes you more open to hearing the voice of the Lord since eating food can make your mind foggy, preventing you from hearing clearly, etc. While the Bible is not clear on the specifics as to why it works, we do find throughout scripture the results.

Fasting as a Spiritual Weapon

Fasting is one of the spiritual weapons with which God has equipped us and is very powerful. There are some things that just won't budge unless fasting is involved. We read in Isaiah 58 where God says that fasting is to loose the bonds of wickedness, let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke, meaning bondage. In reading further it speaks of the other things it help accomplish, such as healing, God will hear your cry, to receive God's guidance, God will meet your needs, and God will work through you to meet the spiritual needs of others.

There are at least four Christians whom I know personally, all having ministries in which the Holy Spirit moves powerfully. I have noticed one thing that they all have in common- they all fast. They don't all do it the same way, but they do incorporate it as a normal part of their Christian life and the results are obvious.

I encourage you to study through the Word of God on the different accounts of fasting, the reasons for the fasts, and the results. If you enjoy reading, I highly reccommend reading Fasting, written by Jentezen Franklin, which explains the subject of fasting in greater depth and is loaded with testimonies of several people of what the Lord has done in their lives as a result of fasting.