21 Days of Moving Toward GodSample

Day 2: Why We Fast? 

We fast for 3 reasons. It is as simple as ABC. 

A - ALIGNMENT. 

Fasting is an internal evaluation. Fasting helps us check what’s going on inside of our heart, mind, and soul. As we fast, we should be checking ourselves to make sure that our hearts are aligned with the will of God. This is something we have to do continually if we want to stay on track in our walk with Jesus. Do my desires line up with God’s desires? Does my will line up with God’s will? Are the thoughts and feelings that I have aligned with the heart and Word of God?

B - BREAKTHROUGH. 

In Mark chapter 9, there is an incredible story where Jesus miraculously heals a young boy who is possessed by a demon. After the crowds leave and all the commotion caused by the miracle calms down, Jesus is sitting around with the disciples and they ask Him why they, the disciples, didn’t have the power to cast out the demon? His response is really intriguing…He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.”

The point is that spiritual freedom, sometimes, can only come through intentional prayer and fasting. There are some things in our lives that we will never experience freedom from unless there is prayer and fasting. Is there a sin issue you can't seem to escape? Perhaps breakthrough will only come with fasting. Are you asking God to do a miracle in your family? Perhaps breakthrough will only come with fasting. Are you praying for healing, or restoration, or a fresh start? Perhaps breakthrough will only come with fasting. This is not some kind of trick or some kind of guarantee. God is not a vending machine—you can’t just insert your fasting and down drops your breakthrough. However, if you are up against something spiritual and it feels like there is no way to overcome it or move beyond where you are, we can fast for breakthrough because we know that God uses fasting in this way.

C - CLARITY. 

Have you ever had to make a hard decision? Have you ever had to make a decision where you felt like you needed God’s wisdom or direction? Fasting can help us get clarity about how to move forward. Fasting is a great way to make spiritual decisions. In James 1:5 it says, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”

When we move, direction happens. 

Ask yourself:

1. What physical thing do I need to give up for a time? 

2. What spiritual gain are you believing God for—alignment, breakthrough or clarity? 

–Pastor Ryan McDermott