Hidden Forces in FastingSample

Fasting Makes a Difference

Fasting is an incredible spiritual discipline that refocuses your life on God. When your life is focused on God, your life becomes different.

Fasting is a type of prayer. It is even considered a self-discipline. But why deprive yourself of food when you can simply pray? The answer: fasting makes a huge difference in the spiritual realm. That may seem hard to believe and understand. But fasting directs your attention towards the focal point of your prayers. You pray with your mind. But when you fast, you pray with your body too. Jeanne Nigro can shed a little more light on that subject.

From Esther's example of fasting it is clear that an act of fasting resulted in a miracle. She and her people were able to profess their needs and desires. God not only heard their need of saving them, but He also protected them. He went above and beyond what they asked. Jesus, the Son of God, also spent time praying and fasting to connect with God. Like Jeanne mentioned "the more that we do what Jesus did, the more that we do His purposes. And the more we grow in intimacy with Him." So whether it is for one meal or you work up to a couple of weeks of fasting, make it a regular practice. Experience the change fasting can make in your life and in the lives around you. It could be a huge way to make your life count.

Apply

• Is there an issue in your life that could be fasted for?
• How can fasting fit regularly into your life?

Plan Summary

In the middle of Proverbs 22, there is a powerful verse. It is almost as if Solomon called a "time out" to remind the reader why He gives these life lessons. It reads, “I am teaching you today — yes, you — so you will trust in the Lord” (NLT). Do you see the connection? God uses life lessons to build our trust. Our prayer is that these five days spent in the "Starting Your Fast Well" plan have been a reminder to increase your trust in Him.

Making Your Life Count has four plans on the topic of fasting. Would you consider doing the next one in the series titled, "Fasting with Others?"

In addition to the Bible App Plans, we offer some other resources in fasting and Christian growth. Please visit the following page to see these other resources. We are a part of the worldwide ministry called Cru and have chapters all around the world. We would love to get to know you.

Take Action

Please visit our Fasting Resources.