Prayer Secrets For Your BreakthroughНамуна

Prayer Secret: Implement Fasting

Do you have a desire to draw closer to God? Do you feel at times as though your prayers are not answered? Perhaps you are experiencing a problem not of your making and are in dire need of a breakthrough?

Throughout the Bible, fasting is mentioned more than fifty times. What is fasting exactly? Fasting is simply abstaining from food (or something else) for a period of time in order to redirect your thoughts to God. 

God leads people to fast in order to break irresistible strongholds, bad habits, ungodly patterns and unhealthy appetites, and to bring mental clarity, answered prayers, wisdom, direction, physical cleansing, healing and wholeness. 

By combining fasting along with prayer, we break through the invisible strongholds that keep us bound. Many Christians fail to understand fasting or refuse to do it, but implementing a fast with prayer has the power to shatter attacks from the enemy. Jesus is our example of a lifestyle of fasting and prayer. 

Remember that at the start of His ministry He fasted for forty days in the wilderness while being tempted by Satan. The more critical the situation, the more appropriate it is that our prayers are joined by fasting.

When we fast, we are seeking the Lord in humility. Prayer and fasting should not be a mandatory duty or burden but rather a commemoration of God’s love, mercy and kindness. How you fast is not important but it is important to fast in some way. 

The purpose of any type of fasting is to give God your intensified focus and receive His perspective. Fasting will enhance all your senses, including your spiritual senses, to hear God’s voice about the issue for which you seek His help.

Let’s look briefly at four biblical types of fasts (please consult a health professional to know what kind of fasting is best for you):

Regular Fast

A regular fast is accomplished by abstaining from all food and liquids, except water. Jesus fasted from food for forty days and nights.

Absolute or Full Fast

An absolute fast, or full fast, means that no food or water is consumed. Esther, Mordecai and the Jews in their city observed an absolute fast for three days and nights.

Partial Fast

Daniel followed a partial fast when he chose not to eat rich food, meat or wine for three weeks during a time of mourning.

Fasting from Other Substances

In the same way that Daniel chose to fast from lotions, some people fast from things that they enjoy such as entertainment. Prayer with fasting is one of our most potent secret weapons against the enemy.

Pray this with me: Father, give me divine strength needed to fight the war over my flesh. Show me the type of fast You require that works. Impart to me the endurance to finish the fast as I pray. Empower, revive and equip me with Holy Spirit power. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Declare this repeatedly aloud throughout your day today: My fasting will cause me to experience supernatural breakthroughs and freedom.

Reflection question: Think about specific areas that hinder your relationship with God and your breakthrough. Ask God what type of fast to do to impart strength, wisdom, insight and endurance to overcome.