Let the Fasting Begin! (Day Before)

As the end of my last blog mentioned, I am beginning a fast. I wanted to begin by informing you of the power of fasting in general and reasons for fasting:

Fasting is the most powerful spiritual discipline of all the Christian disciplines. Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life. Fasting and prayer can also work on a much grander scale. According to Scripture, when God's people fast with a proper Biblical motive-seeking God's face not His hand-with a broken, repentant, and contrite spirit, God will hear from heaven and heal our lives, our churches, our communities, our nation and world. Fasting and prayer can bring about revival - a change in the direction of our nation, the nations of earth and the fulfillment of the Great Commission. The awesome power can be released through you as you fast through the enabling of the Holy Spirit.

Fasting was an expected discipline in both the Old and New Testament eras. For example, Moses fasted at least two recorded forty-day periods. Jesus fasted 40 days and reminded His followers to fast, "when you fast," not if you fast.

Fasting and prayer can restore the loss of the "first love" for your Lord and result in a more intimate relationship with Christ.

Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). King David said, "I humble myself through fasting."

Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life.

The Holy Spirit will quicken the Word of God in your heart and His truth will become more meaningful to you!

Fasting can transform your prayer life into a richer and more personal experience.

Fasting can result in a dynamic personal revival in your own life-and make you a channel of revival to others.

Fasting and prayer are the only disciplines that fulfill the requirements of II Chronicles 7:14:

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

I took time this weekend to pray and prepare for my fast. I never thought the preparation for such a time would be so hard. Cru offers a Personal Guide to Prayer and Fasting. It answers practical questions about fasting and ease any concerns you may have. One of the points was on how to deal with the responses of friends and loved ones. I want to thank those who are praying for me and supporting me during this time. Tonight I received a phone call from a dear friend whom I will miss during this time. Although it will be hard, it was encouraging and great confirmation that this is going to be a powerful time of transformation by the Holy Spirit. And I am thankful for those I have surrounding me with love these next few weeks. 

I pray that as I fast I will be humbled and discover more time to pray and seek God's face. I pray He will lead me to recognize and repent of unconfessed sin. I pray He will use me as a witness to others during this time and even encourage some of you to put this spiritual discipline into practice in your own life.

Let the Fasting Begin!