Fasting is a must spiritual discipline for any believer that have the desire or hunger to grow in their walk with God,
It has been observed by believers for millennia as a fundamental spiritual practice for effective growth.
The voluntary decrease or removal of food consumption for a designated period of time is referred to in the Bible as fasting.
People’s faith can be strengthened by this spiritual discipline. It’s considered to be a really effective way to consecrate.
Prayer has power and fasting has its own level of power. Dr. Myles Munroe
Isaiah 58:6-7 “Is not this the fast that I have chosen?”
Fasting A Spiritual Foundation
When I began fasting, I mean truly fasting, it seemed like one of the most difficult two days of my life.
It was like my life was hanging on a thread, and I lookef like someone who needed resusitation.
My head was aching, my eyes were turning, I had a runny nose and I was almost as weak as a leaf and couldn’t even move from my bed.
By afternoon the second day, I couldn’t take it any longer, I quickly ran and ate something to resuscitate myself.
I almost gave up trying to fast again but then I knew my father Apostle Edu went through the same thing but he persisted and broke through.
So after sometime, I decided to try again, that’s how I began my journey of fasting.
It is important to note also that you will definitely be hungry when you engage fasting, I mean very hungry.
Do away with the thought or notion that you will be suspended into a realm where you will not feel hungry.
That’s why, you must take advantage of God’s available grace to fast as a believer.
Fasting is frequently connected in the Bible to periods of seeking God, repentance, and spiritual awakening.
Fasting is still a potent tool for strengthening one’s faith and relationship with God, even though the idea may seem intimidating to some.
Additionally, if you identify as a Christian and long to deepen your walk with God,
adding fasting to your spiritual practices can be a very transforming experience.
Furthermore, fasting is not supposed to be a way to gain God’s favour or coerce Him into doing what you want.
Actually, fasting ought to have the opposite effect on you.
5 Benefits Of Fasting
Most times in the old testament, fasting is likened to humbling.
Meaning that for you to fast well or for your fast not to be wasted, there is a certain posture of heart you will take which is humility.
For the believer, fasting has a lot of benefits, in this article we will be exploring 5 benefits of fasting to the believer.
1. To Break The Bands Of Wickedness
One of the things fasting achieves in the life of the believer is to break the bands of wickedness.
Spiritual fasting is to deny your body its physical needs (usually food) so that it moves your focus from the physical to the spiritual (faith).
Isaiah 58:6-7 “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness”
Also, when you live a fasted life, it can’t coexist with demons
Your body might be lean and people pity you, but your spirit is strong and you have enough energy bubbling inside to crush anything on your path.
Fasting breaks oppression, it intensifies your blows, that is it makes your strength compounded.
It is evident, that the believer should not be ignorant of the wiles of the devil, now this is not to scare you but to make you understand.
That one of the things fasting does is to break the vice grip of satan over your life.
It brings you to the point where you’ve met the requisite requirements to appropriate your liberty.
Moreover, the Bible shows Jesus upbraiding His disciples about the importance of fasting when he said
“ this kind, cannot go without fasting and prayer”
Meaning there are things that might not be handled without fasting.
2. Fasting Tames The Flesh
Taming of the flesh is another huge benefit it brings.
With all the abundance of foods comes a greater need for self-control.
One of the things fasting achieves for the believer is silencing the voice of the flesh.
And amplifying your voice to be heard on high, it makes your spirit stronger and the desires of the flesh grow wane.
Your awareness of God increases with the quality of the fast you keep.
For example, if you fast without engaging in other activities that help you get closer to the Lord.
Like praying, reading passages from the Bible, and listening to edifying sounds; it’s comparable to consuming food that tastes nice but isn’t the healthiest for your body.
Evidently, fasting should never be done in limbo, there must be other spiritual exercises accompanying it like prayer.
3. Fasting allows you to find peace, and strength no matter the circumstances.
Philippians 4:6-9 says, “Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing.”
By fasting, you can train your mind to focus only on what is true, honorable, pure, and sacred.
Worry will tug you in all directions. One day forward, one day back. tossed back and forth.
However, it gets you to a place where you can stop being tossed around and be relied upon to be stable.
It will support the growth of your self-discipline and self-control.
For instance, immediate satisfaction and indulgence are prevalent in our environment.
Thus, fasting is a potent reminder that who you are is not defined by your physical cravings.
4. Fasting provides you with time to think and pray
You’re probably not going to be accomplishing much physically while fasting.
It is unlikely that you will have the energy to participate in the tasks you often accomplish because you are not eating or drinking anything.
Your ability to exert yourself will be limited, even if you manage to perform a few errands during the day.
You will therefore have a lot of personal time that you may set off for yourself while you fast.
You will specifically have more time for reflection and prayer when you fast. There will be an opportunity for you to consider all that has transpired lately.
Moreover, you can think of areas where you want the advantages and effects of the fast to be administered.
Finally, you will also have the opportunity to pray effectively during this period of fasting.
Due to the way that we conduct our life, it provides you the chance to connect with a higher power during a time when you might not have much opportunity to do so.
5. It Keeps You Healthy
Another benefit of fasting is that it is going to help you cleanse toxins from your body.
It is simple to forget that your body is a manifestation of the whole creation created by a God.
For this reason, when you consume a lot of processed, unhealthy food, you are, in many ways, defiling this temple.
We can learn to rely on God’s strength and provision rather than your own desires by depriving yourselves of food or other pleasures for a while.
It also helps control blood sugar levels, enhances digestion, and aids in weight loss.
Finally, you should feel renewed, revitalized, and rejuvenated after breaking your fast.
Conclusion
Fasting is undeniably one of the believers most powerful weapons.
Welded in the hands of a believer with a potent altar is a sight to behold.
Believers have the chance to deal with areas of sin and brokenness in their lives through fasting.
Finally, believers can learn self-discipline by including fasting into their spiritual practice.
Bringing themselves closer to God, deal with areas of sin and brokenness, realign their priorities, and enhance their general health and wellbeing.
You can check the article 5 practical ways to strengthen your relationship with God
2 Comments
Help me Holy ghost!!!
I choose to live a fasted life, I’ll tame my flesh, I’ll learn contentment through fasting. So help me God!
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