By: Pastor Jarren Rogers

“If Jesus could have accomplished all He came to do without fasting, why would he fast? – Jentezen Franklin

Have you ever fasted?

It’s a great way to present our prayers before God.

Fasting shows that we are willing to sacrifice our own comfort in coming before God. When we willfully allow our bodies to go without food, it shows the seriousness of our petition and situation. It helps us learn self-control and dependence on God.

However, fasting without prayer is pointless. Praying through your fasting is necessary. Each time you feel the hunger pangs in your stomach you are reminded of what you are praying for and who you’re praying to. Fasting focuses our Spirits on God and our need for his help in our situation. It forces us to pray CONTINUALLY.

When we fast, we follow Christ’s example. If Christ needed to fast in order to fuel his ministry, how much more do we need to fast?

While food is the best thing that we can fast, because it is something we need, we can fast other things. Some people have found success in fasting from social media or TV. Other people have found their spiritual lives improved by fasting their hobbies or their phones.

Again, the most important thing when you are fasting, no matter what you are giving up, is that it must be prayerful.

You can give up social media for a day, but unless you replace that time with God it’s pointless. You can fast from TV for a day, but unless you replace that time with reading Scripture it will be fruitless.

God is glorified through our fasting and we are blessed in return but He urges us to keep our fasting private:

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

God rewards us because of our fasting.

The hard part is getting started.

Bring your petitions to God in prayer and fasting.

Parents: Explain to your children what fasting is. Brainstorm of ways that they can fast this week and spend time with God (e.g. giving up screen time, dessert, etc.).