THE PRAYER PERSPECTIVE: PRAYER & FASTING

Hello my name is Pernell Hill, and welcome to, The Prayer Perspective, a biblical view point on the principles and practices of prayer. Each perspective will have Prayer Take-Aways, these are steps you can use to maximize your prayer discipline.

More times than not, the thought of prayer and fasting almost always refer going without food, combined with a particular or peculiar regiment of prayer. Note: Food is not the only thing one can fast from. This combined discipline can be found in both the old and new testament. Daniel 9:3 “And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications with fasting, and sackcloth and ashes.”Mark 9:29 “And He said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” When i think of these holy disciplines, there are two practices that come to mind.

Prayer and fasting can be practiced in a couple of ways. The first is having it as routine in your Christian walk. In other words you’ve made it apart of your schedule of things to do. The second way prayer and fasting is practiced is when there is something pressing is upon you. It may be a major decision, it could be that you’re under attack. Perhaps you or someone you know is sick. Whatever that pressing issue is, praying and fasting can be that peculiar practice to get the results you’re desiring.

I was reading on-line at http://www.allaboutprayer.org it said ” Having a dedicated time of prayer and fasting is not a way of manipulating God into doing what you desire.” It’s important for us to understand that our desires should be pure and genuine. If this is not the case then we may find our practice to be ineffective. The overall objective is to be in fellowship with God, to be one with Him; fasting and prayer can help us get there. Fasting, ideally helps us in cleansing or purifying, which is why from a physical standpoint we go without eating or eating certain foods. By not ridding or avoiding certain things for both the physical and the spiritual we may not be in a position to maximize in that time and place.

For many, prayer and fasting is intimidating. In a world where everything is at your fingertips, we can’t see ourselves at least immediately letting those things go. It ranges from food to games, from television to the internet, even as it relates to our relationships with one another. Fasting from such things can at first be carnally challenging. In my own experience, when I get over that hump, and come to the end of the fast I am always glad, because I am always the better for doing it. Before I move on, since fasting is associated with changing our diets, if you are under the doctors care or if you have been prescribed certain medications, please consult your physician for any change in your diet.

Prayer and fasting can be both a personal discipline and a group discipline. Daniel had a more personal prayer and fasting discipline. When he and his people were captive and brought into Babylon, Daniel brought his religious practices with him. His decision and discipline to refrain and refuse certain Babylonian practices would prove favorable for him. He would remain faithful to God, and this combined with praying and fasting only strengthens the bond between he and God. And then there is group fasting. This is the body of Christ. Amazing things can happen when we as a church are praying and fasting.

Jesus came to the aid of a boy who had been possessed. The bible says of him, that as a result of his condition he kept throwing himself into the fire. Prior to Jesus handling, the boy’s father took his son to Jesus’s disciples and though they tried, they could not help the boy, but Jesus would deliver the boy from his turmoil. But the question was asked by the Disciples “Why couldn’t we do that?” Jesus tells them ” And He said unto them that this kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting.” So as you can see, there are some things that will warrant prayer and fasting. But don’t get discourage when you fall short in this discipline, keep practicing and eventually it will be apart of your natural christian walk. Don’t view it as intimidating, but see it as being intimate with God. As you do this, you’ll experience the amazing, you’ll do the amazing, and you’ll witness the amazing.

Prayer Take-Aways

1. Prayer and fasting almost always refer to going without food, but food is not the only thing you can fast from

2. Prayer and fasting can be used when you are facing pressing issues

3. Prayer and fasting is not about manipulating God to get what you desire

4. The overall objective is to be in fellowship with God, to be one with Him

5. Prayer and Fasting helps in purifying us physically and spiritually.

6. Prayer and Fasting should not be seen as intimidating, but as an opportunity to be intimate with God

7. Please be mindful of any change in your diet, if you are on medications or under the doctor’s care, please consult your doctor before you make any changes to your diet.

8. Prayer and fasting can be both a personal and group discipline. For ex Daniel, the Disciples

9. Prayer and fasting helps in producing the amazing. Ref text Mark 9:29