Checking your alignment...

By prayer and fasting…           

What does it mean to fast?  What is fasting?  Why is it that some things “goeth not out but by prayer and fasting? (Matt 17:21)

We too often focus on the flesh, even when we think of fasting.  We think of what we are giving up, what we are depriving ourselves of, rather than WHY we fast.

“Fast” and “fasten” share a common meaning. 

To fasten is to secure to. 

Fast means secure.

“Hold fast,” we are told in the bible.  Secure that which the Lord has given you.

When we fast we are releasing what we lean on and depend on in the flesh (food, TV, whatever…) and securing ourselves to the Lord.  We bring the flesh into subjection unto the Spirit and in doing so, we depend on Him. 

We are spirits who have bodies, not bodies who have spirits. 

But, living in the flesh, we often feed our flesh first and more often than our spirits.  When we fast we get our priorities straight.  We align ourselves more securely to God, Who is a Spirit, and Whom we seek to worship in spirit and truth. The kingdom of God is utterly contrary to the kingdom of this world. 

It says to lead… serve, to receive… give, to live… die, to increase… decrease, and to be filled… empty yourself.

As we fast and our flesh becomes hungry, our spirits become hungry for Him.  We open ourselves up to the storehouses of heaven, and in order to be filled, we empty ourselves.

If we are to be men of God, if we are to be effective followers of Jesus Christ, we should live a lifestyle of and discipline of prayer and fasting.  Fasting is as much a confession of faith as prayer.  We are, by acting according to the confession that He alone is our Strength, our Provider… that man cannot live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God… believing in Him, we are declaring that He IS our sustenance.  And when we do that Jehovah Jireh lives up to His name.  Why, because we have secured ourselves to Him.

If there is an obstacle that seems to not be moving, if there is a heavy decision weighing on your heart, if you simply want to check your alignment… I encourage you to fast.

May the Lord we love and serve, Who gave His life for us that we might live, give you grace and strength to secure yourself to Him and to hold fast.

SDG