The Benefits Of Fasting, With Prayer Series

There is a saying "Prayer is the Key, it is the Master Key" meaning it is the key that unlocks or opens up the door to your blessings, breakthrough, etc. Today we will be looking at the benefits of integrating fasting with prayer. And so, this is a message that will be beneficial not just to those of us who have an active prayer life but also those of us whose prayer life has been irregular or sporadic. So, before we look at how you can incorporate fasting with your prayer and the benefits of doing so, let us look at a couple of definitions.

Definition of Prayer

According to Merriam Webster's dictionary, prayer is a silent or spoken petition made to God or a god, and another dictionary refers to it as a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, or adoration. Well, for us believers, prayer is simply a two-way communication with God. We speak to Him, and He replies or talks back through many ways, e.g., His divine word (scriptures), a still small voice, prophecy, word of knowledge, dreams, revelation, etc.

Definition of Fasting

Fasting, according to the dictionary, refers to abstinence from some or all foods (including liquids). It is the act of denying oneself the pleasures of food for a specified period.

From the time of old, i.e., going back to biblical times, the Old Testament, to be exact, fasting was a common practice. The children of Israel were always aware of the benefits of fasting and prayer to God because each time they fasted, they saw the formidable move of God in their circumstances as individuals and as a nation. A few examples come to mind beginning with Moses, in Exodus 34:27-28, it revealed that he waited on the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights while receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. In Judges 20:26-28, when the children of Israel were in the battle with their kindred of Benjamin's tribe, who rose up against them.

The children of Israel were consistently losing the battle until they fasted and sought the Lord for directions, and after a one day fast, God gave them the victory. Another example was also in II Chronicles 20:3 when King Jehoshaphat declared a fast throughout Judah when their enemies, the Moabites, and Ammonites rose against them. As they fasted and offered praises to the Lord, He gave them a great victory. Who can forget the beautiful and bold Queen Esther whose people, the Jewish nation was going to be completely wiped out as a result of hate and in Esther 4:16, she declared a three day and three nights absolute fast and left the rest to the Lord saying "If I perish, I perish" and what did the Lord do? He caused Esther to find favor in the King's sight, and God gave her and the Jewish people a great victory, while at the same time destroying their enemies', i.e., Haman and all the enemies of the Jewish people. There are more examples throughout the OT alone of how God delivered His people from harm when they repented of their sins, and earnestly cried out unto Him through Prayer and sometimes with fasting. It proved the Lord Jesus's words in Matthew 17:21 when He stated that "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting" KJV. Even speaking about the Lord Jesus, He also fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before officially starting His ministry, Matthew 4:1-2, and this practice continued throughout the early church, which relied on fasting and prayer when seeking God's guidance. Acts 13:2, 14:23

Types of Fasting unto God: There are only three types of fast mentioned in scripture.

I). Partial Fast - Daniel engaged in a partial fast according to Daniel 10:2-3 to seek the Lord’s wisdom. He fasted for 21 days and didn’t eat any pleasant food, neither meat nor wine. These verses confirm it was a partial fast because he only abstained from pleasant, exotic foods such as what was served on the King’s table. This type of fast is usually called the "Daniel Fast," and it can involve just consuming fruits or vegetables with water. I believe this is the most common type of fasting today.

II). Normal Fast - This type of fast is usually with liquids (i.e., water) only for a specified number of days. An example of this fast is what Jesus did in the wilderness where He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights with no food, but it appears that He had only water because scripture mentioned that He was hungry and Satan came to tempt Him with food. Matthew 4:1-2.

III). Absolute (Dry) Fast- This is when no food and no liquids are consumed. This kind of fast is rarely practiced and is only mentioned a few times in the Bible. Moses in Exodus 34:28 who fasted for 40 days and 40 nights as mentioned earlier. Also, there is the Apostle Paul, during his Damascus Road experience "was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Acts 9:9 and Queen Esther in Esther 4:16. I have never tried this type of fast but my husband has, a few times in the past and it’s incredible the results he encountered both spiritually and physically.