40 Days of Fasting
Why Fast?

As Jesus was about to begin his official earthly ministry, He was led by the Spirit into the desert to fast (Matt 4). For some reason, the son of God thought it worthy to begin this new venture in ministry with an intentional focus on abiding with the Father.

Years later, as the church in Antioch is fasting, the Lord tells them to send out certain men to start a new ministry. After fasting some more, the church sent out Paul and Barnabas to go plant new churches (Acts 13).

When new ministries are started, battles intensify. The enemy will work hard to discourage, deceive, and destroy these new works in their infancy. For that reason, we fast. As we experience a physical hunger and desire, it awakens our spiritual desires and reminds us that our true nourishment comes through us spending time with the Father. Our fasting helps us focus our hearts on God.

What not to do?

Don’t pick something so hard just to “see if you can do it.” This should not be war against body, but a time of focus on this new ministry and asking God for His direction and blessing upon something He’s already called us to do.

Don’t do it for the praise of men. Matthew 6 reminds us that the hypocrites would put on a gloomy face and neglect their physical appearance in order for others to notice. Jesus says of them that they have received “their reward in full.” He goes on to explain the proper way to act when fasting. “ But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:17-18)

Some practical tips

There is no official recipe for fasting. You can fast from food, or just certain foods. You can fast from certain elements in your life that seem to take up a large part of your time but ultimately are unnecessary. Either way, the goal is to give up something for a certain time period. When your body or mind craves that thing, it is a constant reminder to turn your thoughts toward God. Take some of the time that you would have spent eating or on facebook or on the phone and read some Scripture, pray for Covenant Church, tell God why you are doing this and what you long for.

40 Days

My challenge to our faith family is to fast for 40 days in preparation and expectation of GIC. Let us join together and “pray to the Lord of the harvest to force out and thrust laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:38