PURPOSEFUL SPIRITUAL FASTING

Why fast ??

One really great reason to fast is to keep oneself HUMBLE , David said , "I humbled my soul with fasting"( Psalm 35:13). Humility is not an emotion, not something vague, rather it is something very specific.God will not honour an arrogant or a 'full of self' person , His call for His people is to willingly humble themselves, then He promises to lift us up. If we have the right motives with the right heart when we fast before God we move into this place of gracious humility. If you need some extra Biblical reinforcement read Matthew 23:12 "And whoever exalts themselves will be humbled, & they who humble themselves will be exalted."

Another really great reason to fast is that we may come CLOSER to God. The Word says that if we "draw near to God , He will draw near to you."(James 4:8), it is always a good thing to draw closer to God and fasting propels you into His presence like few other experiences I know!

Yet another reason to submit to fasting before God is that we may KNOW HIS WORD & WILL more clearly. Ezra said , ''I proclaimed a fast there , at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God to seek a right way for us, & for our little ones & for all our substance."
Ezra 8 :21. It is gracious truth that when we take time to fast & ptray , in humility , seeking God's direction, we receive what we pray for . We then of course need the courage to OBEY.( another sermon).
Finally fasting can be a spiritual discipline that God calls us to in order to receive healing & deliverance, Isaiah 58:6-9 "........then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily & your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard."Similarly deliverance can come and indeed needs to come for many people before they can move onto renewal , Jesus said in Matthew 17:21 "...this kind does not go out except by prayer & fasting.".
Finally (today) Jesus Himself entered into His ministry of healing and deliverance with forty days of prayer and fasting ...... that really ought to be enough for those who call themselves disciples of Jesus .

Praying this brings some helpful encouragement for you .