Prayer and fasting
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ~ Acts 13:2
Prayer and fasting. You don’t hear much about it today. We have a National Day of Prayer, and occasionally there’s a national “call” to prayer, but consistent fasting isn’t something widely practiced. In Jesus’ day, fasting was common, so common that some religious leaders used it to appear “super spiritual.” Jesus addressed this when He said, “When you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” (See Matthew 6:16) Notice Jesus said, “when you fast,” not if you fast. He was teaching the right approach because it was the right thing to do.
So, what is fasting really about? Fasting is a way to separate from the things of the world and give your full attention to the things of God. It doesn’t have to be food, although it often is. It can be anything that occupies your time, such as social media, TV/movies, news, gaming. It is anything that you choose to step away from in order to spend that time with God. These aren’t necessarily bad things, but fasting gives you the opportunity to intentionally give that time to the Lord.
Fasting can also be a time of reaching out to others in new or deeper ways. If you’re fasting food, it might include a physical cleansing that supports healthier living. The duration is flexible, as well. It can be for one day like the Israelites often did, three days like Esther, twenty-one days like Daniel (who fasted “pleasant foods”), or forty days like Moses and Jesus. Fasting is not a ritual, it’s a spiritual discipline. It brings your physical body into submission to your spirit. So instead of being dominated by your physical wants and desires, you can tune in to better hear the direction of the Holy Spirit and His plan.
It’s not something you do to get God to move. Instead, it helps you move closer to Him and positions you to hear His voice clearer for direction.
In Acts 13, the church in Antioch took time to pray and fast. The passage says they were “ministering to the Lord” with their fast, which is powerful in itself. In that time of spiritual focus, the Holy Spirit gave them specific direction to set apart Paul and Barnabas for the work He had prepared for them. Their sensitivity to God increased because they made space for the spiritual by stepping away from the physical for a time.
I know this topic may not sound exciting, but it is powerful. When you willingly bring your flesh under control and give God your full attention, your spirit becomes stronger and more sensitive to what He’s saying. Fasting positions you to hear from God more clearly and respond with greater confidence.
Here are some hints on getting started if you choose to “minister” to the Lord through fasting:
- Start small – Try fasting from sunup to sundown or even skipping one meal to begin.
- Choose your fast – It might be food, or it could be social media, TV, or something else that takes your attention.
- Spend time in prayer – Use the time you would normally spend eating or scrolling to pray, worship, or read your Bible. (When hunger come, I like to use that as a reminder that I am setting this time aside to pray more. I choose to stop thinking about what I could be eating and instead turn to prayer or scripture.)
- Journal your experience – Write down what you sense God saying and how you feel as you fast.
- Ask God for direction – Just like in Acts 13, expect that God will speak as you make yourself available to Him.
Today I want to encourage you to step into this practice with purpose. Don’t be intimidated by the idea of fasting. You don’t have to do it perfectly. Just take one step. Begin to quiet the noise of the world and give God space to speak. Whether you need wisdom, clarity, or breakthrough, fasting helps you focus your heart and listen. Even more beautiful, it blesses the heart of God when you minister to Him with your time and devotion.
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 13:1-3
1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
Journal:
- What is one area of your life where you need to hear God more clearly?
- What might you be willing to fast in order to give Him more space to speak into it?
The Daily Dose 