It is not uncommon to fast at the beginning of a new year. Fasting is denying the food to physically strengthen our body to obtain a clearer focus spiritually. Prayer and meditation are utilized instead to draw near to God and gain guidance and wisdom. Deeper spiritual communication is sought with our heavenly Father during this self-denial. Christians purposefully choose this time to fast for eyes to see and ears to hear what the Holy Spirit would impart for the coming new year. The Bible encourages fasting so it isn’t “if” you fast but “when” you fast if you are Christian.
Spiritual Awareness
Daily life is physically congested running from pillar to post on a never-ending treadmill. We are easily aware of that! Fasting helps us be more intentional in our prayer life to become more spiritually aware. Spiritual awareness is seeing past our physical circumstances and daily responsibilities. We are three-part beings, body, soul, and spirit, which makes spiritual awareness important. We connect with our heavenly Father in our spirit. The spirit is the part most frequently overlooked because it is intangible. The physical body is usually the primary focus with all its clamoring needs. When we consider our need for spiritual awareness and growth we can begin to mature. As spiritual beings, we fast to seek a more heightened spiritual relationship with our spiritual Father in heaven.
Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew 13:9
Spiritual Ears To Hear
Being aware spiritually to grow requires us to be able to listen and learn. A teacher cannot teach if the pupils cannot or will not listen. The first step is acknowledging that as spiritual beings we have spiritual ears. Next, we need spiritual awareness to tune our spiritual ears to hear what God’s Holy Spirit is communicating to us. The book of Romans (10:17) in the Bible states, “So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of the Lord.” Fasting works on developing our spiritual ears so that we can hear, pray, and learn.
Prayer is much like speaking on the phone, we listen as well as speak. During a fasting period, pray for your spiritual ears to be opened to hear the Holy Spirit. Lay down all the noise and distractions of the world. Be still and listen. The Holy Spirit imparts incredible amounts of personal wisdom during times of fasting. Write down any scriptures and information you hear in a journal. Learn to use your spiritual ears to hear what God’s will is for your life.
Spiritual Strength
Jesus is our greatest example to follow in the Bible and even He fasted. According to Luke 4:1-2, we read, “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Being forty days tempted of the devil, and in those days did eat nothing; and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.” Jesus overcame all the temptations. He was spiritually strong. If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to fast, how much more do we need to use this tool to strengthen our spirits?
Jesus overcame the temptations that the devil brought His way for forty days while fasting. Jesus overcame three major temptations after fasting forty days that changed our lives. Fasting prepared Jesus for His ministry here on earth. The devil daily tempts us with many trials and tribulations in this world too. When you fast you are strengthening your spirit to deal with whatever comes your way. Setting parameters on the length, what to fast, and why to fast are vastly personal reasons. The reasons vary greatly. It isn’t “if” you should fast but “when” you fast. Everyone needs spiritual strength to overcome the hardships we face in life. When will you fast?
Click the links below for more detailed information on fasting from author and Pastor Jentezen Franklin on this topic.
https://jentezenfranklin.org/products/fasting-edge-audio-book