21 Days of Prayer - Prayer and Fasting

Fasting with prayer has been a Christian practice since Jesus came. People fasted and prayed in the OT. Jesus fasted and prayed. The apostles and early church fasted and prayed and God expected that we would fast and pray. Fasting helps to subdue our flesh so that we are more alive in the spirit. Fasting helps to prepare us for deeper and more powerful prayer. Fasting helps us to break the bonds of sin as we humble ourselves and seek the person and presence of Jesus. Preparing for a fast:Examine your motivesMatthew 6Warning against fasting for wrong reasonsExamine your actionsFasting is not a pleasing work in and of itselfIsaiah 58PracticalMost fasting was 24 hours, sundown to sundownDrink waterIf you have health considerations with fasting, talk to a doctorIt will be hardChristians much prefer feasting to fasting! Very few Christians practice fasting because of the difficulty. Allow this to difficulty to take you deep into prayer, asking God to enable you to continue.