Ep. 28: Fasting, Prayer, and Drawing Closer to God

In this episode, Kenny Barnwell and Shannon Thompson have an honest conversation about fasting, prayer, spiritual discipline, and what it means to deny the flesh in order to draw closer to God.Kenny opens up about fasting and shares that while he has fasted before for health reasons, he has not yet done a true spiritual fast.That leads into a deeper conversation about what biblical fasting is, why Christians fast, and how fasting is not about trying to twist God's arm or prove how spiritual we are.We talk about the difference between health fasting and spiritual fasting, the importance of fasting in secret, the power of prayer during a fast, and how fasting can reveal what has been ruling our appetite, attention, and desires.Questions like:What does the Bible say about fasting?Why did Jesus talk about fasting in secret?What is the difference between a complete fast and a Daniel fast?How does fasting help us deny the flesh and strengthen the spirit?Can fasting help us seek clarity, guidance, and discernment from God?What should someone do if they feel called to fast but have never done it before?We do not pretend to have all the answers. This is a real conversation between two Christians talking honestly about spiritual discipline, dependence on God, and the desire to grow closer to Him. This episode is a reminder that fasting is not about looking spiritual. It is about drawing near to God. It is about surrendering the appetites of the world. And it is about making space for the Holy Spirit to strengthen what the flesh often tries to control.Scriptures Referenced in ConversationMatthew 6:16-18Matthew 4:4Isaiah 58:6-7Philippians 4:6-7Ezra 8:23Esther 4:162 Samuel 12:16-23Daniel 1:12-16Daniel 10:2-3Exodus 34:281 Kings 19:8Matthew 4:1-2Mark 9:29As Mentioned in the Episode...We launched The Rock, our community for people who want to grow deeper in their faith, build strong foundations, and do life alongside other believers. The Rock is a free Facebook group.If you would like to join the conversation beyond the podcast, you can join us here: JOIN THE ROCK!https://www.facebook.com/groups/onsolidgroundcommunityTHEME SONG BY: Joe Wolfe