1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.
3And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'” Matthew 4: 1-4
Fasting can be one of the most difficult disciplines in our Christian walk. Jesus had a lifestyle of fasting and prayer. Fasting is not an act we do just to impress God. Fasting should be utilized to allow ourselves to focus more on God and put our flesh under submission.
Fasting should be part of our lifestyle. Jesus did it and the early church fasted and prayed. Fasting should not be done apart from prayer. The two go together. If you fast without prayer or spending quiet time before the Lord, then you are just starving yourself.
People fast from certain meals, for a day or more. Extended fasts like the one Jesus did for 40 days should only be done when led by the Holy Spirit. These types of Fasts cannot be accomplished apart from the Holy Spirit. Any type of total food fasts beyond three days should be guided by the Holy Spirit.
We should not see fasting as a way to impress God or get God to do something for us. Often times our flesh can get our focus off of God, so by fasting we are depriving our flesh of something it desires and putting it under submission to the Holy Spirit.
So when you do fast try to set time apart for God; more time than you would on a regular day. For instance, if you are fasting from food then use the time you normally spend preparing and making meals to pray and spend time in the bible. Also, fasts do not have to be abstaining from food, but it can include an activity that takes up a lot of your time and giving that time up to spend with God.
Fasting really benefits us more than it does God. It helps us to be focused and able to hear from God more clearly. Fasting can also prepare us for work God is calling us to do like Jesus. Before Jesus started His ministry the Holy Spirit led Him to the wilderness to be tempted. After this Jesus started His ministry to the people.
Reflections 