Pray about fasting

Prayer and fasting are the mainstays of 40 Days for Life. We’re all probably comfortable with praying. We pray at church, at home before meals, and at bedtime. We may make an urgent plea for help during the day or pray for a loved one. But I would guess that few of us fast on a regular basis. In fact, we may think that fasting is for the more religious; however, fasting should be a regular part of our relationship with God. There are several reasons why:
Looking at Matthew 6, we see that Jesus follows up His Sermon on the Mount with three things a Christian should do. Matthew 6:2-4 talks about how you should give. Matthew 6:5-15 addresses how you should pray. And, Matthew 6:16-18 speaks about how you should fast. The rest of Chapter 6 refers to things you should NOT do.
Still, you may be skeptical that fasting is for you. In Matthew 4 we see that Jesus sets the example by going into the desert and fasting for forty days and forty nights in preparation for His ministry. Luke 6:40: “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” (NIV) Therefore, since He fasted, we should fast.
David also fasted and prayed. Psalm 42:3 “Day and night I have only tears for food” (NLT). Daniel is another example of someone who fasted. Daniel and his friends decided not to eat the king’s food and drink the king’s wine. God honored this partial fast. In Daniel 1, verse 17, “God gave knowledge and understanding to those four young men. So they understood all kinds of writings and subjects. And Daniel could understand all kinds of visions and dreams.” (NIV) God was pleased that Daniel fasted, and He will be pleased when we fast.
According to Jentezen Franklin, “Biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose” (Fasting, p 9). Biblical fasting has everything to do with intent. We can go without food for a meal, for a day, or even longer, but that is not necessarily fasting in the spiritual sense. Jesus, David and Daniel demonstrate that we can fast in different ways and for different lengths of time. But their fasting was done in conjunction with prayer, not just a random act.
2 Chronicles 7:14 :”If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven; and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 40 Days for Life is a 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil.
40 Days for Life seeks God’s favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, bringing an end to abortion. As we prepare to join other cities in our nation to humble ourselves and pray for God to protect unborn children, let us also pray about what type of fasting each one of us has been called to do.
Franklin, Jentezen. “Fasting.” Charisma House, 2008. Chapter 1.