Our Call to Fasting

I've faced some big challenges lately. How about you? Are you in that camp with me? I know alot of Christians who are. My friends are losing their long time jobs unexpectingly. One family on my intercessors prayer chain has a toddler with a rare disease that neccessitates a life in and out of hospitals. Just keeping her alive is a huge task. The Dad lost his job and with the job, went the insurance. I can't imagine their stress level. Two income families are struggling to keep their homes and feed their families. Business owners are closing doors. A Godly family I pray for recently lost their missionary Mom of two school age children to cancer after a long hard struggle. Satan is busy, friends.

Across this nation and the globe, people are hurting. Both those who know Christ and those who don't. Many are doing all they can to serve the Lord, paying tithe, trusting, living in obedience and sacrifice. So, what do they do when these attacks come upon them? I would suggest they start with the knowledge that it IS an attack and not something that has happened by chance. Satan has a strategic plan to destroy every human being, every Christian, every church and the entire body of Christ. Ultimately, he plans for the destruction of all God has made. If this is not something you have given consideration to, please begin to do so right now. Yes, suffering is also a part of a believer's walk, but we must use discernment and seek God for wisdom to know if this is something He has sent for our growth or if it is Satanic oppression. Once you realize you are under seige by the enemy, it's time to go to God's Word and the power of His Holy Spirit for protection and His plan to over come evil. Evil is real. We must not mock it nor give it authority.

Jesus said we are to be the salt of the earth. The flavor that makes this life better and richer. So, how can we help "salt" the earth when we ourselves seem to be in need of enrichment or even rescue? What do we do when it seems the enemy is gaining ground and we are slipping beneath the waves. Christ gave us an answer. Well, He gave us many answers, but one seems to be His secret weapon.......FASTING.

There has been a resurgence and passion for fasting in the body of Christ since the late 1990's. One of the global leaders in this movement was the late Dr. Bill Bright, Founder of Campus Crusade for Christ International. He was known as a leading authority on fasting in the modern church. I was blessed to know Dr. Bright and from both he and his amazing wife, Vonette, have learned much about walking with God and living a life of victory through Christ. It is his teaching on fasting that I follow today. You can find his guidelines at http://www.ccci.org/growth/growing-closer-to-god/how-to-fast/index.aspx. This is an excellent place to begin understanding the discipline of fasting and to make a plan to do so.

When Jesus was questioned by his disciples about their inability to cast out a demonic spirit. He said in Mark 9:29, “This kind can come out by NOTHING but prayer and fasting.” Wow, now that gives fasting some real teeth in our battle against evil, doesn't it? Pair that with Rev. 12:11 where He says, "And they overcame him (Satan), by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimonies" and you have a powerful force to stop the enemy from his plan. Christ has not left us without weapons to defeat Satan. But, it IS up to each believer to learn what those weapons are and pick them up to do battle against the devil. When you have a challenge or obstacle that just will not budget or a sin that continues in your life, your first line of spiritual warfare must be prayer and fasting. Don't leave fasting out if you really want results. Christ told us how powerful it is.

Dr. Bright wrote, "The enemy makes you a target because he knows that fasting is the most powerful of all Christian disciplines and that God may have something very special to show you as you wait upon Him and seek His face. Satan does not want you to grow in your faith, and will do anything from making you hungry and grumpy to bringing up trouble in your family or at work to stop you. Make prayer your shield against such attacks." Fasting needs to be considered with a sober mind and an understanding of what you are about to do from a spiritual perspective.

At the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I began a 40 day fast on Oct 13th. A month before, the Lord was speaking to me in prayer about going on a longer fast than my normal day or two each week. As my month progressed, a crisis occured with one of my children and I knew then why God was preparing me for this time of spiritual warfare. Being the planner and administrator I am at heart, I started nicely packaging my fasting goals, describing each one at present and the specific result I was seeking God for. I had it all wrapped up in perfect little fasting box ready to go! God has a sense of humor and I think He must smile when we continue to think we know what's ahead. I wonder if He grinned as He saw me write out my neat, tidy list and set out with enormous faith and great expectation. Not that He doesn't want us to have high expectations in faith, but most fasts end up being about our brokenness instead of grandious conclusions. The truth is that brokenness is where we needed to start in the first place. He can use a contrite, surrendered heart. I've learned fasting is very unpredictable and the best thing to do is follow God's leading as you walk through it. Surrender and denial of self is not just about giving up delicious food. It's about letting God be the driving force in our lives as opposed to anything else like food, sugar, sports, interests, money, other people and even our ministries.

I'm on Day 8 of my fast. (I actually had to add a day because I started eating non-solid soup and it did not work for me, but God got me back on track after praying and bringing myself under submission to him) Let's me just say my first week was glorious! I felt closer to the Lord than I have in years. Enter Week Two. Brokenness arrived. God has this way of flipping the tables when we think we know what is best, does't he? I'm trying not to white knuckle anything during this time and just relax and let God have His way in me.

I'll keep you updated on the journey if you will check back as my fast progresses. I ask you to pray for me during this time. It started as a cake walk and it's turning into an infantry march right now and I don't know what lies ahead. I just know Who's in charge and who I will follow. Two things are emerging as I proceed.............how dependent I am on God to help me do this because my own will power is already gone........and also, that we are never at the mercy of the devil. God has defeated Him. But, He says we are to work out our own faith in fear and trembling. Tonight, I am tremblying. I need Him to steady me. But, I am certain of God's faithfulness and love and He will arrive and destroy the works of the enemy. I've asked Him to show me how "these kind only come out by prayer and fasting" through the deliverance of those I care about who are struggling. No matter what the outcome of this fast He has taken me on, it will not be in vain.

Praying for you too,
Karen Jantzi
The Treausred Life Coach