There are many ways you can connect with God. Discover How to fast and pray for a breakthrough on this article
Prayer is communion between God and you, the opportunity to come before the Creator of the Universe and share your heart with him.
To know His heart and listen to His voice, you can respond by praying. Another way to accomplish this is through fasting, which is the act of abstaining from doing something.
Fasting is primarily about abstaining eating, but you can also fast from electronic media, food, and other actions. Fasting and prayer together create a space in your life that is free from distractions and allows you to be in communion with God.
Fasting is a topic that the Bible has a lot to say
Fasting is often accompanied by verses that tell us about Bible-believing men and women who go into deep war. The Book of Daniel’s Daniel fast is one of the most well-known.
Daniel 9 -3-5 shares. “So I turned towards the Lord God and pleaded for him in prayer, petition, fasting and in sackcloth, ashes, and with fasting. I confessed to the LORD my God by praying to him. We have been wicked, we have rebelled, and we have turned our backs on your laws and commands.” Daniel felt a deep need for his country and made a vow to fast from certain foods while he remained in prayer. The book continues with an Angel coming to Daniel. He shares that he left exactly the moment Daniel began praying. It took the Angel twenty-one days to overcome the forces of Darkness and reach Daniel. This is proof that the Lord listens to us from the moment we start a fast. He is always at work to help us and to be near.
The Position of the Heart is the Heart of Fasting
It doesn’t matter if you give up Facebook or fried food for God, the place of your heart matters most. 1 Samuel 15.22 says that “The Lord looks at the inside of a man and not his outer appearance.” This is also true for fasting. Matthew 6;17-18 states that fasting is not about displaying your faith to the world, but about your heart and intimacy with God Almighty. He will respond according to His timing and methods.
Even Jesus fasted
Jesus fasted forty days in the wilderness during His time.
Luke 4 shares, “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.”
It is important to remember that Jesus’ ministry to the world began right after His fast. Luke 5 starts with Jesus calling His disciples. The wilderness fast and prayer prepared Jesus for all that was to follow. The temptations of Satan and the wilderness were there, but Jesus was prepared for His ministry through this fast and temptation.
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9 Steps to Biblical Fasting
1. Your heart should be before God, so that He can decide what you should do with your life.
2. Listen to the Spirit’s direction about what you should do and how long.
3. Prepare for your fast. Set a plan for your food fast.
4. Spend time in prayer and quiet during fasting to not only eat less, but to experience the fullness of God’s presence.
5. During this time, write down what the Lord is saying or doing to you.
6. To protect yourself from the Enemy’s attacks, list Bible verses and pray for protection.
7. The most important thing is to follow the fast with your heart.
8. When the Lord gives you peace, end the fast.
9. Keep your eyes open for the Lord’s hand in the midst of all things. He will give you answers, actions, or a fresh perspective.
6 Bible Verses about Fasting
1. “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:17-18
2. “The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: ‘By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.’” – Jonah 3:5-9
3. “’Even now,’ declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” – Joel 2:12-13
4. “So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.” – Daniel 9:3-5
5. “I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.” –Daniel 10:3
6. “Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.” – Exodus 34:28
Prayer is the most important part of a proper fast
This is more than abstaining from eating or doing something. It’s about coming before God in prayer in order to hear the Holy Ghost speak to you and work within you. The Bible states that prayer should be done at all times with all types of requests and prayers ( Ephesians 6,18). Prayer is communication with God and is the most important aspect in life. Since the Garden of Eden, God has desired a relationship with His creation. Prayer is one way that this can be accomplished. The Father knows your heart. In fact, He knows what you need before that you ask him ( Matthew 6 ). It doesn’t have to be the most striking words we have ever spoken; He understands what we are trying communicate. Romans 8;26 shares. He can understand our groans and turn them into prayers. Prayer opens the way to Father’s interaction with children.
10 Verses on Prayer
1. “On all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” – Ephesians 6:18
2. “The Father knows what you need before you ask Him” – Matthew 6:8
3. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
4. “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” – Colossians 4:2
5. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” – 1 John 5:14
6. “The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.” – Psalm 145:18
7. “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16
8. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:6
9. “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” – John 14:33
10. “Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” – James 5:16
6 Steps to Prayer
1.Take a deep, slow breath and be still before the Lord.
2. Ask for the Lord, the Holy Ghost to surround you and surround you. Ask Him to be there for you.
3. Be truthful and honest. He is the only one who knows everything ( John 3:20). So don’t be afraid to share your heart with Him. Your Heavenly Father wants to hear what’s going on in your heart, head and soul.
4. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance so your heart can be revealed.
5. Listen to Him and remain still, listening for His still little voice or the whispers in your heart. Even if you hear nothing, the Lord Almighty has heard your prayers.
6. Keep a journal and reflect on the Lord’s work. Ask for help to see and hear the Lord’s plans.
How often should you fast and pray?
There is no one right way to fast or pray. Prayer is a constant practice that we are to have with God. You should not only fast when it is difficult, but also listen to the Spirit’s promptings about when and how to pray. There is a reason why the Lord calls you to fast and pray. He wants to get you closer to Him to help you see the work He has in motion. By entering into such a committed time, you will be able to see how active He is in your life.
Even if you don’t see the results immediately, remember that every moment of prayer and fasting is valuable. It is considered sacrifice by the Lord, and He considers it special. All will be revealed in time, regardless of whether it is on the other side or the next.
The Lord Wants Us to Get to Know Him Better
He enjoys revealing more about Himself to His children. Fasting and prayer are two ways to get into the Lord’s heart. A proper heart position and intention is important. Knowing that He will ultimately bring everything together for our glory and benefit, it is worth a time of prayer and fasting. Trust your Father, come before Him today. You will be amazed at what He has to show you when you get out of the boat.
