Combined with prayer they together make up the most critical weapons of spiritual wFasting is the greatest spiritual discipline for seeking God’s intervention.arfare and deliverance in our lives. While we cannot manipulate God to fulfill our desires exactly as laid out to him fasting always (when done the biblical way) moves God to fulfill his intended will over the matters.
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BIBLICAL FASTING AND PRAYING
“When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men 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)
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter– when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I,” (Isaiah 58:6-9)
“His disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it (the demon) out” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting,” (Mark 9:28-29, Matthew 17: 21)
“And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments…O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” (Daniel 9:3, 19)
Faced with great invasion king Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast and prayed:
“O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?…. But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir….O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you,” (2 Chronicles 20:6-7, 10, 12)
“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)
Acts 14:23 Paul and Barnabas Set Apart for Work
“While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them,’” Acts 13:2
“Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust,”
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It is wise for the people of God to fast and pray for their leadership, just like the 1st century church did. The early church did not choose or send out leaders carelessly or by popular vote. Above all they sought and followed God’s will. Fasting is a part of sincere dedication that seeks out to know the Lord’s will, before major decisions are made.