Fasting to hear God

Joel 2:12 (NIV) ¹² “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Sometimes in order to break free from something or to really hear from God it takes more than just praying and asking God to help us.  I don’t doubt that we talk to God here and there asking for help with this or that and thank Him here and there, but how often are we really ready and willing to sacrifice ourselves to hear from Him?

Although I am aware it doesn’t always have to be food that you fast, that seems to be what I feel lead to fast when I do.  I will also be the first to tell you, while I pray a lot; fasting is not one of my favorite things to do.  I’m very fond of my food and all of the lovely tastes that they bring.  However, I will also tell you that some of my most clarifying moments and clearest guidance from God have come only after fasting for a time. Huh, as I wrote that, I’m wondering to myself what holds me back from it so much knowing that it brings more clarity when I do..??

When we fast, we are sacrificing something in order to hear or get clarity on something from God.  We are showing Him that we want to know what He wants in a particular area of our life so much that we are willing to let go of, or at least for a short time cut out, something we love and enjoy doing. 

Matthew 4:4 (NIV) ⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

The intent or purpose of the fasting is so that the time you would be spending eating, instead you would spend it praying and focusing on why you’re fasting.  Each time our natural desire for food or hunger pain arises; we need to remember the importance of the fast and realize that we do not live by bread alone.  We need to realize that our true source of life and survival is God and His guidance, plan and purpose for our lives.  Turning away our plate for a specific amount of time is a very small sacrifice compared to the sacrifice that God gave for us and is certainly worth hearing a word from God on our lives! 

In my own life, I know that I do not fast enough and sadly when I do I don’t always complete them for the time that I have set aside.  This is something that I want to change.  I have also realized that in the past when planning or preparing to fast, I am more able to hear from God and complete my fast, if I pray the day before.  Asking God to help me focus on Him at this time and to clear my mind and heart to hear what it is that He will say to me on the area that I am fasting about. 

I’m not saying that I think we have to fast all the time, but I do believe that it is a necessary part of our growth, hearing and focusing on God and His will for our lives.  It’s not always about what God can do for us and how He can bless us, but more importantly about what we should and are willing to do for Him.  He loves us better than we ever could ourselves and first and foremost it is owed to Him that we live our lives for Him and secondly to be very diligent on hearing what He has to say to us.