WHEN you fast...

in Matthew 6 in His sermon on the mount, Jesus talks about fasting in secret. His language of "when you fast" makes it clear that He's operating out of the assumption that we will fast, that we understand it's not an option. He does not say "if". the sermon on the mount is considered Christianity in a nutshell, the principles and practicals of what it means to follow Jesus. certainly they will take a lifetime to perfect, but nevertheless, this is the meat of Christianity. and if this is so, fasting should not be seen as something so radical. fasting is Christianity 101 and should be normal. in Mark 9, Jesus heals a boy of epilepsy by casting out a demon, and instructs His disciples when they are perplexed as to why they could not cast it out, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting". in a book called "the power of prayer and fasting" by mahesh chavda (i highly recommend for all interested to learn about fasting, what it is and why it's so powerful), mahesh's journey into fasting begins when he works at a mental institution. one of the children he oversees is a 10-year old boy who has to be tied up in a straight jacket to prevent him from scratching and mutilating himself. clearly, a demon. Mahesh asks the Lord how to help this boy, and God gives Him this verse and tells him to go on a 10-day fast. Mahesh does, then goes to pray for the boy, says one sentence, and the boy flies back against the wall and the demon comes out. He takes off his straight jacket and is shocked by the fact that he has control over his body. this is one of many amazing testimonies from the power of fasting.

fasting must be a regular part of our Christian walk - 1-2 days a week, longer fasts of 3 days, 7, 10, 21 the big 40! we want to walk in power, have intimacy with Jesus, hear His voice clearly, etc...these come at a price. Salvation is free, but it will cost you everything you have - i love that paradox. fasting is one of the very effective tools He's given us to step into the things of His Spirit at a deeper level. it's not an end in and of itself, and we can't "get" God to do anything. No matter what we do, ultimately He's the one who has to sovereignly decide to move and pout our His Spirit. but He's given us principles and tools and instructions that he has said are effective and necessary for us. fasting is one of these.

i like to look at it this way too, if it helps. there is no fasting in heaven. when i get up there, i will feast on food 100 times better than anything on earth. why not go all out here and apply the tools He's given us to expand His Kingdom to the greatest possible measure on earth?

(comments please :) )