“And he said unto them, this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” – Mark 9:29
When the Lord speaks, He does not necessarily give a blueprint. In other words, I don’t know what you are dealing with or going through but one thing I do know is this: it’s time to go on a fast “..to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens” (Isaiah 58:6).
In Mark 9:29, Jesus said that a particular issue could only be overcome through prayer and fasting. You will hear some people say that fasting is punishment. Some people will tell you that fasting is man’s show of “works” and not submission to God’s grace. And some will say, “oh no! I could never do that! No way.” Is it not interesting that Jesus Christ fasted for 40 days and nights (Matthew 4) in the wilderness and the devil tried Him, tested Him and failed?
Nobody should judge you because they don’t know the kind of issues or emotional, physical, financial or spiritual turmoil you are dealing with.
So when should I fast?
Whenever you are faced with challenges you cannot comprehend, fast. Whenever you feel empty and even to pray daily seems hard, fast. Whenever you feel like nothing is happening for you and not sure if your life is purpose-driven, fast. If you are about to make a big decision that will impact your life greatly, fast. If you’ve reached the end of your tether and can’t take it anymore, fast. If you want to get to the next level spiritually, fast.
CAUTION: Please consult your doctor before you embark on any fast and he or she will advise you on which kind of fast is healthy for you.
REMINDER: Fasting must be done with prayer.
To help guide you, below are some blog posts by Pastor Jentezen Franklin on fasting.
- Fasting Tips – Jentezen Franklin
- When to fast -Jentezen Franklin
- Types of fasts – Jentezen Franklin
Photo credit: knowhimonline
