Why Do We Fast?

By: Jentezen Franklin

If Jesus could have accomplished all He came to do without fasting.
Why did He fast?

During the years that Jesus walked this earth, He devoted time to teaching His disciples the principles of the Kingdom of God, principles that conflict with those of this world. in the Beatitudes, specifically in Matthew 6, Jesus provided the pattern by which each of us is to live as a child of God. That pattern specifically addressed three specific duties of a Christian: Giving, Praying, and Fasting. Jesus said, "When you give...", "When you pray...", and "When you fast...". He made it clear that fasting, like giving, and praying, was a normal part of Christian life. As much attention should be given to fasting as is given to giving and to praying.

Could we be missing our greatest breakthroughs because we fail to fast? Remember that thirty, sixty, and one-hundredfold return that Jesus spoke of in Mark 4:8-20? Look at it this way: When you pray, you can release that thirtyfold return. When both prayer and giving are part of your life, I believe that releases the sixtyfold blessing. But when all three - giving, praying, and fasting - are part of your life, I believe that is when hundredfold return can be released!

If that is the case, you have to wonder what blessings aren't being released...what answers to prayer are not getting through...what bondages are not being broken...because we fail to fast. The Son of God fasted because He knew there were supernatural things that could only be released that way. How much more should fasting be common practice in our lives?

Once you make the decision to fast, even if it's just for a day, God sees the desire of your heart. He will provide you with the grace to endure and see the breakthroughs you need come to pass. We only have one life to give to God; let's get control of our bodies and go for God with the best we have!