"God wants you to ask Him for things
that are bigger than yourself."
~ Jentezen Franklin
Laying Hold of God's Strength
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled."
~ Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
~ 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)
We are physical beings, limited by the weakness of human flesh. Worse, the flesh asserts itself in ways which fight against the work of the Holy Spirit. We may not even be aware of the ways we struggle against God.
Abstaining from food for many hours—or a number of days—has a way of weakening the flesh and enabling the Lord's Spirit to become strong in us. When even food is not our priority, the things we once thought were priorities are seen with a different perspective. When we make clear to ourselves and to the Lord that His will is more important than our appetite, He can reveal it with startling clarity. When we tell the flesh it needs God more than food, we will indeed receive more of God.
By saying, "When you fast ..." Jesus omitted "if," indicating an expectation that we would do so. By saying of a demon, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting," Jesus indicated that spiritual warfare might require fasting for success.
If there is a situation in your life which requires divine power to understand the Lord's will, for overcoming weakness or addiction, or to defeat an attack of the devil, consider boosting your prayer with fasting as a means to humbly lay hold of God's strength.
He longs to feed you with spiritual food finer than any available from the earth.
Father in Heaven, we are feeble children of flesh. We do not know how to pray as we ought. Please give us a desire for You above our desire for all else. Please give us a desire to know and fulfill Your will at any cost.
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#fasting
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Amen sis. He is our living water,and our daily bread. His word is what we should truly chew on each day. He is our all and all. Praying for you, and loving you.
ReplyDeleteOkay. You threw down the challenge...actually,God did. I will fast one day this week -- and pray.
ReplyDeleteI love that closing prayer, Anne. Great thoughts on fasting, prayer, and strength.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the thoughts you shared. Blessings.
ReplyDelete...this made things/thoughts of late quite clear. no chewing required for this. thank you!
ReplyDeleteIt has been a long time since I last fasted. And I did so usually only under a crisis situation, or someone else's crisis situation. You challenge me.
ReplyDeleteIt's only in Him that we find true strength ... I wonder if fasting doesn't enable us to hear that more.
ReplyDeleteSpiritually practical and practically spiritually. Love this. Fasting isn't about getting God to do something, it's getting us in position. You also reminded me of something God keeps bringing up so thank you.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that he longs -- to feed me, that he wants me to rest in his arms. Wow.
ReplyDelete"God wants you to ask Him for things that are bigger than yourself." ~ Jentezen Franklin
ReplyDeleteGreat quote and post Anne!
Denise ~ He uses you, too, dear.
ReplyDeleteDavid ~ I ask the Lord to make it a special time of strengthening and renewing for you.
Bridget ~ Thanks for hosting. I look forward to the challenge of a predetermined subject. I didn't know what to write this time til the last minute.
Patty ~ Thank you for commenting. Blessings to you!
Bud ~ You crack me up! I'm glad to hear when you're chewing, glad to hear when it zings right off.
Monica ~ I ask the Lord to lead you as He means to bless you.
Susan ~ Fasting certainly gets my attention more focused on His voice. With each rumbling of the stomach I'm reminded of what I need most.
Jason ~ Fasting is getting us in position. That's a great thought! Great summary!
Glynn ~ I wonder how many more blessings the Lord has for us than we ever realize.
Kevin ~ Thanks for the comment and RT! You're most appreciated.
Blessed are the weak, for they shall be made strong.
ReplyDeleteFasting tends to show us just how weak we are and lets us be strong in Him.
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts.
Thanks for this wonderful reminder of how we should be drawing closer to our King! I don't think most people get excited about fasting, (I know I don't) but that should never keep us from doing it. I do it 4 or 5 times a year but somehow I know that that is not often enough.
ReplyDeleteA good reminder that I'm due for a good fast. There's no shortage of reasons (crises, like mentioned above), but you bring out the best of reasons- simply to be fed by God instead of by food.
ReplyDeleteOn that note, off for breakfast!
Even undevout religious people find intentional fasting over depression,as a way to attain strength to overcome it without even knowing in real.
ReplyDeleteSnady ~ Is that a paraphrase of Matthew 5:4 or Isaiah 40:31? I like the way you've presented the truth! ; )
ReplyDeleteKarin ~ Thanks. We're just like little kids—"I can do it myself!"—and miss out on too many things He might do for us and through us.
Mary ~ It would be nice if fasting were more convenient. I don't think it ever is. At this point in life, I'm simply grateful that teenage daughters means I don't have to prepare meals when I'm fasting. It's a good reason to fast more often than I do.
Frank ~ There was one point in my life when I fasted once a week. It was interrupted by pregnancy, and I never resumed it. I wish I would start that again one of these days ...
Nithin ~ I never realized this before, and I see that it is true! Thank you so much for sharing. I'm most grateful.
Fasting has been either in my life or on my mind for more than 40 years. I am sometimes faithful -- sometimes not. It's the "not" that makes me "heavy sigh." I'm hoping to be faithful again... especially when "Daniel fasting."
ReplyDeleteThanks for the good reminder.
Anne, I love your beautiful, faith-sharing blog. But am I the only one having a hard time reading it against the colored background?
ReplyDeletecaryjo ~ Our Father surely does not have a "heavy sigh" and neither should you. Seek Him with a heart at peace. : )
ReplyDeleteClifford ~ No, you're not. I tweaked it again. I'm not sure why its appearance has been so troublesome on other computers this time. Thanks for the feedback. Is this any better?
Hi Anne-
ReplyDeleteI haven't fasted for quite some time, but I did more frequently when I was younger (and more spiritual? I wonder?). I distinctly remember fasting at one point to contemplate the Holy Spirit's direction for my career: should I go to seminary? I got a clear answer - "No". The rest is history, as they say. It is so true that forcing your body to stop eating for a time helps you to reexamine priorities - to see things that perhaps you didn't notice before.
Brad ~
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your testimony of how clearly the Spirit can communicate.
As for frequency of fasting, perhaps we are more spiritual when faith is newer. Perhaps we simply try harder to learn what this relationship is all about back then. But as in any relationship, do you suppose there are times for a second honeymoon? It's quite possible fasting could facilitate that.
I wish I was more proactive with my fasting, rather than waiting for a concern where I want to reach a real spiritual breakthrough. *sigh*