Why Fast?

After all this talk of food that's been going on here at This One Goes Out, my day of fasting is coming up quickly. I'll be abstaining from food on July 3rd. Billy will be taking a couple of shifts with the girls to allow me some time to be focused on God, unified with His desires, and listening to his prompting.

But all this raises the question, "Why bother?" While we can't say for sure just what fasting does for us or for that which we're praying for, I have my beliefs on why we should bother withholding food.

There are actually few times that I've felt called to fast. Once was when Billy and I were trying to figure out where to go with our relationship. Another was while we were living apart a few months ago and we were trying to sell our house. Each time I saw powerful things happen.

Scripture points to this power when Jesus' disciples question him about why they could not drive out a demon. They seem to have been able to drive other demons out, and they wonder why this one just won't listen. Jesus replies, "This kind can only be driven out through prayer and fasting." (Mt. 17:21, Mk. 9:29 NKJV)

In other words, there is a lot of power that Jesus has given to us already. We can personally do a lot to further God's kingdom, but sometimes the power is reserved and we just have to turn to him in a state of humbleness, remembering that we must rely completely on him to do the work himself.

So, tomorrow, I will be doing just that.