As we grow in our walk with the Lord, we will inevitably face situations that seem impossible, matters that weigh on us heavily. Often times it has to do with ones under our care not growing spiritually or being poisoned and no longer wanting to fellowship with us. Or perhaps it's something more personal, like continuously falling prey to a sinful habit or weakness in our character. At such times, it may even seem like we've lost the Lord's presence or that He's withheld His blessing from us. Encountering such situations is altogether normal and even necessary. At such times, it seems that prayer is not enough. What's needed... is fasting.
A literal definition of fasting is to abstain from food. There are many different types of fasts, such as fasting from certain types of food or fasting from certain worldly entertainments. Fasting from technology has become popular in recent years. Regardless of what one fasts from, the most important thing is to fast with the proper intention and a proper understanding of the purpose of fasting. Without this, fasting becomes a destructive ritual, devoid of genuine significance. But with a proper understanding, it can exactly what we need.
If there's a heavy burden weighing on your heart, whether it be something personal or related to the Lord's work, I encourage you to read and pray over these quotes I've extracted from a book called Lessons on Prayer. There's a good chance that this is the key to breaking through. That's what the Lord Himself said (Matt. 17:14-21).
A literal definition of fasting is to abstain from food. There are many different types of fasts, such as fasting from certain types of food or fasting from certain worldly entertainments. Fasting from technology has become popular in recent years. Regardless of what one fasts from, the most important thing is to fast with the proper intention and a proper understanding of the purpose of fasting. Without this, fasting becomes a destructive ritual, devoid of genuine significance. But with a proper understanding, it can exactly what we need.
If there's a heavy burden weighing on your heart, whether it be something personal or related to the Lord's work, I encourage you to read and pray over these quotes I've extracted from a book called Lessons on Prayer. There's a good chance that this is the key to breaking through. That's what the Lord Himself said (Matt. 17:14-21).
I. Fasting is the spontaneous expression of man receiving great responsibility.
Often when we encounter an important matter in the course of our human living, we become unable to eat.... Because the matter which we encounter is so great and the responsibility so heavy, we spontaneously lose our appetite for food... we fast without purposing to do so.
II. Fasting is an indication of man's absoluteness.
If you can be praying for a certain matter and can also be eating, it reveals that you are not absolutely standing on God's side. It demonstrates that your attitude is still not firm enough. So, brothers and sisters, as you pray, do not fast lightly. Always keep in mind that in fasting you are saying, "Here is a great and important matter, and in this matter, my attitude, my intention, is one hundred percent, absolutely standing on God's side to oppose God's enemy."
III. Fasting is the renunciation of lawful right.
There is nothing in our human life that is more legitimate than eating.... By his fasting, man indicates that in order to receive and bear an important matter he renounces his most legitimate right.
IV. Fasting is man indicating that he does not care for himself.
Eating is most crucial to human existence. Without eating, man will starve to death. Hence, to fast is to use your life as a pledge. In fasting you are saying, "I want this matter to be fulfilled even at the cost of my life. I am fighting for it with my life." ... This is in accordance with what the apostle Paul said, "I consider my life of no account as if precious to myself" (Acts. 20:24a).... Fasting means that a certain matter is pressing upon you to such an extent that you have to fight with your life and that you would rather die than allow this matter to go by lightly. You will prove this matter to God even unto death. When you have such a strong feeling, your fasting is meaningful.
V. Fasting is for the accomplishment of God's will and for the defeat of Satan.
The instances of fasting and prayer that are recorded in the Bible are either for the accomplishment of God's will or for the driving out of the Devil. It is difficult to find even one example that is for man's own benefit.... Never think that as long as you fast and pray, your prayer will be answered by God... You cannot find an illustration in the Bible showing that when man fasts and prays for his personal interest Go answers that prayer.... Fasting in prayer in the Bible is always this: either man on earth has touched God's desire and asks God to fulfill it, or he has encountered God's enemy and desires to cast him out.
VI. Do not fast lightly.
Do not regard fasting as a religious form, nor treat it as a superstitious requirement. The fasting in prayer which God accepts occurs when one receives a commission from God which is very great. Because he loves God and cares so much for His purpose, he is willing to give up his right to legitimate enjoyment. He also is willing to struggle for that commission to the death. In that instance, such a person would spontaneously fast.
VII. Fasting is necessary.
On the one hand, a Christian should not fast lightly, but on the other hand, he needs to fast. If a Christian has never fasted, ... either God has never committed any matter to him, or he has refused God's commission.... What does fasting mean? Fasting means that you care very much for God's purpose, and you deeply sense the fierceness of God's enemy. Such sensation presses and compels you to such an extent that you simply cannot eat, drink, and be merry like other men, but that you must fast.
VIII. The test for fasting
How do you know that you need to fast? This is determined by whether or not you feel hungry when you do not eat.... If you do not feel hungry when you do not eat or thirsty when you do not drink, then you ought to fast.... All who truly fast will not feel hungry. Suppose one day a sister who is a widow should lose her only son. Undoubtedly, she could go without eating for three days without feeling hungry.... She would say, "I am not hungry at all. I simply cannot take food."
IX. A few things to take heed of
If a burden truly presses you to such an extent that you cannot help but fast, then remember this: never fast without praying. You must fast and pray.... Fasting without prayer consumes you, but fasting with prayer supplies you. Next, while you fast in prayer, always beware having too many things as your burden. Do not pray for things apart from your burden.
Real fasting in prayer is this: because a person loves God, lives before God, and touches God's heart, the Spirit of God will heavily burden him with one thing that God desires to do. He will become burdened to such an extent that he can neither eat nor drink. Then he will spontaneously fast and go before God to pray. Consequently, such prayer will accomplish God's purpose, drive out the Devil, and usher in God's authority.
During the course of our service to the Lord, we should always come to a point where we are unable to get through some matters, and at that time we must fast and pray to deal with them.
Excerpts taken from Witness Lee's Lessons on Prayer, pp. 215-224.