The Father's Menu

Apostle Dr. Richard Udoh

Thursday, July 23, 2020

FASTING AND PRAYING 1

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
Main Text:

Fasting is basically going without food or drink voluntarily for a specific period of time. It is done generally for religious purposes. Fasting, however, could also be done for other reasons. It was sometimes done as a sign of distress, grief, or repentance. The combination of fasting and praying are not part of a human-engineered method or plan. They are not the means to manipulate a situation or to create a circumstance. Fasting and praying are bible based disciplines that are appropriate for all believers of all ages in all part of the world. You do not fast to impress God. Some people think that if they fast long enough, it will influence God to do something for them. Punishing yourself does not impress the Lord, you’ll only get very hungry! Fasting changes you not God. Isaiah 58:3-5 “They say, "We fast to show honor to you. Why don't you see us? We starve our bodies to show honor to you. Why don't you notice us?" But the Lord says, "You do things to please yourselves on those special days of fasting. And you punish your servants, not your own bodies. You are hungry, but not for food. You are hungry for arguing and fighting, not for bread. You are hungry to hit people with your evil hands. This is not the way to fast if you want your prayers to be heard in heaven! Do you think I want to see people punish their bodies on those days of fasting? Do you think I want people to look sad and bow their heads like dead plants? Do you think I want people to wear mourning clothes and sit in ashes to show their sadness? That is what you do on your days of fasting. Do you think that is what the Lord wants? (ERV)

Confession: I declare by faith that I walk in divine favor, I have preferential treatment, supernatural increase, restoration, I have prominence in Jesus name! I am blessed!

Further Reading:    Luke 2:37:

37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

                             Daniel 9:3

 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 

Read through the Bible: Judges 6 & Acts 10