Often in a time of fasting you will hear the question “WHY?” coming from all sorts of places, especially from your stomach! What are we fasting for? What is the goal of this fast? What do you want to get out of it?

Personally, I don’t think that fasting should be seen as something to do only when you want to/need to add some muscle to getting a prayer answered. I don’t think fasting is something we add to prayer when prayer alone doesn’t seem to be enough. When Jesus’ disciples couldn’t cast out a deaf and dumb spirit, and they asked Him why they couldn’t but He could, He answered: “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”  (Matthew 17).  But did Jesus go away and fast before He prayed for her? No, not right there. But it seems that He had a discipline of fasting and prayer. He demonstrated a desire and delight in the Father, that drew Him as the Son of Man to seek out God the Father in prayer and fasting.  Fasting is more a spiritual disciple aiding a desire, rather than being something to add to prayer when prayer alone doesn’t seem to work.

So what am I/are we fasting for?

1. Personally I am fasting out of DESIRE. A desire for His presence and His power. I desire more anointing and fruit from what I feel called to do. Jesus came out of His wilderness fast “in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14) – I desire that in and through my life. I desire that in our church and in this city. I desire that in our communities and on the campuses and in the nations through our church plants and 1000’s of others needed all across Europe and the world.
2. Our fast is a consecration, that says to the Lord again: “Here we are Lord, fill us, use us!” Like Joshua, we say “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.”  We expect great things coming up!
3. I do have a short list of things I am praying for and seeking wisdom about, and it does amaze me how these seem to align and answered as and after we fast. But fasting is for more than my needs, its for my deep desire…

If you are/have/are going to fast for a day or more, what’s your DESIRE?

PS – If you are in London this week, join the Hammersmith congregation for a powerful all-night of Prayer & Praise this Friday the 9th – Pop in anytime between 8pm Friday and 8am Saturday morning. All details online here.