Join us during the month of February, as we pray and fast for a move of the Lord in our broken world. Many women ask me about fasting. What is the purpose of fasting? Why do we do it? How does fasting work into the gospel of grace? Isn’t is like “working” for your salvation?
This month we will explore fasting in easy “bite-size” pieces. (Ha ha. Ironic, I know…) Today, let’s look at when Jesus fasted.
Satan Tempts Jesus
Mathew 4:4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. (NKJV)
What are some things we can learn from this passage?
- Jesus was led by the Spirit too fast. He didn’t do it to get healthy or lose weight. He didn’t do it as a cleanse. He did it because the Spirit led him to do it.
- Jesus was led into the wilderness for this difficult feat. He was alone. He was in a dry place.
- Jesus was tempted during his fast by the devil.
So, the Holy Spirit can lead us into a fast.
The Holy Spirit can take us into a wilderness or a dry place when God is doing a great work in us. For some reason this solitude is important. Also, the wilderness is a place of testing that, in the Bible, always symbolized a place of preparation. The wilderness was were Moses spent 40 years of his life BEFORE he led the children of Israel into the wilderness, out of Egypt. Moses fled Egypt in his own power, but the Lord refined him in the wilderness (over 4 decades) and brought him out in HIS power.
Jesus was attacked or tempted by the devil during the wilderness and the fast. Don’t be surprised by this. Don’t be afraid. Jesus lives inside of you. When you humble yourself (like with fasting), it says in James 4:7-10 that the devil must flee!
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
Whether you fast 1 meal, 2 meals, from coffee, sugar, social media or meat, make sure that you are led by the Spirit. Ask the Lord if he wants you too fast. If he does, ask him how he wants you to approach it. Don’t try to figure it out on your own.
One of my good friends does “long-distance” fasting (fasting for days or weeks on end) by fasting 2 meals a day and eating dinner. Be sure if you have any medical conditions that you ask your doctor before fasting.
Be sure not to tell the world. Don’t post it on social media. Jesus warns us that our fasts are in vain, when we brag about it or announce it. However, we can announce a corporate fast! This is a “come and join us” kind of fast. You may ask a friend or family member or bible study group to join you.
Purpose: Our Revealed Ministry prayer team discussed doing this 21 day fast to pray for a move of the Lord and for him to break the chains in our families and lives. We want the Lord to bless us with the direction of his Holy Spirit, to bring healing and repentance. We want to know him better! We also want to cover our upcoming women’s retreat with prayer and fasting. Each day we will post a new prayer with scripture for you to pray and follow. You may do this at any point, even if you start at a different time!
PRAYER – DAY 1 Repentance and Humility
Father, in Jesus name, I come before you humbly. I worship you, Lord. I praise you holy name! I thank you for your blessing on my life. I ask that you reveal to me anything in my life that doesn’t please you. I humble myself before you. I ask that you will give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that I may know if there is any sin in my life that displeases you. Cleanse me from the things that bring you pain. Cleanse me from anger, bitterness, resentment and grudges. Cleanse me from impurity of every kind. Reveal to me, Lord, if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.
Reveal to me how to pray for my family and dear friends. Bring repentance to their lives. Reveal to them any sin that is growing and taking root in their lives. Give them the freedom that comes from repentance, in Jesus name.
Pour out repentance on my church, on my friends.
Pour out repentance on my town, on my county, state and country, in Jesus’ name.
Pour out repentance on our governing officials, in Jesus’ name.
Bring a revival, Lord!
In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Revealed Ministries 