We are entering a time of prayer and fasting, let’s look at WHY we do it and HOW we do it. The WHY is easy, Jesus said, “…WHEN (not if) YOU FAST, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. Your Father who sees what is done privately will reward you.” (Matt. 6:17-18) By its very nature, fasting seems to suggest that special attention is needed. Eating is a normal part of human existence, so abstaining from eating implies a temporary disruption from the normal. But it will be seen in Isaiah’s writing that fasting and abstinence from food, point to something even more necessary for life—COMMUNION WITH and DEPENDENCE ON GOD.
The Lord teaches us that WHEN WE FAST, “…our LIGHT will break forth like the dawn, and our HEALING will quickly appear; our RIGHTEOUSNESS will go before us, and the GLORY OF THE LORD will be our rear guard. Then we will call, and the LORD will ANSWER; we will cry for help, and He will say: HERE AM I.” (Isa. 58:8-10) Over the next few days we’ll look at types of fasting, I want to share a testimony about fasting. My wife and I were pastoring the Darrington Church. We were facing some very challenging situations and after a Sunday Night service Debbie and I shared how the Lord prompted each of us to go on a five day “Total Fast” (no food or water) for five days. I was working in Redmond Washington, about 80 miles away. I would get up early go to work as a design engineer. On Wednesday word came that a big complex project was due a week earlier than we thought. I went out behind the building to explain to the Lord how I would have go off of my fast to do this project. He said to trust Him and He would help me. So I sat down and amazingly, inspiration came to me, I entered the code and it worked the first time!!!
The next miraculous event took place as I was driving home Thursday Night, as I was passing through Arlington (about 30 miles from Darrington). I drove over a bridge and the Lord very clearly instructed me to raise my hands and praise Him, I did so and when I finished I was just entering Darrington!!! The Church came together Friday night with healings and powerful worship and great breakthroughs followed.
-Bill Stockham