Living a Fasted life: A Forgotten Key to Power
I never used to think fasting was necessary or really that important. I would read about it in Scripture, but somehow, I thought I was the exception. Maybe that was for the early church, maybe for the "super spiritual," maybe just something the church does once a year in January so we can check it off our list. But a fasted life? That sounded extreme.
Then the Holy Spirit began to convict me.
If Jesus fasted (Matthew 4:2), if Moses fasted (Exodus 34:28), if Daniel fasted (Daniel 10:3), if the early church fasted (Acts 13:2), if God repeatedly called His people to fast throughout Scripture; who was I to think I could follow Jesus without embracing the same lifestyle?
The truth is, living a fasted life is not optional if we claim to follow Christ. It’s not a suggestion; it’s a requirement.
The Church Must Prepare
We are entering a time where spiritual authority will be required like never before. The battles ahead will not be won by passive Christianity, comfortable church services, or shallow faith. The church must awaken. The church must prepare. And fasting is a key weapon in this preparation.
Fasting is not optional; it is a command. Jesus is calling His church back to biblical fasting. Not for His love, but for His power. Through prayer and fasting, His light will shine brighter in a darkening world. The power does not come from fasting itself, but from the partnership it creates with Heaven.
Fasting is a profound act of surrender, a declaration of dependency, and an alignment with God’s will. Jesus is waiting for His church to respond. Will we obey?
The Forgotten Expectation
Somewhere along the way, the Western Church has turned fasting into a religious event rather than a spiritual discipline. We’ve reduced it to a diet, a social media break, or a once-a-year tradition, instead of embracing it as a lifestyle. But biblical fasting is not about convenience. It’s not about abstaining from sugar or social media. It’s about dying to yourself, crucifying your flesh, and making room for God.
Jesus didn’t say “if” you fast; He said “when” you fast (Matthew 6:16-18). It was an expectation, not an option.
True biblical fasting means abstaining from food. Period. It’s not about tweaking your diet or picking and choosing what’s comfortable. It’s about saying, “Lord, I desire You more than I desire my next meal. I will deny my flesh so I can feast on Your presence.”
What Does a Biblical Fast Look Like?
For those who have never fasted before, the idea of going without food can feel overwhelming. I understand; abstaining from food is challenging. At first, it was difficult for me too, but the more I embraced fasting, the easier it became. Now, resisting food isn’t the hardest part; it’s the mental battle and how I feel during the fast that present the greatest challenges. But just as we grow in faith, prayer, and obedience, we can also grow in fasting. If you’ve never fasted before, start small and allow the Holy Spirit to stretch you over time.
How to Begin Fasting
Start with One Meal – Skip a single meal and spend that time in prayer and worship instead of eating. Use this as a time to press into God and seek Him with a surrendered heart.
Try a Partial Fast – Consider fasting from sunrise to sunset or for a set number of hours during the day. Drink water and use that time to immerse yourself in the Word.
Move to a 24-Hour Fast – Skip meals for an entire day, drinking only water or herbal tea. When hunger comes, let it remind you to pray and focus on God.
Extend Your Fast – As you grow stronger in fasting, challenge yourself to go for multiple days; three, seven, or even longer as the Spirit leads. This is where deep breakthrough happens.
When Should You Fast?
The Bible shows us many reasons and times to fast:
When seeking God’s direction – “So we fasted and implored our God for this, and He listened to our entreaty.” (Ezra 8:23)
When battling spiritual warfare – “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21)
When repenting and returning to God – “Even now, declares the Lord, return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” (Joel 2:12)
When interceding for others – Esther fasted for her people’s deliverance (Esther 4:16).
When desiring deeper intimacy with God – Moses fasted 40 days on Mount Sinai before receiving the commandments (Exodus 34:28).
Fasting should become part of your spiritual rhythm. It can be weekly, monthly, or as the Holy Spirit leads. The more you fast, the more your spirit grows stronger, and your flesh weakens.
Why Fast? Because It’s the Way of the Kingdom
Fasting is not for the spiritually elite; it’s for every believer. It is a direct assault against the flesh, a declaration of war against complacency, and an invitation for God to move. When we fast, we humble ourselves before the Lord (Psalm 35:13). We position ourselves for breakthrough (Isaiah 58:6). We seek the heart of God with desperation and hunger that surpasses our physical cravings.
Throughout Scripture, fasting preceded supernatural encounters:
Moses fasted and encountered the glory of God (Exodus 34:28).
Daniel fasted and received divine revelation (Daniel 10:2-3).
Esther called a fast, and an entire nation was saved (Esther 4:16).
Jesus fasted, and His ministry was launched in power (Matthew 4:1-2).
If fasting was necessary for them, why would we think it isn’t necessary for us?
Corporate Fasting: The Power of Unity in Humility
Fasting is powerful on a personal level, but when the body of Christ fasts together, something shifts in the spirit.
In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat called for a fast when Israel faced a battle they couldn’t win. The people fasted, prayed, and sought the Lord; and God fought on their behalf.
In Jonah 3, the people of Nineveh fasted in repentance, and judgment was averted.
In Acts 13:2-3, the early church fasted together, and the Holy Spirit commissioned Paul and Barnabas for their ministry.
Corporate fasting is a biblical pattern. It unites the body of Christ, humbles the church, and creates space for God to move in ways we could never manufacture on our own.
So why do we neglect it?
Why do we treat fasting as a burden instead of a privilege?
Shutting Down the Religious Spirit
Some will say, “I don’t have to fast to be a follower of Jesus.”
I would ask, “Are you sure?”
Can you truly follow Jesus if you refuse to live how He lived? Can you walk in the power of the Spirit while feeding your flesh? Jesus fasted. His disciples fasted. The early church fasted. If we refuse to do the same, we are following a Westernized version of Christianity, not the biblical one.
Fasting is not legalism; it is devotion. It is hunger. It is surrender.
The religious spirit will always resist fasting because fasting strips away pride, self-sufficiency, and comfort. It forces us into radical dependence on God.
A Call to the Church
Church, we have settled for a powerless Christianity. We want revival without repentance, breakthrough without sacrifice, and intimacy with God without crucifying our flesh. But if we truly want to see the power of God in our lives, our churches, and our nation, we must return to the fasted life.
This is the call.
To the husbands and wives: fast for your marriage.
To the parents: fast for your children.
To the children: fast for your future, your purity, and your generation to know and follow Jesus.
To the business owners: fast for your company.
To the pastors and leaders: fast for your congregation and city.
To every believer: fast because you are a disciple of Jesus.
Will you answer the call?
Will you stop making excuses?
Will you say yes to living a fasted life?
Now is the time. Jesus is returning for a pure and spotless bride; a church that is hungry for Him above all else.
Let’s be that church.
Let’s live the fasted life.