fasting

16"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, Matthew 6:16-17

If you notice, in the verses above I have highlighted and underlined "When you fast". It doesn't say "If you fast..." There are a lot of myths about fasting but I can't go into them now. However to answer your question, Jesus is saying "whenever you decide to fast..." There is no precription here, it is all up to YOU. You decide how often you would like to fast. What believers fail to understand is that fast is for you and not for the Lord. You don't fast to make or force the Lord to do anything but rather you fast you condition your spirit and make it more sensitive and receptive to the Lord and the spirit realm. Fasting weakens your flesh and strengthens your spirit. So it is for you and not for the Lord.

So how does fasting impact the Lord? How does fasting make him move? It depends on your motives and understanding of fasting. If you are fasting put on a show or to tell everyone that you received answers to your prayer not by grace through faith but rather because of your fast, then there is a problem.

But if you are fasting because you want "that thing" so bad that you are prepared to give up food then the Lord will take notice.

But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29

When you fast it is to show your devotion and your dedication. It is your way to tell the Lord how desperate and how bad you want and desire "that thing". This is what it means to seek with all your heart and your mind. And it is not just about food. It goes even deeper.

Paul says,

" 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, " Philippians 3

He was prepared to give up everything and consider them loss or worthless in order to gain Christ. So it all depends on your dedication and how much you want something, depending on that you can determine how long you are prepare to give up food and other things.

I think I will stop here before it gets too deep :-). I pray that this helps you and every visitor.

Love and Blessings

Patrice Aka

Apostle and Trainer