It's that time of the year when many churches (particularly Pentecostal congregations), embark on a season of fasting and prayer to set the tone for the new year. Many denominations begin tomorrow, some have begun already and others will join in later this week. But what makes fasting and prayer so important?

Under the Mosaic Law, fasting was commanded once a year, the Day of Atonement – The high priest cleanses the temple with the burning incense and the blood of a spotless lamb for the remission of sin (Lev. 16:29-31). But Jesus Christ with His blood entered the Most Holy Place once and for all, obtaining eternal redemption for us (Heb. 9:12). So, under Messianic law, fasting is no longer a means to justification but consecration (walk/intimacy with God). “Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast” – Matt.9:15.

At this junction, I should highlight that fasting itself is a spiritual exercise, it was our misconception of the subject that demanded it be called Fasting and Prayer. “Wherefore have we fasted, they said, and you see not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and you took no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure and exact all your labors” – Isa. 58:3. A fast is a period of self-denial and spiritual indulgence – replacing bodily pleasures with their spiritual equivalence. For example, replacing natural food with the spiritual meal of the Word, chatting with prayers, movies with sermons, sex with intimacy, and on and on. The purpose is to by the Spirit mortify the deeds of the flesh (Rom. 8:13).

Indeed, our fast doesn’t make God any stronger than He already is, but it positions us to tune in the right frequency with God.

Continued…