Biblical Fasting, Faith, and Self Control...

I am learning more and more every day that there are a lot of people engaged in the Daniels Fast! I do not have an exact number but it seems that everywhere I go these days someone is grabbing me and telling me about their spiritual journey of fasting. For those of you on the journey, way to go! For those of you not yet in the game but considering, it is not too late to join.

I'm hearing humorous stories as well as stories of struggle. One man told me about sitting down to eat his vegetables while his wife plopped down in front of him with piping hot fast food from Arby's, including those crispy curly fries. (Lord, help the ole boy :-)) He wanted to strangle her and then eat the curly fries. On a serious note, I am also hearing of fatigue and lack of energy. Remember, the beauty of the Daniels Fast is that you don't have to fast food completely. So, as when needed, throw back those vegetables, fruit, and water.

In his book, Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough, Elmer Towns, says this:

"One of the first steps in the Daniels Fast is to recognize the external power of our bondages. This does not necessarily mean we have demons, but it does mean we are controlled externally, not internally. Some believe they are alcoholics because their fathers were alcoholics... Although the causes of these problems are external, these people suffer internal depression. "I'm worthless," they inwardly confess, and give up -- when in fact, if they regained control of their bodies through fasting they could reach into their spirits to take control of their inner humanities. Recognizing that an internal power has made us weak is the first step in recovering control of ourselves." (Pg. 32)

In my experience with fasting, Dr. Townes is spot on. One of the key benefits/blessing of fasting is being able to control ourselves. I'm reminded that one of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control. (Galatians 5:23) I would go so far as to say one look at our culture and it is clear we have lost all forms of self control. As 21st-century American Christians, we don't come off much better. The truth is we often struggle with self control.

Fasting, in a real sense, is a statement of faith that recognizes what God can do in and through us. Likewise, it is also a statement of faith to recognize what a person cannot do. Faith is recognizing God's power and strategy for giving us self-control and then submitting to that power/strategy. Fasting taps into both His power and His biblical strategy for gaining self control!

Jesus said to the disciples, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'" (Matthew 17:20)

Faith is never completely blind faith, such as walking to the end of the diving board and jumping into a pool, hoping there will be water in it. Faith is confidence. When you say, "I believe," you are saying, "I know." When Jesus said, "If you have faith," He was saying, "If you know you can break the bondage, it will happen to you." I know that is slicing it pretty thin and some of you will quote Hebrews 11:1 about faith "Being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." I get that. But notice the first part of that verse - "Being sure of what we hope for." There is a blindness to faith but don't neglect the certainty of faith either! So much of our victory as Christians depends upon our identity in Christ and our faith/knowledge/trust of His power permeating in our lives. When I start to tap into that kind of faith, that the Christian life starts to take on victory and power!

The old farmer once said to me, "Faith is believing what you know ain't so." Beloved, that is not New Testament faith. New Testament faith is believing what you know is so! So, press own dear fasters! I am praying for you -- for self-control, solid biblical faith, and God's power manifested in your life!