Build your spiritual resilience by adding fasting to your prayer.

In our fast-paced Western society, where freedom and prosperity flourish, the spiritual discipline of fasting often takes a back seat. This is unfortunate because fasting holds the key to enhancing the frequency and impact of our prayers.

Today we’re going to dive into some of Jesus’ teaching and uncover the crucial connection between prayer and fasting.

Step 1: Understanding the Overlooked Discipline

Fasting, a Biblically grounded discipline, is the key to amplifying the strength of our prayers. While Western Christianity may downplay its significance, fasting serves as a powerful tool for seeking God more earnestly.

Adding fasting to our prayer life fosters focus, heightened awareness, and a deepened connection with the Holy Spirit through intense meditation and reflection. Beyond its spiritual benefits, fasting also helps us detach from worldly distractions.

The act of fasting can also foster gratitude for what we have and empathy for those less fortunate. But perhaps you’re skeptical, considering fasting an outdated practice for the ultra-religious. Does it still matter in our modern time?

Step 2: Accepting Jesus’ Endorsement of Fasting

According to Jesus, as recorded in Luke 5, the time for fasting will come when the bridegroom is taken away. This reference to Jesus’ departure includes our current era, where the Church eagerly awaits His return.

According to Jesus, now is the time for us to engage in both prayer and fasting.

33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”

Luke 5:33-35 (ESV)

In Luke 18, Jesus shares a parable about persistence in prayer. Although fasting is not explicitly mentioned, its connection to prayer is evident. Fasting serves as a constant reminder to pray, increasing the frequency and impact of our petitions before God.

1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city, there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while, he refused, but afterward, he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.”

Luke 18:1-8a (ESV)

Step 3: Remembering Heart Condition Matters

Further into Luke 18, Jesus presents another parable, contrasting the prayers of a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisee, self-righteous and contemptuous, fasts twice a week and lists his virtues in prayer. In stark contrast, the tax collector humbly pleads for God’s mercy.

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 18:9-14 (ESV)

Jesus emphasizes that it’s the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who is justified before God. This parable underscores the importance of humility in prayer and fasting. Heart condition matters more than mere practice; praying and fasting with a self-righteous heart is a futile endeavour.

Step 4: Applying Fasting To Prayer

As followers of Jesus, our approach to prayer and fasting should mirror the heart of the tax collector – humble and repentant. Jesus invites us to recognize our shortcomings and approach Him with sincerity. A humble heart holds more value than external practice.

The wisdom of Jesus guides us towards a holistic understanding of prayer and fasting. These spiritual disciplines aren’t religious rituals but transformative practices. When we approach them with the right heart, they can build spiritual resilience and deepen our connection with God.

Join the Conversation, Share Your Thoughts

• How has the idea of fasting as a spiritual discipline resonated with you?
• If you fast regularly, how has it impacted your prayer life?
• In what ways do you think fasting can build spiritual resiliency?