You’re reading ACTS: LESSONS IN FAITH, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the lives of the very first followers of Christ. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Acts 13

One of the best ways I’ve found to intensify, deepen or accelerate my prayers is to fast―to go without food for a period of time so I can focus more intensely on praying.

I don’t remember hearing much about fasting when I was growing up.  I don’t know if it was because I was just a child, or because those around me didn’t fast, or because those who did fasted in a way that didn’t draw attention to their fasting.  But I do know that when I began to read the Bible as an adult, I was surprised by the number of references to prayer and fasting throughout both the Old and New Testament.  Moses, David, Elijah, Paul and Jesus Himself are just a few of the many who fasted.

As I read other Christian books, I was surprised to find that many people throughout history, including leaders of major Christian movements also fasted:  Luther, Wesley, Finney, Edwards, Booth, to name just a few.  I also found that many of the Christian leaders that I knew and respected living today also fasted with profound results.

After reading so many inspiring stories, I decided to try it myself.  Now, after twenty years adding fasting to my prayer life at various times, whether for a few days or for several weeks at a time, I can confirm that some of the most significant words I’ve heard from the Lord have come during those times of prayer and fasting.  God has spoken to me about all kinds of things, from who to marry to how to expand my ministry.  It seems that when I empty myself physically, I’m able to fill up more spiritually.

Acts chapter 13 records how the earliest Christians fasted and prayed, and how God spoke to them during their fast:

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:2-3). 

This was the beginning of Saul’s (also known as Paul’s) missionary journeys.  The believers were gathered in prayer, worshiping the Lord and fasting, when God spoke to them through His Holy Spirit that He wanted two of them to set off in a new direction.  While this may have seemed like simple next steps for Barnabas and Paul, it began a whole new life of travel and ministry for them.  These trips resulted in new church starts in city after city.  Because of the prayers and fasting of those early believers, God charted a new life course for Paul, one which took him through to the end of his life.

If you’re asking God for direction in your life, for wisdom about how to move forward, for answers as to the next steps you should take, consider intensifying your prayers with fasting.  If you’re praying for situations that seem to have hit a roadblock and you don’t know how to go any further in your prayers, try fasting to break through that barrier.

When Jesus’ disciples were praying for a boy who was having seizures and suffering greatly, their prayers didn’t seem to help, so they came to Jesus for help.  Jesus drove out the demon that was affecting the boy and he was healed from that moment.  When the disciples later came to Jesus in private and asked why they couldn’t drive it out, He said,

“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.  But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:20-21). 

It seems from this passage, and from many others in the Bible, that fasting adds a dimension to our faith and to our prayers that is not available without it.

If you want to intensify, deepen or accelerate your prayers―and fill up more spiritually at the same time―try fasting!

Prayer: Father, help me to grow in my faith, even through fasting and prayer, so that I can see Your will done here on the earth.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.