For followers of Christ, prayer is the best way to communicate with God. Therefore, prayer is crucial to our ability to encounter God. Prayer is not designed to be a monotonous monologue, but a dynamic dialog with the Lord. The importance of regularly praying cannot be overstated. Prayer is mentioned over 250 times in the Bible. Through prayer, we get to share all aspects of our life with God (see: Jer 33:3; James 4:8). We can express gratitude to and trust in God through prayer (see: 1 Chron 16:34; Ps 9:1). God invites us to confess sin and ask for the strength and wisdom to live victoriously through prayer (see: Ps 32:5; 1 Jn 1:9). Prayer is an expression of worship (see: 1 Thess 5:16-18). Lastly, prayer acknowledges that God is in control of our lives (see: Isa 46:9-10; Daniel 4:17; 1 Chron 29:11). I believe these reasons among many more are the thrust behind the psalmist proclamation: “God’s there, listening for all who pray, for all who pray and mean it” (Psalm 145:18). Astonishingly, our loving God desires for us to invest time with Him through prayer.
There is biblical precedence to connecting prayer with fasting. Interestingly the connection between prayer and fasting is not explicitly explained in Scripture. However, there is a common thread in God’s Word threading the two together.
In the Old Testament, prayer and fasting had a sense of declaring one’s need and dependence on God during times of great difficulty. Throughout the Old Testament, prayer and fasting occur during times of mourning, repentance, and deep spiritual need. In the New Testament, there seems to be a sense of anticipation of God’s moving among His people and seeking His guidance and power in specific situations. It is safe to say that the examples of prayer and fasting in the New Testament are components of worshipping God and seeking His favor.
It is essential to acknowledge that nowhere in the Bible is a Christ follower commanded to fast. Instead, the Scriptures present fasting as something good and profitable. The focus of fasting is not to go without food but is focused on taking our eyes off the stuff of this world and unto God. It is a physical manifestation of our heart’s desire for a growing relationship and increasing reliance on the Lord. Fasting is not about changing God’s will to our will, but our will to align with God’s will. Fasting is not always a food fast. Some physically can’t fast due to health reason, but all of us can temporarily give up something to draw closer to God.
It is important to note that the Bible nowhere teaches that God listens to prayers more when they are tied to fasting. What we observe in Scripture is that prayer and fasting seem to indicate the earnestness of those who were praying as well as the situation and circumstances for which they prayed. In fact, the more critical the situation, it would seem, the more appropriate it is to pray and fast. For example, I prayed and fasted the first time in High School when I sought the Lord’s direction on what path of preparation for pastoral ministry He had in mind for me.
Mark records in his Gospel that on one occasion, a man brought his son to the disciples of Jesus to heal him of an unclean spirit. They are unable to do so, but Jesus does heal the boy. Jesus’ disciples ask Him privately why they failed to heal the boy. Jesus responds: “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer” (Mark 9:29). It appears that the lack of prayer makes us weak in faith. Through prayer and fasting, our will is conformed to God’s will, and we are given all we need to fulfill that will.
Prayer is something we ought to do regularly. We ought to be in a constant attitude of prayer (1 Thess 5:17). This suggests a mental attitude of prayerfulness, continual personal fellowship with God, and consciousness of being in God’s presence throughout the day. Again, prayer is crucial to our ability to encounter God.
I am honored to do life with each of you. Let us encourage each other to be people of prayer. The church statesman A.B. Simpson once said, “Prayer is the link that connects us with God.” I agree and believe the Bible confirms this to be true. Let’s encounter God through prayer. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!