THE BENEFITS OF FASTING
By Don Colbert, M.D.

[[EDITOR'S NOTE: With this week's Power Up!, we return to our usual purpose: to provide inspirational messages that will encourage you to be all you can be for God. These include messages that will motivate you to engage in biblical disciplines such as fasting. We know that Jesus fasted when He was on Earth, and we are all called to follow His example. Here's why!]]

I believe fasting is a key to genuine and deep spirituality. History reveals that those who sought to know God and desired to experience spiritual realms and divine giftings employed fasting as a powerful and important tool in their pursuit.

Biblical fasting involves voluntarily abstaining from food for a period of time for a spiritual purpose. Denying yourself one of the most basic elements of survival, one that is appreciated by your body and that brings psychological pleasure as well, humbles your body and mind, resulting in a strengthening of your spirit. Two words used in the Old Testament that are translated as "fasting" involve the following meanings: "to cover the mouth" and "to humble oneself."

Fasting is a way of showing your destructive, fleshly desires who is "boss." The Bible refers to the base desires of our body and mind as the "flesh." It instructs us to overcome these desires and allow the Spirit of God, who resides in the spirit of born-again believers, to rule our lives. As powerful as the lower nature can appear, fasting humbles it, breaking its destructive power. Fasting is a key to humility, which brings the favor of God on our lives. The Scriptures instruct us to seek humility:

"Be clothed with humility, for 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time" (1 Pet. 5:5-6, NKJV).

Note that it is not the work of God to make us humble; He tells us to humble ourselves. As we choose to humble ourselves with fasting and prayer, God comes to our aid and reveals His love, purposes, and plans for our individual lives - and even for nations, as the Bible records.

How many of you have discovered the strength of your natural appetites for things that are NOT good for you? Whether it is the carnal appetite for overeating, sugar, gossip, inappropriate sex or other inordinate desires, these strong cravings are part of our base nature, which the Bible calls flesh. God intended for our spirits to rule our minds and bodies, but too often we have to admit that our bodies and minds are vying for control.

Fasting is a powerful way to break the grip of the base desires that rule our lives, allowing the spirit to regain the control it was intended to have over our lives. Our relationship with God, who is Spirit, depends on our communing with Him through our spirits by the power of the Holy Spirit. Fasting "feeds" our spirit man, starving the natural desires at the same time.

Amazingly, it softens the heart while cleansing the body, making us more receptive to God's plans. It is remarkable how clearly our spirits can discern the voice and internal promptings of God's Spirit when the screaming voices of the body and mind have been subdued through fasting.

Scripture indicates that spiritual fasting should be a regular part of every believer's life. And Jesus made it clear that WHEN we fast, not IF, we are to be motivated to please God and not to receive honor from men. He promised that God will openly reward those who fast with the right motivation. Though the Bible does not impose strict rules about when we should fast or how often, we can be led by the Spirit into seasons of fasting.

In order to fast effectively, you will need to know how to fast, when to fast, how long to fast and other practical matters regarding a healthy approach to fasting. I suggest that you follow a proven method recommended by a health care professional who is knowledgeable about the physical effects of fasting on the body.

However you choose to make fasting a part of your lifestyle, it is important that you do so to enjoy the spiritual benefits I have mentioned. Why not get started on the road to physical, mental and spiritual health by reading more about fasting and beginning a fast today?