Fruitless Fasting

As unique individuals that we are, we have what gives us pleasure, and these can be a necessity, for fun or relaxation. Things like eating, hanging out with family or friends, watching movies, reading novels, social media pleasure, conjugal intimacy with your spouse, etc.

A few years ago, while I was still in high school, no day passed without me reading a novel. I just loved reading novels, especially romantic/erotic novels. Later, I lost interest in novels and got glued to movies when I entered the University. I watched movies every other day except during my exam period.

As soon as it was my exam period, I could study for more than 8 hours. The only thing that could take me away for a few minutes is eating or using the restroom. I literally avoided any form of distractions and put away pleasures during those exam periods. 

Why? I was aiming for something.

As you are reading this article, you would have done things like this too. It could be for an assignment, seminar presentation, task in the office with a deadline, etc. If you are a mom, I’m sure you will get the children early for bedtime so that you can do what you need to do to avoid failure, rebuke, and embarrassment.

Notice how your mind and body are fixed on your mission during such times. 

Have you heard or know anyone who has complained to you about fasting and praying without results?

You may even be in this category of people who complain of fasting and praying and yet have no answers or reward for their sacrifice.

Recently, the Holy Spirit guided me through this and taught me how fasting should be.

Some may have an idea, while others may still be lost. This article will find you and lead you to the right path.

Remember our illustration of studying for exams? How you disengaged from pleasure to get your success through studies? That’s how a genuine fasting and praying exercise is.

If you don’t know how to fast and pray, you will starve and be preyed upon.

Anyone who engages in this spiritual exercise to have full joy must disengage from whatever constitutes a distraction during such moments.

You can’t be preparing for an exam, seminar, or project and still be wasting time with movies when you should be busy working. In the same way, you can’t have a moment with God through the vehicle of fasting and praying and still be in a tete-a-tete with the pleasures of movies, social media, food, and anything pleasurable. 

As we stay away from such pleasures, our minds mustn’t be fixed on them, and more importantly, we must get to work to achieve the desired result we seek.

Getting to work entails engaging our minds with spiritual activities, which includes worship, meditation, and prayers. As we engage the mind, it will control our activities(communications and actions) during those solemn moments with God. 

Fasting and Praying is a time for war, and those who go to the battlefield never think of pleasure until they’re done fighting. 

We must have the minds of warriors to experience the victory and joy we so eagerly need and envisage. 

Fasting and Praying is not a time to keep watch of the clock(time) rather, it’s a time of tarrying in the Throne Room.

Fasting without Praying is simply a moment for starvation or a weight loss journey.

When we genuinely fast and pray, we definitely will receive answers to our prayers, and sometimes, the answer can come in the form of an idea or clarity or spoken/written Word of God.

Anything that pushes you to fast and pray has indeed tampered with your peace and space. So why not for that period of war disengage from distractions and handle that enemy once and for all? 

When we fast and engage in prayer, we invoke God and provoke Him to act speedily. 

Genuinely Fast and Pray, and you will see the difference with a never to be forgotten testimony compared to when you distractedly fast and pray.