seeking God:Fasting and praying

seeking God:Fasting and praying

Seeking   God

    Are you feeling far from God?   Are you lacking direction?   Does your prayer life lack power? Do you feel as if there is something holding you back?   That can describe many Christians today, and if you find yourself falling into one of these categories, I challenge you to spend time alone fasting and praying.   Fasting was used throughout the early biblical years to bring one closer to God. Many people today, even those who regularly pray, believe fasting outdated, and only used by Old Testament Christians (Stanley 35).   In truth, it is a Christian discipline that can bring an escalation in Christian maturity.   Fasting united with pray is absolutely one of the most powerful tools available for use in the church, and in individual lives.   Fasting ads: fervency to prayers, clarifies thinking, and motivates awareness of God’s presence.   Fasting is not archaic, and can renew a new spirit in ones life.   God will not turn away if we honestly seek him, and fasting added to your prayer life will carry you to the foot of His thrown.
    Throughout the bible, references are made to fasting as an exhilarant to prayer.   Before Moses received the Ten Commandments he fasted and prayed (Ex.34.28).   David fasted to deepen his relationship with the Father (Ps.69.10).   Many times when Israel was being attacked the leaders called for intense time of prayer and fasting (2 Chron.20.30).   Fasting can bring urgency into our prayers, and aids us in trusting God, rather than our own strengths.   As we fast and pray we are filled with a new sense of the Holy Spirit in our life.   This renewal increases our resolve to serve God, causing an outward display of God’s work in our lives.
    History reformers such as John Wesley, Martin Luther, and John Calvin used prayer and fasting to sense and clarify God’s direction (Stanley 28).   True fasting will always cause us to search our hearts and inner feelings to clearly see God’s direction and purpose.   At times God...