Vital Signs: Friday, May 2, 2025

Why Should We Fast?

“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”—Matthew 5:8 (NLT)

As prayer and fasting come with various challenges, being able to articulate the reasons behind your endurance can help sustain your journey. As discussed in previous days, the preeminent motive for prayer and fasting is to grow closer to Jesus and be more like Him. Yet, there’s a tension we all need to manage during this Closer season: we fast knowing that there’s a reward if our motivations are righteous, but we’re not fasting for the reward.

God is interested in the purity of our hearts. It’s in our imperfect nature to stumble, but God blesses our righteous motivations. In this season, frequently return to the reasons that led you to begin the fast. If some of those motives require a heart-check, then do so. But don’t miss God’s purpose and blessings for your life because you’ve approached this season with the wrong motives. Ultimately, just experiencing Jesus more tangibly is the greatest reward.

There are seven biblical foundations related to prayer and fasting:

1. Fast to receive greater anointing for ministry, wherever God places you. Prayer and fasting also bestow power and authority to deal with spiritual forces.

2. Fasting can unlock spiritual direction and insight into the future.

3. Fasting is physical positioning for the fulfillment of God’s promises. We must grow spiritually to carry the weight of those promises.

4. Fasting can stop crises. God always responds to humble prayers of repentance. Like Esther, God can intervene in a nation’s affairs for the sake of righteousness.

5. We can fast for breakthroughs in personal problems. Just as Hannah believed for a son, we can intercede for personal situations beyond our control.

6. Fasting calls upon spiritual protection.

7. Fasting cultivates intimacy—the most applicable to our season. While wrestling with physical hunger, don’t underestimate the impact of spiritual hunger.

Remember the reasons that led you to pray, fast, and expect more in your relationship with God.