MENTOR
DR JOHN HARRISON Education Influencer, Philosopher, Polymath, Writer, Humanitarian, and a Counselor
HARRISON speaks ………. “Fasting ignites divinity in us” – Part 1
F
asting is not dieting. Dieting helps, you shed those extra pounds of your body and get into good physical shape whereas fasting helps you get rid of vices, and thus get into good spiritual shape. Dieting should only happen under medical advice, and fasting should always happen when God and his spirit lead you. Only then will both be beneficial. Jesus began his earthly ministry with 40 days fast. What is your preparation? The extraordinary 40 days fast at the beginning of his ministry was for much more than his own work. It prepared him for bigger and greater things that were ahead of him. People who thirst and hunger for the fullness of God are the ones who fast more. Fasting is one of the most pristine and pious forms of prayer. It cleanses our soul, our spirit, and our body of the desires of the flesh. Fasting is tested by temptation. Fasting is an act of strict discipline and sacrifice when we give up something that our heart desires. During fasting, we convey to God that it is him that we desire most and nothing else. This sort of a fasting connects us with God and brings us closer to him. It gives us the strength to overcome our weaknesses through the grace of God. Fasting has power through prayer to heal emotional, mental, physical sicknesses, and generational bondages and curses. The heart that motivates fasting is meant to be a
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heart of God. It thirsts and hungers for God. Fasting is an act of prayer for supremacy of God in all things. Through fasting our reconciliation with God is accomplished. Our bondage to sin is broken. Our enemy is put to naught. Fasting tests us where our heart is. What controls us? What do we value and trust? Fasting reveals our heart to God. Fasting is God’s testing and healing ground. Fasting is a periodic and sometimes decisive declaration that we would rather feast at the God’s table in the kingdom of heaven than feed on the finest delicacies of the world. What do we desire the most? Whom do we desire the most? What and who is our biggest and greatest treasure? A person who fasts surely does know the answers to all these questions. Fasting if we conceive of it truly, must not be confined to the question of food and drink; but should really be to abstain from bodily functions which should be controlled. Anything can stand in the way of true discipleship, not just evil, not just food but anything. It is surprising to see that some of the greatest competitors for our devotion and affection for God are some of his most precious gifts (as they keep us away from spending time with him). When one observes a fast they should always ask themselves these five questions:
1. Is it God given? 2. Are my motives right? 3. For what specific needs am I fasting? 4. For what results am I fasting? 5. Am I determined to minister to the Lord while I’m fasting? The main motive of fasting is to worship God, to draw close to him. To bring joy and pleasure to him. Fasting is a spiritual act which signifies our helplessness and hope in God. God has always promised to come to the help of those who seek him diligently and depend on him as their biggest treasure. Let us start depending on God and not ourselves. He is the way, the truth and the life. When God created fish, he spoke to the sea. When God created trees, he spoke to the earth. Similarly when he created man, he spoke to himself and said, “let us make man in our own image and likeness”. When fish is removed from water, it dies. Remove a tree from earth, it will die. Same way if we disconnect from God, we will perish, only the flesh will be left in us and it will not qualify us for eternity. God is our natural environment. We are created to live in his presence. We must remain connected to him because only in him there is life. Remain rooted in your environment, through fasting and prayer.
