Fasting, Understanding Its Power

Rev. Dr. Myles Munroe talks about fasting in the videos below. Please note that fasting is not for  everyone. Do not fast unless the Lord tells you to.

Benefits of fasting

The various videos below talk about the various benefits of fasting:

• Mental clarity.
• Purity of heart and mind.
• Increased hunger for the Word.
• Physical health.
• Weight loss.
• Saving money.
• Purifies your body.
• Can protect some people from cancer.
• Spiritual freedom.
• Physical freedom.
• People can become less irritable and more pleasant to be around.
• Sometimes they become more generous.
• Ability to see spiritually increases.
• Increased mental retention.

Corporate fasting

The Bible talks about having a personal fast in a number of places. It also talks about corporate fasting in a few places. One of them is in Joel 2:15-16. Blow the trumpet in Zion,declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children,  those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber.

This is explained in the short video below.

More than staying away from food

Why have we fasted and You do not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice? Isaiah 58:3a

In the passage above, the people fasted and yet God did not answer their prayers. The reason was because they stayed away from food while having behaviour that displeased the Lord.

This is explained much more fully in the video below.

Increasing spiritual clarity when worship is accompanied by a fast

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2

In the above passage, the Christians decided to worship and fast. The consequence was the Holy Spirit told them precisely what to do. Paul’s ministry was born.

Expect to become more prophetic while you are fasting.

The requirements of fasting

Fasting is not dieting and it is not just missing a number of meals. If God is not the focus, your fast is useless.

Figure out how much time you would ordinarily be spending on a particular meal. Spend that amount of time with God. Read the Bible, meditate on the Word, talk to God and wait on the Lord.

Listen to the video below.

Listen to the entire message by Rev. Dr. Myles Munroe.

Our personal fast

My wife & I decided to go on a 21-day fast. Our purpose was to get closer to God and grow spiritually. The first say of the fast was November 13.

Knowing we should move into the fast gradually, on November 11 we had only a garden salad for lunch. The next day I had two bananas and two garden salads.

This is what we had each day:

• Up to 4 cups of hot water mixed with 1 tsp apple cider vinegar & 2 tsp honey.
• One part cranberry juice (pure cranberry juice from the health food store) & 3 parts water in a glass
• One or two glasses of apple juice
• Lots of water (aimed for 8 glasses).

My wife talked to her doctor who said she thought that the mid-seventies is too old to be going on a liquid diet. She suggested a Daniel fast. For us that meant vegetables with no meat, dairy, bread, foods with refined sugar, etc.

So, starting in day 4 we added things like the occasional small portion of lentil soup, baked navy beans or minestrone (without pasta or cheese) to our diets.

We began studying esoteric Christian subjects like the Trading Floors of Heaven and the Courts of Heaven. We got immersed in the things of God.

On day 10 I was eating minestrone with my wife. The combination of the fast, the taste of the minestrone and the love for my wife put me on a high. I was ecstatic. It was an amazing feeling.

Three hours later I was still on an emotional high. I don’t remember ever feeling so good.

Day 22. The fast is over. We are going slowly into regular ford. I’ve heard of at least one case where a person died after going back into a regular diet too quickly.

Q. What was the spiritual significance of the fast? 

A. Spiritually I’m a new person who will never be the same. I got a good revelation of the Courts of Heaven. That means that my prayer life will permanently be more effective.

I’m beginning to understand the significance of some more esoteric aspects such as Yod He Vav He. I’m beginning to understand more about how I will fit into John 14:12 — Greater things than these shall you do because I go to the Father.

I have a greater confidence that I am beginning to walk in what I was designed for from before the foundation of the earth.