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I recently wrote how prayer is one of the weapons that God has given us in spiritual warfare, and that our prayers affect what is happening in the spiritual world.
Daniel 10:12-14 shows Daniel receiving a visit from an angel in answer to his prayers. It also says that the angel was held up in spiritual battle during a 21-day time frame while Daniel prayed. A few verses earlier we find another key to this story:
“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”
–Daniel 10:2-3
Not only did Daniel pray, but he fasted. Just as his praying impacted the spiritual world, so did his fasting.
Fasting is to abstain from food for spiritual purposes. There are many benefits to this spiritual discipline, and it is something that Jesus both practiced and taught. Yet, fasting does not seem to be a normal practice for many believers in the Western church.
Does Fasting Impact Spiritual Warfare?
It is somewhat of a mystery to me, but fasting has an impact on the spiritual realm. Once, when the disciples could not cast out a demon Jesus said, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29). Apparently, sometimes fasting is a necessary part of deliverance from demons. When spiritual breakthrough is not coming, adding fasting to your prayers is one way to seek God for greater direction, wisdom, and power to win the battle.
A lifestyle of prayer and fasting brings us into a place of intimacy with the Lord, which then empowers us to see greater works for His kingdom. Remember that when Jesus was about to start His public ministry, He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for a 40 day fast. In this time He faced and overcame a direct assault from Satan, thus preparing Him to step into the next phase of His life and ministry.
Isaiah 58:6 says:
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?”
This passage applies to physical oppressions and injustices, but I believe there is a spiritual principle as well. Fasting is a weapon to help loose the devil’s bonds from people’s lives, lift off heavy burdens, and break the power of demonic oppression.
As we take on the discipline of fasting, let’s expect to receive greater anointing to break the enemy’s power and set captives free!
Just today God impressed on my heart to consider what would happen if there was a movement of disciplined prayer and fasting. What would happen if those of us who are called by His name would pray for the spiritual condition of the nation? – You may have come up with the movement… ‘#FastForwardAmerica.’ 🙂
I love that Melinda! #FastForwardAmerica
#FastForwardAmerica is a great idea, count me in Melinda! Fasting is kind of like taking a shortcut to dying to self. I believe that fasting and prayer can work well even on smaller levels than Daniel’s 3 week fast. Fasting on a weekly basis, even only for a day at a time and committing extra time to prayer is a great way to “live a fasted lifestyle”. #FastForwardAmerica in 2015!
I agree Chris, great comments!
It was just revealed to me today, that fasting is an intentional choice to do direct combat with the devil. The Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness to do just that. Winning this physical battle is a direct guarantee that the spiritual will be won against the enemy. Or it can be visa versa winning the battle with the devil in the spiritual guarantees success in the physical realm. We must know going into a fast, we are challenging the devil. It is like a wrestling match. If we fail the fast we give satan the victory, and there are spiritual consequences for that defeat. I never understood this until today. Food is pivitol in this fight with the adversary. It was for Adam and Eve, it was for Essau, It was for Esther, It was for Daniel, It was for Moses, It was for Jesus and most certainly it is for us. Those who win in this wrestling match, win huge, collossial victories in the spirit realm, those who lose, also can lose really huge losses. What is the deal with food? Why do Satan use this mechanism to defeat the people of God? Daniel chose not to eat the food of the Babylonians, that became a huge win for him and catapulted him to fame and success in the physical and spiritual realm. The lessons are monumental. I am just scratching the surface as the Holy Spirit is giving me wisdom in this area now. Now I see why so many of my attempts to fast was met with failure. I didn’t quite understand the spiritual implications and who and what I was actually engaging. Didn’t even realize the intensity and the magnitude of the warfare I was entering…. I remember during some fasts I would have dreams I had broken the fast and ate something in my dream. I found out from a current prayer partner, that was evil spirits entering the dream realm to defeat me during the fast. Their goal is to win at any cost, because they do not want to be toppled and defeated. Daniel stayed the course for 21 days, while the demonic realm was waging war with Gabriel whom God, had sent to give Daniel the answer. Imagine that!!! But Daniel stayed the course and finally Michael was sent to help Gabriel, so he could bring the answer God had sent 21 days before… mighty God! mindboggling what this warfare looks like…. truly its humbling, and sobering and causes one to reflect deeply on what it really means to fast and pray with a determination to win and topple the enemy by the grace of God, repentance and humility. I am just scratching the surface here… May God grant us all the wisdom and determination we need in this season to get the victory in Jesus blood and His precious victorious great name.