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Praying: speaking to God especially in order to give thanks or to ask for something, an act of relating to one’s creator as getting intimate with Him by communing.

In Christianity, the act of fasting and prayer becomes a necessity as one needs to separate the spirit man’s need from that of the physical man.

Food is fed to the physical body to nourish it while most times the spiritual man gets little just like Lazarus desired crumbs from the King’s table; this is the state of some Christian’s spirit man, desiring to be fed daily by constant communing with God and the place of fasting and prayer. For prayers to be said without setbacks like tiredness, time consciousness, fatigue, etc, then the need to fast will be a good decision. In an atmosphere where the spirit man is fed, the physical man also termed flesh loses grip or hold on the one carrying out the prayer and fasting. Fasting and prayer have its terms and conditions just as other things in life do, fasting is a deliberate act, it’s a season where a believer goes an extra mile in search and need of his creator and also seek for his needs to be met. A man with a lunatic son met the disciples of Jesus for his son to be cured, they weren’t able as a result of their lack of faith and didn’t fast and pray which would have given them an enabling atmosphere for faith rise and connecting with the supernatural healing power of God.

Terms of fasting and prayer

1. Total separation

During the course of prayer and fasting, it entails a period of total separation from food, any weight, people, etc. as recorded in Nehemiah 9;1-2.

In a fast period, every load of sin is lifted off and one feels physically light and connects easily spiritually.

2. Responding to God’s call

Fasting and prayer becomes mandatory for every child of God, before he/she embarks on any God related assignment must subject himself/herself to fasting and prayer as done by our Lord Jesus before He began his ministry here on earth as recorded by Mathew in the fourth chapter of his book that Jesus started at the place of fasting afterward He was set to carry out His task. Fasting and prayer could be seen as a season of preparation for one’s God given purpose. It gives the believer an edge over physical things first as being subdued then spiritual: worship of the Almighty.

3. Act of humility

Fasting can also be seen as a period when the soul is humbled and prayer is done from a contrite heart as recorded in PS 35:13.

Nothing easily distracts the mind, in this atmosphere; the soul is under the total control of the spirit and is having control over the physical body which tends to be in total humility.

4. A way out of trouble

Fasting can be done in the midst of troubles when one has barely the slightest thing to do during one’s day of trouble. At that point, the soul certainly can easily connect to our God for answers. King Darius’s sleep was taken away because Daniel was thrown into the den of lions. Dan 6:18

Daniel used the season of fasting and prayer to seek God concerning God’s word in redeeming the Jews from Babylon after the set time has elapsed.

5. Time of wait for answers

Anna lived to see the birth of Jesus as told by God stayed in the place of fasting and prayer until the fulfilment of the promise of her seeing the Messiah before she died.

In Acts 13:2, it is recorded that the Holy Spirit spoke to the church to separate Paul and Barnabas for their missionary journey to the Gentiles. Answers to doubts and pending issues are settled in the place of fasting and prayer.

Importance of fasting and praying

Fasting and prayer are a necessity for Christians, to enable them to seek the face of God wholly.

1. Greater intimacy with God

We deny our carnal nature in order to fulfil the desires of God. What He wills for our lives can be found through fasting and prayers. Our spirit and soul experience joy because of fasting.

It’s a decision to momentarily die to our flesh to fulfil the greater things of a mighty God who seeks us. Mark 2:20

2. Surrender of one’s comfort to gain spiritual clarity

Our 21st-century culture can lead you to become numb to what matters to God. Yet praying through fast challenges sharpens our spiritual discernment.

When we fast from things such as social media, television, food, and even negative mindset, we readily get answers as we tend to pray the way the spirit wants. Romans 12:2.

3. Our hearts opens to spiritual revival

We kindle the Holy Spirit fire during the course of fasting and prayer, we become change agents and intercessors for the broken and hurting during the period of fasting and prayer as we become sensitive in the realm of the spirit, hence we connect to the needs of others. Our hearts are revived and refreshed spiritually because of the act of fasting and prayer as recorded in Acts 1:8.

Every believer should cultivate the habit of fasting and prayers to enable them seek the face of God in total humility and turn aside from everything that keeps them busy.

Fasting and prayer could be corporate but the personal one becomes essential since it is intentional and self imposed.

We become all we are intended when we follow the footsteps of the master our Lord Jesus through fasting and prayer. — I Need A Word