I have found Douglas Rumford’s perspective in Soul Shaping
to be very helpful in understanding the role of fasting in the Christian
life. He writes:
Fasting could be
called the italics of the spiritual life; it adds emphasis to other activities
we may already be pursuing, such as
prayer or repentance or discerning God’s
purpose for us. It brings a sense of
urgency and earnestness to anything else we are undertaking.[i]
Think about what Jesus said in Matthew chapter six. He was
very clear that fasting was to be done not as a show before other men, but as a
way to increase our fellowship with our heavenly Father and seek His reward
(Matthew 6:16-18). For over twenty years
now one of the central messages I have been seeking to help God’s people
realize is the reality of who they are as Children of God in Christ (i.e. 1
John 3:1; Romans 8:15-16). I often
wonder why it doesn’t always “take.”
Could it be that this type of breakthrough comes by prayer and fasting? Not as a magic formula, but simply as a way to
bring spiritual truth to life, to putting it into Technicolor for the
discoverer!
Think about why the Antioch
I certainly have experienced this. When I used to fast every Thursday to pray
for our church’s weekly evangelistic service my passion for the Lord, to reach
the lost, and for prayer was intensified and focused like few other times I can
remember. This is why I look forward to
seeing how the Father is going to form us as practice prayer and fasting! Let’s be sure not to leave out the italics!
[i]
Douglas Rumford, Soulshaping, pg. 287
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