The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a God that hears the prayers and weeping of all who humbly cry out to him. Whether a believer is deaf, blind, or mute their prayers will always be heard by the Lord; and even when thousands of believers belonging to various countries, nations, and tribes all throughout the world cry out to him in prayer, the Lord God almighty hears them all. The Lord is a God of compassion that will always be there to assist his sheep during times of trouble, and even vowed to never forsake his people. In the book of Matthew 28:20 Jesus Christ said " I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Ultimately, God promised to never leave his people in anxiety or worry because he cares for them; caring for them to the point where he robed himself in flesh and dwelt among us. The Apostle Paul even wrote in Philippians 4:6 saying "Don't worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving letting your requests be made known to God." Prayer is the way how Christians communicate with the only true God, but even though believers engage in praying, it sometimes may feel as if it isn't enough. Sometimes it may even feel as if God isn't hearing our prayers or weeks may go by and the feeling that God hasn't answered our prayers may even begin to arouse. However, the key element that is missing towards why you may feel that way is because the spiritual practice of "Fasting" may not be being used by the believer.
Many individuals and "Pastors" believe that biblical fasting is abstaining from social media or maybe just not drinking a certain type of juice or eating only a certain type of bread. However, referring to true biblical fasting is when an individual completely denies their flesh by willingly abstaining from the pleasures of ALL food and nourishment to focus on growing closer to Jesus. During the times of fasting, the believers flesh will begin to become weak and that's how believers learn to depend on Jesus to be their only source of strength instead of relying on the world or assistance from man. The incorporation of also abstaining from other fleshly desires and habits such as video games, social media, watching television, and other forms of pleasure could also be utilized for a closer union to God and spiritual maturity and strength. The incorporation of prayer is also a necessity while fasting because when it's placed within fasting it becomes way more powerful because believers are opening up themselves to the spiritual realm.
However, in today's modern Christian faith, the emphasis on fasting has been watered down to not having any effect on today's believers with even many believers no longer acknowledging that Jesus Christ commanded us to fast. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 16-17 "But WHEN you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." This verse was ultimately stating that fasting isn't optional, and that it's required of all believers regardless if man may say it's optional.
Not only did Jesus and the Apostles encourage the necessity and the demand for Christians to fast, but even prior to when the Lord walked the earth in flesh the Holy prophets and Kings fasted as well. Daniel fasted for three weeks as seen in the Book of Daniel, Moses fasted forty days and nights at Mount Sinai as seen in the Book of Exodus, and King Jehoshaphat called for a fast as well as seen in the book of 2 Chronicles. However, out of the individuals mentioned I want to examine King Jehoshaphat's reason for fasting. King Jehoshaphat's country was being invaded and confronted by their enemies, and they didn't know how to handle such a situation without the assistance and expertise of God. So Jehoshaphat knew they had to do something to get Gods attention, so Jehoshaphat called for his land to fast, and because of their fasting God defeated their enemies for them.
To conclude, the way how Christians can learn self-discipline, overcome habitual sins, or even get a result to their prayer is by engaging in fasting and prayer. Denying our flesh by abstaining from food and drink teaches believers to give up their fleshly appetite to rely on the supernatural power of God, while also enabling believers to tap into the spiritual realm to grow closer to God. Fasting can also allow for believers to receive powerful and insightful revelation from God. The reason why many feel as if God isn't there, why they haven't received answers to prayer, why they aren't growing spiritually, or why they haven't received any revelations is because many won't fast. Today's generations of Christians are honestly lazy and because of that they aren't putting in the time and work needed to get more of God. Demons and witches have more insight on the spiritual world and the supernatural than most Christians because they refuse to fast. Ultimately, believers need a life of fasting and prayer that is regular within their life so they can experience more of God, so why aren't you fasting?
