The power of praying and fasting

Prayer with fasting is the greatest spiritual discipline to keep us in agreement with God’s will. It is not designed to manipulate God so that we can receive what we ask but to ask what we should receive from God. It is not a tool to influence God but it is a tool to influence us to pray earnestly to let the kingdom of God come on earth as it is in heaven. It is a powerful tool to wean ourselves from the things of this world which is a strong force directly in opposite with the Holy Spirit.
In his audio sermon on fasting, Ron Gartner makes an important point. He says fasting is not giving up meals and making a sacrifice so that God can speak to us or bless us. It is not an exchange of a sacrifice in order to obtain blessings.
He says, it is moving into a spiritual realm of faith and power by putting down (denying) our fleshly desires. The Holy Spirit and the spirit part of us then take dominance in moving in an area of prayer (communion with God) that we cannot get into through any other way. It is moving into the spirit and walking in the spirit. This does not mean being foolish and turning our reasoning off. It is being wise with the mind of Christ while being submissive to the Holy Spirit.
We can see the power of prayer of fasting in the Garden of Getshemane and in the mountain of temptation. Jesus overcame self-will. Our Lord Jesus said fasting would be necessary for his disciples after he ascended. “The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast,” (Matthew 9:15) The early disciples remembered the words of their master and thus they made fasting vital. To be effective ambassadors of God in this world, we need to stay in tune with God through prayer and fasting.
Ps Ramon Morante

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