Prayer and fasting

“And he said to them, This kind can go out by nothing but by prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29)

When the Son of God descended from the Mount of Transfiguration, He was immediately confronted with the failure of His disciples. How had they failed? Outwardly, the failure consisted in their inability to cast out a particular demon. But this failure had a deeper reason - the Lord explained to them that their lack of faith had been the problem. He had expected them to show more faith in this situation. But how could they have done so? Through prayer and fasting!

Doesn't this example show us that the trust of faith, which is also shown through prayer and fasting, is blessed by God with special power? Can it be therefore, that there are certain problems which God solves only when, on our part, we pray and fast with faith?

Fasting means first and foremost not eating. In addition, the Word of God also shows us other types of fasting (see Isa 58:6-7); but the primary way is to abstain from food for a while. While in prayer we express our dependence on God, fasting is an act of self-denial - we give up something we actually need.

In many places in His word, God shows us that God-fearing men and women have fasted. Usually it was done in conjunction with prayer; sometimes to humble oneself before God (see Dan 9:3; Ezra 8:21), and sometimes to receive guidance from Him (see Acts 13:1-4). In this way, believers in both the Old and New Testaments have allowed their bodies to share in the spiritual trials of the soul.

The Lord Jesus - our great Example - also fasted here on earth. In the same Psalm in which He prophetically says: "But I give myself unto prayer", He also says: "My knees are failing through fasting" (Ps 109:4, 24). Forty days and nights - for almost six weeks! - He fasted in the desert, not eating any food. His words, "This kind can go out by nothing but by prayer and fasting" indicate that He also fasted later, during His public ministry.

Although the Son of God did not call His disciples to fast in Matthew 6 (just as He did not call them to pray or give alms here), it seems that He assumed that they would practice it. It is true that throughout the New Testament we find no specific invitation to fast. Nevertheless, Paul, who himself often fasted (see 2 Cor 11:27), writes that we prove ourselves to be servants of God by fasting (see 2 Cor 6:5).

With regard to the question as to whether fasting is appropriate for Christians today, a commentator once aptly said the following, "Do the needs of the Lord's work still occupy and press us so much that we allow our body to participate in the exercises (trials) of the soul? The example of the apostle and his co-workers (see Acts 13:1-4) shows us vividly what devoted service to the Lord means, and that the body is also touched by it - in vigils and fasting."

Have you ever asked yourself why God, in His Word, presents to you so many encouraging examples of people who have fasted? There are many who lament the decline of Christianity today; but how many are there who really humble themselves, in deed and in truth - with fasting and pleading? If God has so often responded in grace, why should He not do so today?

J.P.S.