Are You Fast Enough?
A Devotional
©2001 Steve Lattier and Men’s Help Ministries

I have traveled at some ridiculous speeds. I have been relatively close to the sound barrier in a 747. I have been extremely reckless in an automobile and on motorcycles far over 100 mph. Over the years, though, I have found that my biggest thrill has come, not from speed but from going very slowly. In all actuality speed is not the subject of this weeks devotion. Contrarily it is about a rather slow and methodical way to unleash the awesome power of God in your life. It is the only way to truly spend time with God. I am, of course, not speaking of going fast but of Fasting. I cannot instruct you in all manners and forms of fasting in one short devotion. But I want to introduce some of you to the practice and re-introduce the rest. Fasting takes many forms in the Bible. It, in a nutshell, is giving up a life need in order to draw closer to God, no matter what the underlying theme is. The time that used to be spent pursuing that life need (e.g. food or some other type of sustenance) is spent searching oneself and seeking God in prayer and meditation. Fasting isn’t a command of God, as a matter of fact it isn’t mentioned in the bible until the book of Judges. Yet, even so, it is an expectation of us by God. I can see the hands going up now. Well if it isn’t a command then how can it be an expectation? Look at this verse where Jesus is teaching the people on the mountain.

The Word:
Matthew 6:16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. [17] But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, [18] 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.

Lets break this down from the start. Jesus said “When you fast” not if, or, or could you, but when. This shows that God expects that action from us on some type of regular basis. Then Jesus goes on to give some more basic instructions about how we should act while we are fasting. The second point Jesus makes is that we should not run around and advertise that we are fasting. Fasting is not done to gain attention, if it is then the attention is all you will get from your fast. Jesus also makes note of the use of oil. He tells the people to put oil on their heads and to wash their faces. What kind of oil are we supposed to use? Where can it be bought? In Jesus’ time there was only a couple of kinds of oil. There was expensive oil-based perfume that was largely used to cover the smell of corpses during their internment, as most tombs held several dead. There was lamp oil and there was olive oil that was cooked with. Does it matter if you go to the Christian book store and by some oil that smells like cinnamon? No, it does not. You can use your favorite brand of olive oil in your pantry if you like also. What matters more than the type of oil is the condition of your heart when you use it. I will cover that in just a minute. Jesus said to “put oil on your head” now that doesn’t mean that you should wreck your hairstyle with the stuff. I recommend that you wet your finger and simply mark your forehead with it, again what matters most is the condition of your heart at this time. Almost every single instance that the Bible refers to fasting there is a nearby reference to humility, there is that heart condition I was speaking about. There are several kinds of fasts and there are several purposes for fasting. I want to stop and caution you against fasting for personal gain of any kind. Let me state that every fast should be Holy Spirit led, don’t fast “just because.” There are whole fasts partial fasts, juice fasts it just depends on what the Holy Spirit leads you to. There are personal fasts as well as corporate fasts, there are single day fasts, three day fasts, seven day fasts, forty day fasts and everything in between. One more word of caution if you feel led to take a forty day fast get a physical, God may have you prepare your body first! Do not rush out and try a complete fast without clear instruction from God. Look at this verse.

The Word:
Matthew 4:2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Take note that Jesus went for forty days and nights without food, but it does not mention that he was thirsty! Take in water or juice while you fast, rarely is a complete fast called for and then only a day or two. Ok the groundwork has been laid and all the questions have all been answered but this last one. “What are fasts used for?” I found many different purposes for fasting. But they all have a decidedly common theme. Humility before God. No matter what the purpose is, in other words, irregardless of what the fast is supposed to accomplish, it requires a putting aside of ones self and an elevation of God during that time. Fasting is a tool used to ultimately draw oneself personally closer to God. I am going to list many Scriptures and out beside each one I will explain the focus for that particular fast.

The Word:
Ezra 8:21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. For blessings of protection

Nehemiah 9:1 On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and having dust on their heads. [2] Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the wickedness of their fathers…..[4]… said: "Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.* " For repentance and praise

Esther 4:15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: [16] "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." For intercession in another, for intervention by God

Psalm 109:24 My knees give way from fasting; my body is thin and gaunt. [25] I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads. [26] Help me, O LORD my God; save me in accordance with your love. For deliverance from persecution

Jeremiah36:9 In the ninth month of the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, a time of fasting before the LORD was proclaimed for all the people in Jerusalem and those who had come from the towns of Judah. [10] From the room of Gemariah son of Shaphan the secretary, which was in the upper courtyard at the entrance of the New Gate of the temple, Baruch read to all the people at the LORD's temple the words of Jeremiah from the scroll. For focusing on God’s message

Joel 1:14 Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. For corporate repentance

Jonah 3:4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." [5] The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. For rededication to God

Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. [2] After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. For preparation to work for God

Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." [3] So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. For hearing a message from the Holy Spirit

As you can see God has many specific purposes for the fasts that He calls his saints to undertake. It is not biblical that you read this and rush off and start a fast. I do pray that you take from this a sense of readiness to do the Lords bidding in regards to fasting, in other words, when you are called to, then fast. I mentioned it before and I will clarify it here. Do not use fasting as a way to personal gain or reward. That is not godly, you cannot hold God hostage that way and say “but Lord I have fasted these last days I really need that new car.” Don’t fast for money or possessions, on the other hand survival and provision of your basic needs, those are another story. Fast for healing, relationships, persecution, other peoples needs that you are led to fast about. Fast for discipline, growth, and preparing your ministry. Most important listen to the Holy Spirit and what God would have you do. Fasting is all about spending time with God. Even if you are fasting about or for something or someone else, your spiritual rewards will be greater than you can imagine.

Pray with me: Father I love you and I wish to be obedient to you. I want to do your will, Lord. I am so sorry for being inattentive to your urgings and not looking at your signs. I don’t want to rush off and fast without a purpose Lord, but I want to hear you when it is my turn. Teach me your ways help my eyes to see the needs and my ears to hear your call when it comes. Draw me closer to you every single day Father. Fill me with a passion for the things of Heaven, in Jesus’ name. Amen!

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[ 06-13-2001: Message edited by: SLattier ]

I'm so glad you posted that! I remember back in prolly Aug/Sept of last year I really felt led to fast but I didn't know much about it...and I wasn't sure if it was just me telling myself I needed to fast or God telling me I needed to...there were some specific things that I felt led to fast for...one of them being just the desire to be closer and more intimate with God and completely submit to Him.

I was corresponding via email with a guy named Bill who was really in tune with the changes that I was going through spiritually at the time...I learned so much from him...anyway, it was kinda funny because I was really struggling with the whole idea of fasting wondering how to go about it and all...and one day at the cafe I just couldn't stop thinking about it. On my lunch break I looked up scriptures on fasting and read up on it, but it still wasn't really clear to me.

That day when I got off work and checked my mail, Bill had written me a letter containing a story about one of the times that he fasted...and then told me that he had felt led to talk to me about it for some reason...WOW! Cause I hadn't mentioned fasting to him yet! So I asked him all the questiones that I had and he explained it (much like Steve did) and so I took that as a go ahead from God...so I started my fast. It was one of the most increadable experiences of my life.

I fasted all food. I just drank juice and water...and working around food that was tough. But I prayed that every time I had a hunger pang that God would remind me of why I was fasting...and He did. Every time that I would have normally spent eating I would go off and pray...and God just revealed things to me right and left and it was just so awesome...my hunger for Him increased more and more and I couldn't get enough...it seemed as if He was telling me:
I want you to hunger for me more than you hunger for the food that sustains your stomach.
My fast lasted for six days...at the end of the sixth day (it was Sunday) I really felt led to go to the church across the street from my house for some reason...so I did. I had never been there before, and haven't been there since. But do you want to know what the sermon was about?
Fasting. Hahaha! And somewhere in the middle of the sermon, God released me from my fast. It was kinda strange...because six seemed like such an odd number to stop at, but I really thought that God was telling me that my fast was over for now.

I wondered if it wasn't just the hunger pangs getting to me, but surprisingly, I didn't really feel all that hungry by that time...just a little tired. But as I was questioning myself the pastor stopped in the middle of his sermon and looked straight at me, made eye contact, and smiled at me and told the story of his first fast...that lasted for six days and ended on a Sunday night and how God had spoken to him and told him that it was time to end his fast.

Never seen the man before or since...he was a guest speaker. A missionary actually.

I was reading back through all the posts on the site the other day...from that time period...wow, there was such a difference in my attitude...and I realized when the change happened too. Right after my fast was over, not even a few weeks after, I ran into some religious people that got me all screwed up in the head...told me that stand was a cult and that everything that i knew about God was wrong and that I was not worhiping God, but that I was a pagan worhiping an experience, and what I was experiencing was Satan...and they wanted to "save" me. I remember being so scared...more scared then than I ever had in my entire life...and to be honest, I don't think I have been the same since.

I see my posts back before then...when I still had a little self confidence...still had a hunger so strong that I couldn't get enough of His word...couldn't get enough of His presence...and I went from that to not being able to look people in the eye...slowly gotten better then, but it seems like I had taken so many steps forward and three times as many backwards...I want to be back there again...I want to be hungry. I want to be so on fire that I just burn right up. I want to be consumed with Him all over again...I don't think I'm the only one there right now either...

So I'm praying for whoever else is feeling this way...you aren't alone.

There is a song on my Scott Krippayne CD that I just can't get over:

Here I am in this familiar place again
Standing on the shore of my complacency
Ankle deep in love I once was swimming in
Shallowness has taken over me
But the current pulls the sand
And moves my stubborn feet
From the dryness of the land
To where the waves pound over me

Take me deep enough where I can see
The bottom of Your heart.
Deep enough that I can know Your will.
Take me deep enough to know that we
Will never be apart.
When I get there,
Take me deeper still.

Take me through the waters of Your faithfulness.
Help me see the depth of my own need.
Take me through the water where Your mercy is
You and You alone can set me free.
I am covered by Your grace
Far away from shore
As You're taking me to places I have never been before.

Take me deep enough where I can see
The bottom of Your heart.
Deep enough that I can know Your will.
Take me deep enough to know that we
Will never be apart.
And when I get there,
Take me deeper still.

I WANNA DROWN IN THE WATER
I WANNA DROWN IN YOUR TRUTH
TAKE ME ALL THE WAY UNDER
WHERE I HAVE TO TRUST IN YOU.


I am so overwhelmed right now...I wish that I could share this feeling with everyone...GOD I NEED YOU SO BAD. I am desparate for you, but sometimes not desparate enough. I let other things fill up my time, my thoughts...and become so consumed with temporary things that I completely shut you out...PLEASE GIVE ME THE HUNGER THAT I HAD BEFORE!!!


Sorry Steve, I got a lil' off topic there...well, sorta...but thank you for posting that. It was so eye opening...

Not off topic a single bit there Sister!

I hope everyone can share an experience that they have drawn closer to God or that God has shown up in there lives in one of those unmistakable ways!!

God Bless you!
Steve