Fasting’s Effect on the Mind at Prayer

One of the functions of fasting is to flood the brain with messages from the body which say, “I have an idea, let’s eat.” And “Oh! Here’s another thought: How ’bout we eat now?” And then “I know… let’s eat something!” And on it goes.

The creative idea receptor in the brain gets so flooded with these messages (which are then willfully converted to spiritual desire for Christ) that it is in a sense, dulled to any other creativity. It can think of nothing better to solve it’s basic predicament and so, mental energy towards other dilemmas is diluted as well.

What fasting does then is to muffle the creative problem solving center of the brain ( or even crash it) and lull us into a sense of utter dependence. Prayer in this state of reliance flows much more easily and naturally. It is more comfortable to be on our knees (whether in mind or body or both) humbled before our provider-sustainer, begging him again and again for the things we need, the things we want, that only he can manage, only he can supply.

I challenge you if you have not fasted before, to try a 24-hour fast.
Eat breakfast and then have only water until the next breakfast meal.

Convert every hunger pang into a prayer of request to your creator-sustainer.
Wait on him. Pray with others who may have joined you in this fast and then …

Mt 6:17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.
18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

As individuals and as a church, we are in need of much favor from God right now.
Let me encourage you to do everything you can to pray well. Think about joining us at Bev’s on the 31st . Think about learning how to pray by praying with us, Sunday mornings at our drop-in prayer meeting from 9-9:45