My first experience with fasting was when I had been desperately praying for a child.

The question kept popping into my mind, “Why don’t you fast?” The voice of the Holy Spirit? I decided to set apart three days without food. The first day, I was hungry by dinner time.

Was the voice my own imagination? I wanted confirmation. Picking up my enormous study Bible, I said, “Lord, If You really want me to fast, please show me.” The pages fell open to a verse that read, “. . . they sanctified a fast unto the Lord.”

Gideon prayed a second time for confirmation (Judges 6: 36-40). So, I let the pages fall open. Again, my eyes fell on a verse about fasting.

Still, I wanted to rule out any possibility of coincidence. A third time my huge book flopped open to a fasting verse.

I went to bed hungry, but confident that God had directed me. The second day, God’s presence enveloped me in a cloud of joy unspeakable. I raised my hands toward heaven and said, “Lord, if I never have a child that’s okay. You are all I need in this world.” 

In First Kings, Hannah had the same experience. She refused to eat and prayed earnestly for a child. God gave her Samuel who became a prophet. 

 
The power of fasting is not about getting God to change His mind. It is a mighty weapon of warfare that pulls down strongholds (2 Cor. 10: 3-4).

Father, Thank You for accepting my heart’s desire laid on the altar of prayerful sacrifice. You gave it back to me. Amen.

Jesus poured out His blood for the New Covenant of grace and truth, replacing the Old Covenant letter of the law of Moses. Believers are exclusively under the New Covenant, the last will and testament of Jesus that began after the cross.