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Fasting without praying is called dieting~ Sadhu Sundar Selvaraj
I want to share a powerful experience when I finally heeded the LORD and fasted in His own terms and not mine or other people’s suggestions. I hope you will read it until the end. It will surely bless you.
God has been wanting me to fast for years now. The reason was not disclosed at the beginning. I asked God why I have to fast all the time and why others don’t? Besides, my husband has a problem with it because I would lose so much weight. However, I wanted to be obedient so, I fasted (my way). I would fast for three straight days and nights without any food or water and then would eat whatever I wanted afterwards. There was a time I would give up eating my favorite food for three days and sometimes seven days and I thought it was good enough and I am done with it. I thought I was being obedient by fasting my own way. WRONG! God wanted me to surrender and follow His leading. I am no longer my own. He wanted to be the One who would tell me when to fast, how long to fast and all I have to do is obey.
I remember a time when I thought I fasted long enough, so I could eat right after sunset. I was looking forward to eating. However, as soon as I started swallowing the food, I felt my esophagus started to constrict. Swallowing was quite difficult and painful. It felt like I had a strep throat. But, I ignored it because I was hungry and I wanted to eat. However, as soon as I finished eating, swallowing was no longer painful. It would only hurt when I ate. How can one explain it?
Fast forward…I eventually found out why I had to fast. It was because my flesh was dominating me. I struggled to be diligent in what God had called me to do. This went on for a long time. I could not pray. I could not worship properly. I noticed I got impatient and easily provoked. I could no longer wait for the LORD without felling asleep and no longer have strength to rise early in the morning. In short, it became a stronghold. It was a vicious cycle.
God showed me in my dream how I was doing and it was not good. I dreamed that I was floating and being sucked into darkness. I had no control over it. It felt so real like it was really happening. I could not do anything. I was powerless to stop it. I was crying while I was floating towards this darkness. I would attend conferences and the servants of GOD would talk about it. The cycle has been going on for so long that it was time for GOD to expose it. I was so embarrassed. So, I would repent, but I found myself going back to doing it again and again.
God in His mercy and grace, had sent so many people to help me with my struggles. There are only seven of those I’ve recently met who know exactly what’s going on with me without being told anything. They are gifted. Yes, God placed gifted people in my life. They do exist. God will connect you to them and sometimes, bring them to you. But, you have to be discerning because the enemy will do the same. I would know it because what they told me would not set well with me. There was no peace.
Some people thought I fasted because I wanted something from GOD. But, it was my way of humbling myself before GOD. (Psalm 35:13). That was why I refused to stop fasting when I was told to stop. I just needed to do it the right way. Also, because my character was also in question at that time. Anyway, I ended up listening to the suggestion and would fast only up to a certain time and then ate. But, deep down, I felt something was amiss. It made me confused.
Until, a man named, Kevin Zadai came along. I listened to his testimony and teaching. And what he said hit me. So, that’s it! That’s why I have all those struggles. However, again, I did not follow through with it. I continue doing what I was doing until conviction came really hard. I could no longer ignore it. I was crying out to GOD. I would repent again and again. So, one day, I decided and said, “Okay God, I will fast the way You want. I surrender.” So, I fasted and went along to what GOD wanted. He guided me to a seven day fasting with no water and no food. I can’t begin to tell you how I managed to get through the seven days and seven nights without any food and water. There was only one time I could remember that I felt hungry. But, it was not like with hunger pain. No. I could feel I was hungry, but I managed to not eat, which is a miracle because I normally would eat when I’m hungry.
On the eight day, this is when something powerful happened. As I was praying, I was given a vision and in this vision something in front of me exploded! It was loud. Like someone fired a gun and hit something and it exploded right in front of me. But, I had no clue to what it was that exploded. It took me a while to finally discerned that it was the unclean spirit that has been harassing me and causing all these struggles I have had. He finally was taken out. He exploded. He was killed so to speak.
Matthew 17:21
But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
This was the reason why God wanted me to fast. I finally understood. Another amazing thing happened to me during this 7-day fast, but I can’t disclose it at this time. One may think that it’s all in my head, but I tell you, what I saw in a vision was no joke. The only explanation I have to naysayers is
1 Corinthians 2:14-15
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The reason why people do not experience any encounter or manifestation is because of unbelief, lack of deeper consecration and intimacy with GOD. They place GOD in a box in their own wisdom and understanding; limiting His capabilities. They think that He no longer does what He did in the past. They think modern prophets do not exist, nor apostles, nor speaking in tongues is done away with and it’s of no importance. They did not know that it is a way to have an intimate communication with the Father and it is a weapon against the enemy. The enemy can not understand what you are saying. It is between you and GOD.
Hebrew 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
I learned that God ways are not the same as ours. His ways are higher than ours according to the book of Isaiah. We may look at fasting as unnecessary or work, but we can’t have a say when God requires it from us. His will shall prevail one way or another. We will lose. We can keep trying to do it our way, but in the end, His will shall prevails.
Isaiah 55:8-9
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
There have been so many things I do not understand and would sometimes question GOD. But, in retrospect, who am I to argue with Him? He is GOD. He can do anything and I should have not argued with Him. He is the Potter, I am the clay. So, when He commands us to do something we can not understand, we must do it in obedience to Him. I have disobeyed Him more than I could count and there have been precious things that were taken away from me and manifestations withheld because of disobedience. I also was told that I have compromised. I listened to men instead of listening to GOD. However, GOD is also a GOD who restores. I believe that He can restore things that we have lost when we repent and return to Him and be obedient to all His commands.
2 Chronicles 7:14
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
So, when you are prompted to fast, do it. And do it God’s way, not yours. Make sure you accompany it with prayers. Fasting without praying is called dieting. Follow your conviction. Obey and you will be amazed.
May this post bless you. I give all the glory to GOD for this post. Amen.
~Anna
Disclaimer: This is my own testimony that really happened. I am in no quest to coerce anyone to do a fast. I am merely suggesting. It is up to them and in their own discretion to fast if they want to fast.
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