Prayer and fasting are two of the most powerful tools in the Christian’s spiritual arsenal. We can’t go through life without them, but we often neglect utilizing these foundational practices. When we do pray and fast, however, we will see God work in our lives like never before. The following sections of this article explain what prayer is and how to pray as well as why fasting is so important to Christians—and how to do it properly!
The Bible tells us that when we fast, we should do it with humility (see Matthew 6:16-18). We should also be careful not to boast about our fasting or make others feel bad because they aren’t fasting like us (see Leviticus 16:29; Esther 4:16).
Prayer is talking to God
There are many ways to pray, but at its core, prayer is a conversation with God. We can talk to him about the things in our lives that we find most important and significant, or we can simply thank him for what he has done for us.
When we pray, it’s important not only that we speak out loud but also listen carefully for his response–whether it’s audible or not doesn’t matter so much; what matters is that you’re communicating with your Creator on some level.
Fasting is a method of self-denial that you use to focus on God and bring His will into your life and your circumstances.
Fasting is a method of self-denial that you use to focus on God and bring His will into your life and your circumstances. It’s not about going hungry; it’s about denying yourself something that is not good for you, such as food, television or social media. Fasting also helps us focus on God when we are distracted by our own needs and desires.
When we fast from food or other things that we enjoy doing, it reminds us of what really matters in life–our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. When we hunger for Him like He hungers for us (see Matthew 5:6), then He will fill us with His joy!
When we pray, we need to remember that sometimes we can hear from God, while at other times we simply listen to Him speak through the Scriptures or His people around us.
When we pray, we need to remember that sometimes we can hear from God, while at other times we simply listen to Him speak through the Scriptures or His people around us.
When you pray in the Spirit, you are making sure your mind is on God and not your own problems and concerns. This means that when you get up in the morning or before going to bed at night, spend some time meditating on what God’s word says about your life instead of worrying about how much money is left in your bank account or what kind of job will be available next month.
You should also pray with faith–believing that God will answer your prayer according to His will rather than yours (James 4:2). Remembering this will help keep us from getting frustrated by unanswered prayers because they may not turn out exactly as we had hoped! We must trust that if it isn’t good for us then it won’t happen anyway (Romans 8:28).
God may speak to us through His Word, through our circumstances, via another person, or even through our own thoughts.
God may speak to us in a variety of ways. He may speak through His Word, through our circumstances, via another person or even through our own thoughts. God may use a still small voice or a loud voice. He may use the Scriptures or our circumstances as His means of communication with us.
To ensure that you hear God’s response, always seek to approach Him in humility and with reverence (Psalm 66:18).
Prayer is a conversation with God, and humility is the key to hearing His voice. In order to ensure that you hear God’s response, always seek to approach Him in humility and with reverence (Psalm 66:18). Prayer is not merely an opportunity for us to tell God what we want; it’s an opportunity for us to listen as well. When we pray in faith rather than doubt, our prayers are answered according to His will (Romans 8:28).
Conclusion
I hope you will consider how to incorporate prayer and fasting into your daily life. If you have been neglecting these practices, then now is the time to start again. Prayer and fasting are two of the most powerful tools in our spiritual arsenal as Christians; they help us draw closer to God and hear His voice more clearly in our lives.