Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn (sacred) assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord – Joel 1:14.

In the Bible, people often prayed during times of calamity to focus their attention on God and demonstrate their change of heart and true devotion.

January is a month when most Christians are given a fast by their church leaders. The fast shouldn’t be a tradition, but it should be a time for those who are fasting to examine themselves to see where they need to make changes, whether it’s to be more dedicated to prayer, reading, and studying God’s Word. To be dedicated to attending Sunday School, Bible Study, or to be delivered from a habit that has them bound.

We don’t fast to impress God; some people think that if they fast long enough, it will influence Him to do something for them. To punish ourselves does not impress the Lord; it will only make us hungry because the fast is with the wrong motives.

A proclamation as fast as the one that is in Joel is for the purpose of bringing believers into a place of hearing from God. When we learn how to pray about the situation, we can then move forward in the same area of faith in unity.

The purpose of proclaiming a fast is that it causes people’s minds to go in one direction. That direction is towards God. They drop all other things and center their attention on Him. This brings His manifested presence in their midst.

Our fast should be to not only feel the presence of God in our local churches, but to feel His presence in our homes, cars as we drive, and His presence with us on our jobs. We want to be sensitive to the Spirit of God wherever He wants to meet us!

In the book of Acts 13:1-2, as the prophets and teachers were fasting and ministering to the Lord, the Holy Ghost spoke in the midst of them, saying, ” Separate me, Barnabas and Saul for the work whereto I have called them”. Today’s church fast will do the same thing when the people of God come together in one accord, praying and fasting, desiring to be in the will of God.

In this kind of atmosphere, God is allowed to speak. A fast is valuable and effective because it causes unity and singleness of purpose. It’s the same principles as the prayer of agreement or united prayer; it will produce power.

Rewards for a personal fast when we do it in secret, God will reward openly. We can believe that for this reward, when we go on a fast, we should be specific about the purpose of the fast. If we believe the reward from the onset of the fast, the pressure on our physical body will lessen.

Remember, the results and the reward obtained make fasting easier. Many can’t do a long fast because they’ve never fasted, but if your motive is right, if you’ve never fasted or can’t fast a long time, start with an hour a day until you can increase the length of the fast.

The fast is not about how long we can fast, but the motive, faith, and persistence we have to seek God for the answer, or just for spiritual growth. Sometimes we need to fast just to consecrate ourselves before God. Fasting cleanses our spirit as well as our body.

God desires His people to grow spiritually, and that only comes by fasting and prayer, reading and studying the Bible. When the leaders call a fast, try to fast, take it one minute, hour, and day at a time, the fast is for spiritual growth,  and for prayers to be answered as well, for the presence of God to be in the midst of the congregation.

If you didn’t fast at the beginning of the fast, try starting it as soon as you can. If you only get a few days in, at least you will be in unity with the others that are fasting as well as being in obedience with the request of the leader.

We’re dealing with all types of ungodly spirits, and the only way they can be conquered is by the Spirit of God, as well as fasting and praying. Don’t let the first month of January be the only time you fast. Fasting keeps our heart and spirit clean; it enables the gift of discernment to be effective, sensitive to the voice of God and the move of God.

I pray this year’s fast will be different from all other fasts and you will experience the spiritual change you desire.