When was the last time you fasted? Is it part of your regular rhythm of discipleship? Until last year, it was something I just did occasionally. It is now something I really value because of the following things:

1. It's a great way to process frustration. When we are out of control, confused, disappointed, exasperated or even devastated, fasting is a great way to process that emotion. Instead of getting more wound up or tense, we take an element of control in the form of discipline. We also remind ourselves that God is the provider and able to do more than we can ask or imagine. 

2. Certain things only happen when we pray and fast. We are engaging on another level of spiritual warfare when we fast. It's almost like super-charging our awareness of God and the sharpness of our prayer. Maybe God loves how seriously we are taking our prayer when we deny ourselves food. It seems to get his attention. 

3. There is a lot of it in the Bible. Moses when he got the Ten Commandments, Nehemiah in his sadness over Jerusalem, Esther when she took her stand, Daniel's protest, Anna when she saw the baby Jesus. The prophets and the Psalms are full of fasting and the early church fasted as part of their decision making process. 

If we want to see things change beyond what we are able to generate in our own strength, then let's fast and pray. In a world of comfort when we have everything we could want, let's deny ourselves and become alive in God.