Fasting Yielding Yourself Up To God

I have been yearning for the Lord of the church to teach me "why fasting is so important, but yet appears to be doing so little for us." Where are the great miracles, signs, and wonders that accompanied the early church? This generation is desperate to see His glory and powers and again learn to "Fear Him." "Our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:29). It is awesome to be in the presence of God. And that is what fasting is all about. That’s what fasting is meant for in your life. Unless fasting brings you into His presence for a glorious encounter with Him, it is a waste of energy and sacrifice.

Please stop with me and let’s allow the truth of this spiritual obligation to get a good hold on us. When you fast, you are setting yourself aside for a period of time to "yield yourself up to God." Those five words are really the secret of fasting, "yield yourself up to God." It is not the doing without food that has the desired effect on your life. That is good for you and your body’s health, but it is not the secret behind the spiritual reason. Fasting a meal or meals is only the beginning. As you fast and shut off this bodily appetite, you are aided to surrender and yield yourself up to communicate with the Lord and with His Word.

It is not as important how long you fast as it is how genuinely you "yield yourself to God." A person that takes half a day or a whole day and truly cuts loose from everything possible will experience wonderful results. A longer time is wonderful, but do not refuse the half a day because you cannot go for several days. A half a day once a week will change your life and is better than a whole week once a year. Once you experience the sweet presence of "yielding yourself up to God," it can well become a lifestyle of daily sweetness just in your normal prayer life.

How do you learn to "yield yourself up to God"? Remember, you choose to smile or not to smile, you choose to think or meditate on a Scripture or to sing a song. Your soul is the "you" that resides in your body. Your soul is the personality that the Creator gave you. You can yield it to whatever or whomever you please. When I get in my place of prayer, I simply turn my face to God and yield myself over to Him. As you worship and love Him, praising and adorning Him for His love to you, just turn yourself, all of yourself, up to Him. Learn to rest in His presence.

Fasting and prayer are always a part of each other. Praying is not just giving God a list of wants. It is rather a surrender of yourself to seek His will and to allow the Holy Ghost to lead you in making known to God your whole heart and desires for Him. A selfish person will be totally incapable of this kind of fasting. Most fasting is nothing but a selfish way to try to force your request on God. It will not work. Allow the Blood of Jesus to sanctify your total person until self is crucified, put to death, and then "yielding yourself to God" will become a joy to you.