Fasting for Breakthrough: Getting Unstuck

by Marilynn Chadwick

Do you feel stuck today? Maybe you need a breakthrough in prayer. Or relief from a stubborn problem. A breakthrough usually occurs after a long struggle against some kind of obstacle or enemy. A spiritual breakthrough can be described as that sudden leap forward in an area where we've been fervently seeking God. In short, a breakthrough is getting "unstuck."

One way I've experienced personal breakthroughs in prayer is through fasting. I’m not sure why fasting adds power to my prayers. It just does. Jesus spoke of fasting as a normal part of one's prayer life. "When you fast," he said. Not "if you fast" (Matthew 6:16-18).

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a few too many spiritual battles lately. Seems like everyone I know these days is walking through intense trials. Some are fighting hard through painful circumstances, family conflict, financial struggles, or even long-standing illnesses. Many feel “stuck.”

I’ve decided it’s time to get a fresh grip on my faith, look to God for strength, and refresh my commitment to fasting. It’s a powerful way to stand in the gap for those I love. And when combined with prayer and God’s Word, fasting is a great way to get unstuck.

Let’s face it. As long as we live on planet Earth, we’re in enemy territory. That means we must always be watchful. Vigilant. Yes, Christ’s work on the Cross set us free from sin and death. But we must guard that freedom daily. I’m reminded of the old Revolutionary War saying, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”

God’s Creation is good, but since the Fall, our world is crawling with enemies. There’s no denying it. And we live in an earthly body with demanding appetites and desires. Even if we manage to avoid the more obvious traps and addictions, our flesh still wants its own way. My friend’s three-year-old daughter once said it best, “But Mommy, all I want is what I want when I want it.”

Our flesh seldom craves the things God asks of us. In fact, it usually craves the opposite. Bottom line? If I don’t control my body, it will control me. I’d rather sleep late than begin my day with a study of God’s Word and prayer. Yet I know from experience that my days just plain go better when I launch them with this “power hour.” In much the same way, I’d rather eat than fast, which also requires that I subdue my flesh. Maybe that’s what the apostle Paul meant when he spoke of “disciplining my body, making it serve me” (1 Cor. 9:27 ISV).

That’s where fasting comes in. From a purely physical standpoint, fasting cleanses the body and gives it rest. Spiritually, fasting goes beyond what we can see and somehow sharpens our “spiritual ears” and adds power to our prayers. Jesus himself fasted. Over the next few days, we’ll explore what the Bible has to say about fasting and how it can help us experience breakthroughs in prayer.