A Time of Breakthroughs -- The Importance of Fasting by Jennifer Morrin.
FASTING,
an interesting topic that we don’t hear often enough about. A discipline you
hear very few Christians speak of or have testimony about. But why is this so?
It’s a tool the Lord has given us to use in our walks with Him.
I think
I’ve heard 3-4 sermons in my 11 years of going to church regarding fasting. But why is this so? It’s an amazing spiritual
discipline that unlocks the doors that allows heaven to invade our lives.
As a
disciple of Christ and a student of the Word, I’ve read all the scriptures on
the topic. I experimented with it in the past, many years ago. However, after
getting married and starting my small family, fasting was put on the shelf for
a few years.
What’s
interesting is that a few years of NOT fasting brought me to a place in my life
I thought I would never be. Relationships filled with contention and division,
a constantly sick child, and an optimistic joyful attitude turning pessimistic
and grumpy within myself. I came to a place for desperation for a change.
As I
asked God what to do to see the change I needed, I had random people begin to
share about what a Daniel Fast had done in their lives. And since I had
inadequate information on the fullness of the power of fasting, I set out on my
own pursuit to educate myself. Where I had questions after reading my Bible, I
ordered books to fill in the gaps for me.
In the
last 6 months I’ve read Fasting by Jentzen Franklin, Daniel Fast For Spiritual Breakthroughs & Fasting For Spiritual Breakthroughs, both by Elmer Towns,
and now, for an upcoming class I am reading Prayer and Fasting by Mahesh
Chavda.
The key
is to go out and get more information if you don’t have enough, right? And then
what? TRY IT!
Since
reading these books and using prayer and fasting in a variety of ways, a
relationship that was breaking is healing, a chronically sick child is on the
road to health with a brighter light at the end of the tunnel, and my attitude
and mindset has done a 180.
During
my fasts this year, I had other breakthroughs. Actually, people whom I had been
praying for over specific things in the year prior to my fasts had
breakthroughs in the areas I had prayed over. I stood in awe in some of the
first days of my first Daniel Fasts, as friends were pouring out their hearts
over what had just happened that week.
Where
does this power from fasting come from? One keyword that God has given me is
FAITH. Our fasting is an assertive action of faith. Biblical fasting calls us
to give up food. When we do this act of obedience, our faith is ignited with
fuel of great expectation. I believe that’s what puts us in a place to receive
spectacular, impossible answers and solutions.
This is
a topic that I am continually researching and practicing. I have had over 10 prayers
answered this year. They were big ones too! And the year is only half over! So the
more I learn, the more I will practice, and the more I will fulfill what Jesus
called us to do. In Matthew 6:1-18, Jesus says, “When you give…When you
pray…When you fast”. Jentzen Franklin points to this scripture in his book. And
it makes sense on why. The
Word says WHEN YOU….not ‘if you will’. Is it safe to say that we are
called to fast as believers? Is fasting intended to be a discipline of all
Christians? If Jesus said it, then why are we not doing it?
If you
don’t know enough about the subject to set forth on your own
fasting mission, then get some books on the topic and read and experiment. God
will answer all your questions as you pursue following the example of Christ!
Jennifer Morin completed her Bachelor’s Degree of Liberal
Studies at CSUB and is now pursuing her Master’s Degree in Christian Counseling
and Leadership at Summit Bible College. She has worked in the real estate
industry here locally, was on staff at a local church (before having children)
and now she operates her Beachbody coaching business from home.
She considers herself as more of a health & fitness
enthusiast who loves helping people by holding them accountable and coaching
them through their journey to reach their weight loss goals. It is her passion
to help people live longer and more healthful lives so that they can fulfill
the job God has for them here on earth.
Her days start with quiet time with the Lord, a powerful
workout, and then the management of her & her husband, David’s home &
household needs. One of her biggest priorities is making time for her kids to
have play dates, fit in a movie, or throw pennies in the fountain at the
Marketplace. God, David, and her boys are at the top of her list of
priorities.
With the resources that Beachbody provides and the
education she receives from Summit, her hopes are to establish a local
ministry of counseling and coaching to help people be set free from the
bondages of addiction to food and other things, and offer support &
accountability groups. She is a firm believer in the power of prayer and
believes that Jesus Christ can heal us and make us whole again.
