I have heard and read a lot about fasting for years, but never had the desire to do it—so I didn't. Okay, some have just classified me as spiritually inferior and others have instantly bonded as a long distance friend. But years ago the Lord began to personally challenge me to fast from food for three days.

I heard stories of great men and women of God that would fast and have divine encounters with God. When I fasted I just got hungry! I got a headache and felt everything but spiritual. Jesus didn't appear, angels didn't sing, and ravens didn't deliver food to me.

I completed the fast and really questioned if it had accomplished anything. And then I was blown away. Something had happened, something was different. My spiritual biceps had increased by three inches. As I faced the world there was this spiritual power I hadn't noticed before.

Say "No!" To The Flesh
Saying "no" to sin was easy. There are many reasons for fasting but the "biggy" in my life is keeping the old flesh nature under control. When you can say "no" to something that you can have it becomes easy to say "no" to something you shouldn't have.

Fasting is saying to God, "I love you more than anything this world has to offer. I love you more than a Big Mac or filet mignon." Fasting will align your thoughts, control your fleshly desires and ignite you spiritually.

Periodically my family and I will fast from various things just to make sure nothing controls us other than Jesus Christ. After a summer overdose of TV, I asked our kids to go on a fast with Kim and I from television for seven days. We unplugged all the TVs and had a great week.

The following Sunday I was congratulating the kids on a great job when one of them asked, "So what are we going to fast from this week Dad?" I said, "I don't know, what do you think? How about soft drinks?" The next seven days truly were supernatural as we laid down Dr. Pepper in the Hawk household.

Put The Spirit-Man In Control
After my initial encounter with fasting, I began to use the experience in counseling teenagers. A young man came to me and revealed he was crossing the boundaries physically with his girlfriend. I gave him some practical advice and then asked him if he could go without food for 24 hours and without Nintendo (a favorite of his) for seven days? He was somewhat bewildered.

"What has this got to do with sex?" He asked me.

"Everything!" I responded. His body and mind were in control of his life while "Spirit Man" was a helpless passenger. He needed to establish self control and strengthen himself spiritually.

OK, now it's your turn. What's a stronghold in your life? Coffee? Internet? Coke? Video Games? TV? Choose one thing to lay down to the Lordship of Jesus Christ for one week. Then give a three day fast from food a shot. Just see what God will do!

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