Will fasting help me hear God?

Have you ever wondered whether fasting would help you hear God? Basically, yes, fasting will help you hear God. In this episode, we cover the purpose of fasting, Biblical precedents, and what true fasting looks like. We emphasise that fasting helps create an environment where we can be more susceptible to hearing God, but as usual with God, there are no set formulas.

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Transcript

Episode Description:

Have you ever wondered whether fasting would help you hear God? Basically, yes, fasting will help you hear God. In this episode, we cover the purpose of fasting, Biblical precedents, and what true fasting looks like. We emphasise that fasting helps create an environment where we can be more susceptible to hearing God, but as usual with God, there are no set formulas.

Episode Notes:

Our experience.

·        Our experience with fasting.

·        What to fast, e.g. food, TV, technology, etc

·        Holy Spirit guided.

·        Yes, fasting will help you hear God.

Purpose of fasting

·        Making a sacrifice to spend time pursuing God.

·        Proverbs 8:17 "Those who seek me will find me."

·        How desperately do you want to hear/find God?

·        Minimising internal and external noise/clutter.

·        Recalibration/reset. Humbling ourselves and putting God back on the throne.

·        Creates space/vacuum.

·        Increase spiritual sensitivity.

·        Decrease distractions.

·        Reveals any control issues.

Biblical precedent

·        Psalm 69:10 "When I weep and fast" not if I fast

·        Danger – legalism.

·        Moses fasted 40 days when he received the 10 commandments (spiritual act of worship) and then another 40 days after coming down the mountain and seeing the people had made a golden calf – interceded on their behalf by fasting. Exodus 34:28-35 and Deuteronomy 9 & 10

·        Nehemiah 1:4 – Nehemiah fasted to help decide what he should do.

·        David fasted in 2 Samuel 12:17,23 when asking God to heal his son. Son still died. It's not a 'rubber stamp' of approval. 

·        Daniel fast in Daniel 1 along with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – partial fast.

·        Jesus fasted 40 days before he began His ministry. Matthew 4:1-11

·        Matthew 6:5-6 Don't tell anyone when you fast.

·        Matthew 9:14-15 – After I go, then they will fast. Not legalistic.

·        Early church – pivotal moments of decision-making. Acts 13:2, 14:23. After they fasted and prayed, they then set apart certain people.

·        Stalwarts in church history. John Knox was so well known for how much he prayed and fasted that Queen Mary said she feared his prayers more than all the armies of Scotland.

True fasting

·        Reveals heart motivation. True repentance and not an external act to get God's attention.

·        Isaiah 58: 3 – how dare you, on the day of your fast, exploit your workers. Verse 4 – your fasting ends in quarrelling and strife.

·        Isaiah 58: 6-9 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

·        Fasting is a means of humbling myself before the Lord.

·        I've been really challenged – Can I afford not to fast?

Summary: 

·        The purpose of fasting.

·        The Biblical precedent.

·        True fasting.

And yes, fasting with the right attitude will help you hear God better.

Prophetic activation: 

Turn your heart and thoughts to Father God and ask Him – 

·        "God, Would You love me to set aside time this next week to fast and listen for Your voice more clearly?"

·        If so, "God is there anything in particular You would like me to focus on?"

Time Stamps:

[0:41] – Gary & Jane share how they have heard God this week.

[4:18] – Our experience with fasting.

[7:35] – The purpose of fasting.

[11:04] – Biblical precedents with fasting.

[13:42] – True fasting

[15:44] – Summary

[16:31] – Prophetic activation.

[17:29] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[19:16] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned: 

·        30-Day Devotional' Hearing God for the Year Ahead' https://www.unlockingthegold.com/product/hearing-god-for-the-year-ahead/

Bible Verses Mentioned:

·        Proverbs 8:17

·        Psalm 69:10

·        Exodus 34:28-35

·        Deuteronomy 9 & 10

·        Nehemiah 1:4

·        2 Samuel 12:17,23

·        Daniel 1

·        Matthew 4:1-11

·        Matthew 6:5-6

·        Matthew 9:14-15

·        Acts 13:2; 14:23

·        Isaiah 58:3, 6-9

Connect with Gary & Jane:

·        Visit the Hearing God podcast website: https://garyandjane.co

·        Email admin@garyandjane.co or garyandjaneb@gmail.com 

·        Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092429006234 

·        Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/hearinggodpodcast/ 

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