Matthew 9:15

And Jesus said to them [John the Baptist's disciples], “Can the friends of the Bridegroom mourn as long as the Bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the Bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” 

Notice, Jesus doesn't say, "Then they might fast." He says they will. They being His disciples (aka-you & me). Jesus' disciples will fast. Jesus said it; it'll happen. But do you right now?? 

Remember this post? I don't know how many of you actually found time to listen to it. But maybe  you'll find time to read the notes HERE.

If you can't find time to read that, then at least read this...

We do not fast to motivate God to pay attention to us, but to receive the affection He already has for us—it is not to move His heart, but our own. Fasting lessens our spiritual dullness.

Jesus established the New Covenant by His death and resurrection, in which the Spirit comes and dwells in every believer. Then, fasting took on a whole new dimension, because the indwelling  Spirit revealed the depths of God to the disciples (1 Cor. 2:10; Heb. 10:19-22). 

A mourning heart is fiercely discontent and desperately hungry for God—this is the Bridegroom fast. We refuse to accept the current state of our spiritual barrenness and dullness.

The Bridegroom fast is primarily centered on desire—both understanding God's desire for us and awakening our desire for Him. When we fast, God changes our desires and increases our desire for Him. Once we taste the nearness of God’s presence, we cannot live without more of Him.

Fasting positions our hearts to be expanded; as we encounter Jesus as our Bridegroom God, our spiritual capacity to receive from Him increases. Fasting before our Bridegroom God is a catalyst to increase the depth and the measure to which we receive from the Lord. We receive greater measures of revelation at an accelerated pace, and with a deeper impact on our hearts. 

Seriously, how can you not want to at least try fasting now?? Don't fear it. Just ask God for grace to get you through one day of not eating physical food. He would love to help you grow deeper in your walk with Him. :) Here's some prayer-songs to listen to during breakfast, lunch, and supper. :)

Mourning for the Bridegroom

I Miss You

I Will Waste My Life + Do You Know the Way You Move Me?

Remember...basically every blogpost I write on here is just as much for me as it is for you. Whether you've never fasted before, have been fairly regularly for a little while, or have been for 20 years--we can always, always use some encouragement to fast. Satan hates spiritual disciplines. He hates what fasting does to our hearts. He will do everything in his power to convince us that we don't need to fast and that it's not for us. I can guarantee you that you will always be able to find an excuse not to do this. But Jesus told us that we will fast. So my final question for you is...Who would you rather listen to? :)