Jan 12, 2026 5 min read Prayer

The Power of Prayer and Fasting: Deepening Your Relationship with God

Prayer is a fundamental way we communicate with God, yet many of us find it challenging. As we enter a new season in our church and in our personal lives, we're called to become a praying and fasting community that seeks God's will above all else.

Today's article is based on the sermon given at Five Mile Church of the Nazarene. View this sermon and other resources here.

Why Is Prayer So Important in Our Christian Walk?

Prayer isn't just for emergencies or for the spiritually elite—it's for everyone. Mother Teresa once said her secret was simply that she prayed. When asked what prayer is, she responded: "Prayer is simply talking to God. He speaks, we listen. We speak, He listens."

The purpose of meaningful conversation with God is to get to know Him better, just as we get to know others through conversation.

Biblical Reasons Why We Pray

Because God asks us to—He wants relationship with us
Because prayer changes us, even when it doesn't change our circumstances
Because God hears us—both our words and the things we can't express
Because prayer brings peace, reminding us God is in control
Because Jesus taught us how to pray

A prayerless Christian might be described as powerless, anxious, disconnected, vulnerable, and ineffective. In contrast, a praying Christian is equipped, empowered, and well-positioned to seek and live out God's will.

What Does the Bible Teach About Fasting?

Jesus spoke about fasting with an assumption that His followers would practice it: "When you fast" (not "if you fast"). Though we rarely discuss it in modern churches, fasting has deep biblical roots.

Biblical reasons for fasting include:

To gain God's wisdom
To seek deliverance or protection
To express repentance
To gain victory over sin
To worship God

To prepare for ministry

Why Don't We Fast More Often?

John Piper offers this challenging perspective: "The absence of fasting is the measure of our contentment with the absence of Christ." He continues, "If you don't feel a strong desire for the manifestation of the glory of God, it's not because we have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It's because we have nibbled so long at the table of the world, our soul is stuck with small things with no room for the great."

Could it be that we don't fast because we've lost our spiritual appetite? We're spiritually full but not satisfied—stuffed but not nourished.

How Can I Start Fasting in My Spiritual Life?

Fasting is personal—Jesus taught us not to make a show of it. While food is the traditional focus of biblical fasting, there are many approaches:

Fast from a meal each day
Fast from coffee or another daily habit
Try a liquid-only fast
Consider a "modern fast" from media, phones, social media, or news
Fast from a hobby you enjoy
Fast from complaining for a week
Fast from sleeping in and use that time with God
Turn off music in your car to pray instead
Fast from bringing work home

Whatever you choose, it should be something difficult enough to redirect your attention to God and interrupt your normal routine.

How Do I Build a Consistent Prayer Life?

Make a plan and carry it out - Create a specific time and place for prayer
Prioritize it - Martin Luther said, "I have so much to do today, I'm going to spend the first three hours in prayer"
Don't go it alone - Find people to pray with and create accountability
Follow a structure - Consider a "cruciform prayer" pattern:
- Start with worship and praise
- Pray for your church family
- Pray for neighbors and community
- Pray for personal surrender and growth
Put your prayers into action - "Pray to catch the bus, then run as fast as you can!"

Life Application

This week, take time to ask the Lord how He wants you to become a person of prayer and fasting. Consider these questions:

What small things am I filling my life with that leave no room for God's greatness?
What specific time and place can I set aside daily for focused prayer?
What might God be calling me to fast from—food, media, or something else that distracts me from Him?
Who could I invite to join me in prayer for accountability and encouragement?
How can I put my prayers into action rather than just speaking words?

Let's commit to being a praying and fasting community that seeks God's face above all else. As we kneel before the throne of God, we position ourselves to receive the great things He has planned that we can't yet imagine.

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