Pray First: The Transformative Power of a Life Built on Prayer

by Chris Hodges

Because any church is too big if you don’t know anybody! A big church becomes small and personal once you’re part of a group of like-minded believers focused on experiencing the freedom we have in Christ.

Simply put, fasting is about less of us and more of God.

We don’t truly realize just how connected to the world we actually are—and how much that connection corrupts us.

First, prayer connects us to God and restores our intimacy and reliance on Him and Him alone. Second, fasting disconnects us from the world and its temptations, distractions, and appeals to our fleshly appetites. It’s a discipline in which we push away the things of the flesh.

Fasting is mentioned in the Bible not a couple times, not a dozen times, but more than seventy times!

I sincerely believe fasting is not an optional habit or an only-if-you-feel-like-it spiritual discipline. It is essential to our spiritual lives.

Here’s what you will discover through fasting if you haven’t already: Whatever you starve dies. Whatever you feed thrives.

Fasting supercharges our prayer lives by eliminating many if not most of the distractions we usually face.

When you give God your first—first part of your day, of your week, of your year, of your income—you declare your dependence on Him for the rest.

When you give God the first of your time and your finances, you always see a shift. You walk through your day with greater awareness of His presence.

Fasting redirects your attention to the most important priority in your life: your relationship with God.

I suspect many times when we pray our requests, God answers us but we simply can’t hear the whisper of His Spirit in our lives amid the clamor of the world.

Sometimes the fast itself can become a distraction, especially if you’re new to this practice. Fasting is not about gritting yourself through a discipline to say you accomplished it. Fasting is about surrendering your appetites to God to feast on more of Him.

Habits, thoughts, relationships, and situations may not be perfect—nothing in this fallen world can be completely perfect this side of heaven—but things can be restored and set on the right course again.

Spiritually, you want to be careful not to let down your guard as you end your fast. The devil is always looking for an opportune time. While your spirit may be stronger than ever, your body and soul may be at their weakest points. Remember that the Enemy chose to tempt Jesus immediately after He had been praying and fasting in the wilderness.

I suspect the Enemy targets us even more deliberately when we’re about to begin a new ministry, outreach, group, service, or any kind of event or initiative where God will be honored and glorified.

I know that the only way to endure demonic attacks with patience, stamina, and faith is by relying entirely on God.

when we face overwhelming odds for defeat or face an intimidating adversary, fasting and praying for God’s power is often required for victory.

In situations when we’re called to do the overwhelming, improbable, or outright impossible, fasting and praying increases our connection to God, which in turn strengthens our spirits, clears our minds, and inspires our hearts.

Jesus Himself indicated that our faith is empowered by fasting,

There’s nothing magic or spiritually powerful in the act of fasting by itself. Fasting simply clears everything else away so that you can channel all aspects of yourself solely on God.

Based on my own experience and that shared by others, fasting helps us retain and absorb God’s Word more fully and effectively.

Pray often; for prayer is a shield to the soul . . . a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. —John Bunyan

The importance of intercessors, prayer services, and prayer small groups cannot be overstated.

If you want to know God at a deeper level, if you want to follow Jesus for the rest of your life, if you want to make a difference for eternity, then you know what to do. Pray without ceasing. Pray with other people. And always pray first!