There is a story in 2 Chronicles 20 that illustrates the attitude we must bring to prayer and fasting.

Jehoshaphat's Powerful Declaration to God

The people of Judah were in trouble. It looked as if it was going to be total devastation for God's anointed. Even Jehoshaphat, the warrior king, was afraid. He became so fearful that he turned all his attention toward seeking the Lord in his life as he began to pursue God more intently than he'd ever done before.

In his terror at the prospect of massive defeat, Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast throughout all of Judah. He asked the people to stop eating until God prevailed in their situation. He understood the spiritual practices of fasting and praying, and he knew that to fast before God was the best way to show his complete helplessness and humility before God.

In verse 12, he makes this powerful declaration: "Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast multitude that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to You."

The Revival Principle

Jehoshaphat learned something you and I must never forget: we must renounce the natural and invoke the supernatural.

He declared, "God, I don't want food; I want You. You are more important than food." This is a revival principle, a resurrection principle; and a resurrection always is most credible in a graveyard.

Worldly counsel teaches us that whoever ends up with the most toys wins. We want our cars, our bank accounts, our stocks and bonds, our toys, our recreation, our steaks, and our mashed potatoes with gobs of gravy. Sometimes we want these things more than the bountiful riches and promises found in the Word of God.

But when we're desperate, we cannot have it both ways.

The Truth About Idols and Fasting

Whatever stands in the way or is idolized in our lives has to go and take its rightful place.The truth is this: We are powerless in and of ourselves. And because physical food is not our ultimate source of nourishment, then physical food must be seen in its physical perspective: we must be willing to renounce the natural to invoke the supernatural.

Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast for his people so they could once again see the face of God. He said that they sought Him and kept their eyes on Him. When they became desperate, they shifted their focus to God and away from their hopeless, degenerate, discouraging, depraved situation.

It was their choice and it's also ours.

It's Time for a Spiritual Breakthrough

I define fasting as "the abstinence from food with a spiritual goal in mind." It is when we deny ourselves the most natural thing in order to pursue the God of heaven to do something powerful and supernatural in and through our lives. When a person engages this age-old biblical principle, he or she will wake up and experience revival personally.

Like Jehoshaphat, when we become desperate enough, we, too, will drop to our knees, seek the Father, and keep our eyes fixed on Him. We will experience spiritual breakthrough when we understand that one of the gateways to His supernatural intervention in our lives is through fasting and prayer.

God wants to give us hope for the present and confidence in our future. He wants to do something mighty in our lives, and that's why He provides us with moments of desperation—to push us toward Him.

Parts taken from The Power of Prayer and Fasting by Ronnie W. Floyd. Copyright 2010. Used by permission of B&H Publishing Group. All rights reserved. Article courtesy of Mature Living magazine.


BONUS: 3 Must-Read Articles on Prayer and Fasting

1. The Lost Art of Fasting

2. The Gospel and the Discipline of Fasting

3. Does Prayer Really Work?

Dr. Ronnie Floyd is pastor of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas and president of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is the author of 20 books, including The Power of Prayer and Fasting.