Prayer

This week our subject was fasting and prayer. Another tough one for me! I love to eat and found it difficult to fast. Matthew 6:17-18 says "But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret." The words that hit home to me were "when you fast". Jesus isn't suggesting it; he assumes I will voluntarily fast out of humble reverence to God, in order to learn self-control and reliance on Him alone, and to remember that my treasure is in heaven. Fasting goes hand in hand with prayer. You can pray without fasting, but I don't think you can fast without praying. I fast out of obedience to God and when I fast, I am spending time with God in prayer. The result of fasting and praying is found in Isaiah 58.

"Then your light will break out like the dawn and your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am 'if you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday. And the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell."

Campus Crusade has a good explanation on fasting and prayer at Your Personal Guide to Fasting and Prayer :: Campus Crusade for Christ International

http://www.ccci.org/training-and-growth/devotional-life/personal-guide-to-fasting/index.htm