E: Fasting and Prayer:

E: Fasting and Prayer:

It's not wrong to pray for what seems right when we're not completely sure what God is saying,

He's given us principles to apply as we pray
(e.g. The Lord's Prayer – Pray that you won't be tempted, and that you will have your needs met, and that you will be forgiving)

and examples to follow
(e.g. healing)

but it's better to pray on the basis of hearing His voice,
and being certain of His will in faith.



This is actually a major issue in prayer, as seen in these repeated messages from Jesus.

Note how simple Jesus wants to makes prayer sound, and ask 'What's the common factor here? Is it just an open invite to ask for whatever you wish?'


Read these words of Jesus carefully:
John 14:13: Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 14:14: If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

John 15:7: If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 15:16: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.


Jesus' message here is this:
ASK IN MY NAME, WITH MY WORDS ABIDING IN YOU,

He's telling us to ask in the authority of Jesus, with us as His representative, messenger or ambassador,
following the instructions and words He has given us,
just as a good Ambassador represents exactly the Government that sent them, and doesn't just speak out on their own agenda.

Prayer is separate from Fasting, but works well with fasting, as its intended goal is to bring us closer to God without distractions.

Faith is based on certainty of what God has said.

Fasting is meant to bring you closer to God, which means that you will be more able to hear His voice, and so will pray in greater faith.

The food, the thing you fast from, is actually a side issue.
The goal is to facilitate undistracted contact with God.