The Power of Prayer and Fasting:
By KARAN MINNIS, Guardian Lifestyles Reporter -
Nassau, Bahamas:


Christians fast to deny their bodies so that they can more or less open up their spirit to hear from God, and that fast can last anywhere from one to 40 days.

And it is a serious religious practice throughout the country. According to several religious leaders, the practices of fasting is conducted and promoted by almost every religion, and is said to be an act of true commitment.

"There are times in your life when you are going through periods [and] I believe it's important to go into prayer and fasting," said Bishop George Fowler of Final Hour Apostolic Cathedral, where he said fasting is an important part of their church life.

"We have weeks when we would go into prayer meetings continuously, during which time we also fast," he said.

Fowler said that his religion, like many others, practices various types of fasting, including a normal fast, where they abstain from food, but drink water, and the absolute fast, during which time they abstain from both food and water. There is also the partial fast, during which they restrict some aspect of their diet, rather than totally abstaining from food.

And the ability of Christians to fast comes from inspiration and commmitment, and whichever route people take, Fowler stressed that Godly people must spend time in fast.

"Inspiration is when the Holy Ghost prompts us to fast because of some special need, that can be unknown to us at the time. We may feel a burden, need, or desire to fast, and this is the easiest way to fast because we have such strong feelings to do so," he said.

However, he said, persons should not rely on this method completely as their "seasons of inspiration" can become too far apart, and this he said is when commitment comes into the picture. "This is when a dedication to God's cause demands that we fast simply because it is beneficial. A believer cannot carry out spiritual disciplines by inspiration alone."

According to Fowler days of fast are not always planned.

"We don't really have a set time," he said. "Whenever we are led by the Holy Spirit to go into fasting that's what we would do. There are times when your going through struggles and the bible says that there are so many things that are solved through prayer and fasting and so we are conscious of the importance of these tasks," he said.

According to Fowler, whenever a person participates in "God's chosen fast", they can expect results and rewards.

"Isaiah 58:8-12 reveals sixteen promises and blessings that can be ours if we meet the five conditions," he said.

"Each of these promises and conditions has spiritual implications," he said. "And therefore, it is important to apply them in a spiritual sense, as all these blessings can be received through fasting."

Said to be a part of human customs since pre-history, by the Wikipedia free online encyclopedia, fasting for religious and spiritual reasons has been repeatedly mentioned in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testament, the Q'uran, the Mahabharata, and the Upanishads.

Depending on the tradition, fasting practices may also forbid sexual activity as well as food, in addition to refraining from eating certain types or groups of foods such as meat. In the Bahamas, however, this form of fasting is not generally practiced.

Elethera Scavella, a member of Faith Temple Ministries International, said she is a true advocate of fasting.

"Fasting is basically my form of giving a sacrifice unto God," she said. "Its also apart of my practices of following what Jesus did, in terms of when he came on earth to complete God's words. Whenever I'm cleansing myself and coming before Him, I use it to basically separate myself from the world," she said.

Adding that she also uses the time to pray, Scavella says that fasting assists her in building a better relationship with God.

"I think persons should fast on a regular basis. "Lately, I've been behind on my fasting, but you'd know when you should fast. If you feel weak in your spirit, or when you feel like you need strength you should fast," she said.

Archdeacon Keith Cartwright, of St. Christopher's Anglican Church in Lyford Cay, says that fasting is all about "spiritual discipline."

"What it details is lessening ones intake of food. This can be done by reducing the amounts of food eaten at any of your meals. Normally a person eats three meals a day, so if you eat three meals a day one can take a portion of that meal and not eat that particular substance. Some people give up desserts, some give up starches, but when a person subtracts from their meals, it adds to discipline," he said. "The second thing is, persons can partially fast as well by skipping an entire meal, such as lunch or dinner, and the time they would have spent with that meal... let;s say about 15 minutes they spend it in prayer and mediation. So its a process of self denial," he said.

But according to Cartwright, although there are many reasons for fasting - the main reason is self-discipline.

"If you can deny yourself certain things it shows how strong the higher power is," he said. "Some people just can't discipline themselves at all, and that's a serious matter. But a practicing Christian is one who disciplines their lives in all aspects, and so we use periods of fasting for spiritual betterment and discipline."

The Anglican priest said that in his church they use fasting days during the Lenten season on Friday's, as well as Ash Wednesday, and Good Friday.

But he did say that people with medical conditions, such as diabetes are not allowed to fast, as they have to be disciplined in their eating habits, and take medication.