By: Pastor Caden Metcalf
As a new year begins, one simple question can change everything: Why not?
Why not believe that God could do something new in your life? Why not seek Him in a deeper way? Why not start the year with prayer and fasting?
Throughout Scripture and church history, seasons of renewal and revival have always been marked by intentional prayer and fasting.
Revival Starts With Hunger for God
True revival isn’t about emotion or excitement—it’s about a renewed hunger for God. When people genuinely seek Him, lives change, habits break, and entire communities are transformed.
History shows that every great awakening began when ordinary people decided to pursue God wholeheartedly. Revival doesn’t start in crowds; it starts in hearts.
Prayer and Fasting Are Biblical and Powerful
Prayer and fasting are not extreme practices reserved for a few—they are normal parts of the Christian life. Jesus fasted. Moses fasted. Daniel fasted. The early church fasted.
Fasting is simply abstaining from food for a spiritual purpose. It’s not about earning God’s favor or forcing an outcome. Instead, fasting changes us, aligns our hearts with God’s will, and sharpens our spiritual focus.
When prayer and fasting are combined, Scripture shows there is often greater clarity, wisdom, and spiritual authority.
Daniel: A Model of Faith and Discipline
The book of Daniel offers a powerful example. Daniel chose to honor God through fasting, even in a hostile environment. After ten days of fasting, he and his companions were found to be ten times wiser than the others (Daniel 1:20).
Later, when prayer was outlawed, Daniel continued seeking God without compromise. His devotion didn’t change when circumstances did—and God honored his faithfulness.
Fasting Helps Win the Battle Between Flesh and Spirit
The Bible teaches that the flesh and the Spirit are in constant conflict (Galatians 5:17). Fasting helps bring the flesh into submission and allows the Spirit to lead more clearly.
Many people experience breakthrough during seasons of fasting:
- Greater clarity and discernment
- Victory over sinful patterns or addictions
- Renewed spiritual passion
- Increased sensitivity to God’s voice
Fasting helps us hunger more for God than for temporary comforts.
God Hears From the First Day
In Daniel 10, Daniel fasted and prayed for weeks before receiving an answer. Scripture reveals that God heard him from the very first day, even though the answer was delayed.
This is a powerful reminder: when you commit to seeking God, He is already at work—even when you can’t see it yet.
Starting the Year by Seeking God
Throughout the Bible, people fasted before major moments:
- Moses before receiving the Law
- Jesus before beginning His public ministry
- Nehemiah before rebuilding Jerusalem
Beginning the year with prayer and fasting is a way of saying, “God, I don’t want to get ahead of You. I want to walk with You.”
Why Not Let This Be Your Best Year Yet?
Prayer and fasting don’t guarantee an easy year—but they prepare us for whatever comes. When we seek God with our whole hearts, He promises that we will find Him.
This year, instead of relying on our own strength, we can choose to depend on God fully. Why not believe He wants to do something extraordinary?