Fasting is one act which is commonly followed by most of the people irrespective of religion. People fast for many different reasons; some fast for their prayers to get answered and some fast at special occasions as demanded by their culture or religion. Many of the Christians do fast during the period of Lent in remembrance of the sufferings of Jesus Christ on the Cross. The Holy Bible do explains and supports both the fasting during occasions and fasting for prayers getting answered.
In Romans:14: 5,6 says " One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord " Hence fasting during lent where some people consider it as special is justified. Also in old testaments we find many people like Ezra, Daniel, Nehemiah and many more fasted and got their prayers answered. In Ezra: 8:23 Ezra writes as; "So we fasted and entreated our God for this and He answered our prayer".
Bible also states fasting as one of the powerful tool in our Spiritual warfare. When Jesus drove out a demon from a little boy which his disciples could not do he said " This kind does not go out except by prayer and Fasting" (Matthew:17:21) . Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before starting the ministry and Bible says after fasting Jesus returned to Galilee in power of the Spirit to do ministry (Luke:4:14). Jesus have also said as written in Matthew:9:15 that his disciples will also fast after his resurrection. Bible also recommends fasting to the believers as written in I Corinthians :7:5 " Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer".
But when we read the word of God we find that not all fasting was accepted by God. Luke:18:10-14 says about prayer of a pharisee and a tax collector; The pharisee in his prayer mentions about his fasting for twice in a week where as the tax collector mentions nothing about fasting in his life yet Bible says the Prayer of the tax collector was answered and he went back home justified; whereas the prayer of pharisee went in vain. Also in old testament we find in many places where God has not responded to the fasting done by Israelite's because he was not pleased with their actions. So there is an expectation from God about true fasting and Bible also explains us on this.
Now what does fasting mean to us or what do we think a real fasting is; while the worldly meaning says it as about just abstaining from some kind of food and drink for a period of time; God speaks to his people through his prophet about true fasting in Isaiah:58:6 as " Is this not the fast that I have chosen; To loose the bonds of wickedness; To undo the heavy burdens; To let the oppressed go free and that you break every yoke"
The above verse is spoken by God to the prophet Isaiah and he says about what is exactly a true fasting is all about. The verse says 2 key messages "to remove all your burdens and then to set the oppressed free"
Cast your burdens onto Jesus & Be available to do his will:
Why is it important to cast burdens? If you think of a situation when you are so stressed up you will realize that you would not have led a peaceful life, you would have got angry on too many people unable to take appropriate decision etc. Similarly the devil puts a lot of such burdens in our lives so that we cannot be spiritually strong and work according to God's will.
More often we are too worried about our worldly needs like we need a house, we need more money, we need vehicle etc. Some times we are worried about some of the worldly fears like fear of sickness, fear of exams, fear of tomorrow etc. When we are more worried about your worldly needs and fears how can we be available to God for doing his will. In Matthew :6:25 - 34 Jesus said " Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes?" verse 27 " Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ?" verse 31 & 32 " So do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear.?' For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly father knows that you need them". Bible also says that God knows our needs even before we approach him. So lets untie such cords of yokes which are inform of worldly needs and fears.
Another important factor that burden us is the sins of our life. When we commit a sin we loose our peace we are not able to focus on God's will we restrain from prayer life and we restrain from the works which God want us to do. The burden of sin does not allow us to work for God. We need to loose this bondage of wickedness; for this we need to understand, believe and realize the truth that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sins. In Hebrews: 9:14 we read " .. the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may Serve The Living God". Yes the blood of Christ has cleansed us from our sins so that we can serve God as per his will.
So when we give all our burdens to Jesus we will be able to take up his yoke and only then God will show his hearts desire to you and when you do his will there is high Joy and peace. Remember, that Jesus carried all our burdens, sins and sickness on the cross and won over it, through him we will always have victory over our needs and burdens if you cast on him. So as a first step lets cast all our cares and burdens on Jesus and wait in his presence in fasting and Prayer with a available heart to know his will.
Once we have this understanding and deliverance lets help the oppressed who are still burdened with sins, cares of world etc to be free by casting the burdens to Jesus.