I’ve witnessed God perform miracles through fasting and prayer. Many years ago, Angie and I had been married for three months and were preparing to move to Lynchburg, Virginia, to attend Liberty University. We needed to sell our car for $3,500 to cover my first semester of tuition. It was Wednesday, and we were moving on Saturday, June 3. Despite being listed in the newspaper for a week, we hadn’t received any calls.
I decided to fast and pray for 24 hours, which felt daunting—just water for 24 hours. I asked God to help us sell the car by Thursday, so we could go to the bank on Friday, and move on Saturday. At the end of the 24 hours, I was on my knees, and I prayed, “Lord, let the phone ring when I say ‘Amen.'” The moment I finished praying, the phone rang. A lady wanted to buy the car and meet at the bank on Friday morning. As soon as I hung up, the phone rang again—a man wanted the car and gave me his number in case the first offer fell through. Then, the phone rang a third time with another interested buyer. After fasting and praying for 24 hours, we had three offers!
We moved to Lynchburg on June 3 with $3,500, which was to cover my first semester of tuition! Prayer is powerful but fasting and prayer together—buckle up! You gain an authority, an anointing, and God’s supplemental power that you wouldn’t have otherwise.
In 2010, I found myself at a crossroads, searching for God’s call in my life and without work. Out of the blue, one of my former professors at Liberty University, Elmer Towns, reached out to check in. After learning about my situation, he presented a suggestion that would change my life: fast and pray for three days. I decided to take his advice and dedicated 72 hours to fasting and prayer.
As soon as I completed my fast, I received a phone call that would shape my future. It was from Tim Wildman from American Family Radio, asking if I would host a radio show. This show would later morph into what is now Exploring the Word, where Bert Harper and I teach the Bible and take phone calls from listeners. Fast forward to today, and we have completed 3,000 Exploring the Word shows!
This experience has taught me the incredible power of fasting and prayer. I urge the church to embrace these practices for spiritual victory. Through fasting and prayer, we draw closer to Jesus, realizing that He is our source of blessing, direction, and spiritual breakthrough. It’s important to understand that God is not a vending machine, and Jesus is not a Keurig where we press a button and get what we want. Instead, fasting and prayer require discipline and hard work, but the rewards are profound.
I have witnessed people getting saved and financial needs being met through the power of prayer. Prayer is indeed work, and we must commit to the discipline and effort it requires. Let us all strive to deepen our relationship with Jesus through fasting and prayer, and experience the transformative power it brings to our lives.
(Editor's Note: This blog was posted first on Dr. McFarland's website HERE.)
