Some quotes for reflection

"Fasting possesses great power. If practiced with the right intention, it makes one a friend of God. The demons are aware of that."--Quintus Tertullian (160-220 A.D.; Christian Ecclesiastical author, perhaps most famous for coining the term ''Trinity')

"Fasting with a pure heart and motives, I have discovered, brings personal revival and adds power to our prayers. Personal revival occurs because fasting is an act of humility. Fasting gives opportunity for deeper humility as we recognize our sins, repent, receive God's forgiveness, and experience His cleansing of our soul and spirit. Fasting also demonstrates our love for God and our full confidence in His faithfulness."--Bill Bright (1921-2003; "The Coming Revival"; American founder of "Campus Crusade for Christ")

"Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, and kindles the true light of chastity. Enter again into yourself."--Saint Augustine (354-430 A.D.; "On Prayer and Fasting," Sermon lxxii; Doctor of the Catholic Church)

"Every request needs humility of spirit. Fast then, and you will receive from the Lord what you ask." - "When you are going to fast, observe it in this way: first, avoid any evil and desire, and purify your heart of all the vain things in the world. Your fast will be perfect if you do this."--Hermas (A.D. 55-150; "The Shepherd"; Roman Christian)

A fast is not a hunger strike. Fasting submits to God's commands. A hunger strike makes God submit to our demands.

Fasting is important, more important perhaps, than many of us have supposed,... when exercised with a pure heart and a right motive, fasting may provide us with a key to unlock doors where other keys have failed; a window opening up new horizons in the unseen world; a spiritual weapon of God's provision, mighty, to the pulling down of strongholds. Arthur Wallis

In Shansi I found Chinese Christians who were accustomed to spend time in fasting and prayer. They recognized that this fasting, which so many dislike, which requires faith in God, since it makes one feel weak and poorly, is really a Divinely appointed means of grace. Perhaps the greatest hindrance to our work is our own imagined strength; and in fasting we learn what poor, weak creatures we are - dependent on a meal of meat for the little strength which we are so apt to lean upon. James Hudson Taylor