Many people think discipline is only about habits, schedules, and routines. But true discipline is deeply spiritual. It is about mastering your flesh through the power of your spirit. Prayer and fasting are not just religious acts; they are spiritual weapons that build strength, restore control, and bring you closer to God’s will for your life.
Understanding the Spiritual Battle
As many of you know, I am extremely spiritual. My belief in God and my faith that Jesus sent His only begotten Son to save us from our sins guide every part of my life. I strive to live by biblical principles as much as possible.
One thing I have realized on this journey toward greater discipline is that I have a hard time letting go of my desires. I think most people can relate to that. We all struggle to resist temptation when our flesh feels stronger than our spirit. And when your flesh is stronger than your spirit, you will almost always lose the battle of discipline.
That is why one of the most powerful practices I can recommend, both spiritually and personally, is prayer and fasting.
The Power of Prayer
Prayer, to me, is a divine form of meditation. When you pray, everything created by God, the heavens, the earth, the living, and even the non-living, listens. Everything that exists was spoken into existence by God’s word. That means when you pray, you are speaking directly to God and to the reality He created.
Your words carry power. God said that those with the faith of a mustard seed can move mountains. While you cannot literally ask a mountain to move, your faith allows you to move spiritual mountains, those invisible barriers in your life. Your words, spoken in faith, activate God’s will around you.
Prayer is not only communication; it is creation. You are setting yourself apart, allowing miracles to manifest through your faith, and aligning your words with the divine order of the world.
The Power of Fasting
Fasting is another discipline that God calls us to practice throughout Scripture. When we read the Bible, we often see fasting connected to moments of great spiritual warfare or preparation.
One story that stands out is when the disciples tried to cast out a demon but could not. When they asked Jesus why, He told them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29, ESV).
That story shows us that some battles cannot be won through prayer alone. Fasting strengthens the spirit while weakening the flesh. It breaks the hold of temptation and gives you victory over spiritual attacks that influence your physical desires.
When you struggle to resist temptation, whether it is lust, addiction, greed, or anything else, it is often more than just a habit. It is a spiritual battle. Those urges and cravings are spiritual influences trying to keep your flesh in control. Fasting is your weapon of resistance.
Why Fasting Matters
When you fast, you are starving the things that connect you too strongly to the world. You are denying the flesh to strengthen the spirit. Scripture reminds us that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4, ESV).
We are not just physical beings; we are spiritual ones. Fasting, whether it is from food or from a worldly desire, teaches us how to live by the Spirit and not by our appetites. It is one of the most powerful ways to build true discipline.
Food Fast vs. Desire Fast
A food fast is about submission. It is a way of saying, “Lord, I acknowledge Your presence and I submit my body to You.” Sacrifice and obedience are two of God’s greatest love languages. When you fast, you humble yourself before God, recognizing that you are not in control. He is.
A food fast conditions your body and mind. It is a spiritual detox that clears space for God’s voice and repositions you in alignment with His will. We see examples of this in the Bible, Esther fasted for three days, and Daniel refused the king’s food to stay pure before God.
A desire fast, however, may be even more challenging. This is where you consciously abstain from the things you crave, the things that give you temporary satisfaction but may not align with God’s will.
If you cannot resist certain desires like pornography, sex outside of marriage, alcohol, excessive entertainment, or the constant pursuit of money, you may be under spiritual attack. The inability to resist is not just a lack of willpower; it is often evidence of a spiritual hold.
When you fast from these things, you are starving demonic access to your flesh. You are declaring that your spirit rules over your body, not the other way around.
Reclaiming Spiritual Strength
Prayer and fasting together reestablish your strength in the Spirit. They break the connection between your temptations and your identity. They teach you to find fulfillment in God rather than in your desires.
If you truly want to become more disciplined, challenge yourself. Fast from what weakens you. Pray daily. Ask the Lord to reveal the areas in your life that have spiritual strongholds.
If you struggle with lust, pray and fast. If you struggle with greed, pray and fast. If you feel lost or easily distracted, pray and fast.
Through prayer and fasting, you will not only build discipline but also spiritual authority. You will remind your flesh that it does not control you. You will allow God to lead you, strengthen you, and restore you in the process.
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