Tony Evans Speaks Out On Fasting
"Are you willing to give up your steak and potatoes to gain spiritual  riches?Sometimes it's hard to make the concentrated effort of prayer.   When the need is urgent, God has prescribed an urgent method.  Tony Evans asks,"How badly do you want an answer?  How much do you want deliverance from  that destructive habit?  How badly do you want to save your marriage?   Do you want it enough to give up food, or some other gratification?  Then come  before God with prayer and praise in fasting." Fasting is a way you can  make a special link with Him when you need a spiritual breakthrough. Fasting  can help the believer-get in touch with God without distractions-pursue  God's grace-step onto the path of humility-achieve spiritual victory-wait  before the LordFasting is an appropriate response to physical or emotional  needs, difficult circumstances or relationships, challenges in ministry, or times  we need specific direction.  "Fasting is not just an aside to the Christian  life, but essential to the life that pleases God."TONY EVANS is senior  pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church in Dallas, and president of The Urban  Alternative, a ministry devoted to promoting a clear understanding and relevant  application of Scripture in order to bring about change in urban communities through  the church.  He is author of many books, includingThe Battle is the Lord's,  Our God is Awesome, Returning to Your First Love, The Promise, Who is This King  of Glory?, What Matters Most,andThe Best is Yet to Come.