There is power in sacrifice. Fasting and prayer can bring us closer to our Savior and grant us greater access to his power.
Recently, my family and I fasted and prayed at the request of two of my brothers. They needed to make a difficult decision for their company and wanted divine help. One of their employees had been very vocal against the new direction my brothers wanted to take their company, and they were worried about how this employee would respond to changes. As I began my fast, I felt prompted to ask God to soften this employee’s heart and help my brothers know the right words to say. Later, when my brothers talked to the employee, they were shocked when the employee humbly accepted their decision.
In her article “Relief Through Jesus Christ: The Power of the Fast,” Sister Kristin M. Yee shares her testimony of the power of fasting. As Sister Yee pondered her experiences with fasting, a question entered her mind: “Where do you think the strength to do the impossible has come from all these years?” She realized that the blessings of fasting have been an integral part of her life.
Sister Yee describes fasting as “a privilege and blessing.” Fasting can draw us closer to the Savior, inviting Christ’s healing and enabling power into our lives (see Isaiah 58:6). Our fast offerings can bless others and bring relief to our own hearts. Finally, fasting can help the Savior restore our paths; when we face uncertainty, broken relationships, or spiritual fatigue, fasting opens the way for revelation and renewed strength.
While there are circumstances that make fasting from food or water difficult or impossible, this does not cut us off from Jesus Christ’s power through the fast. Sister Yee reminds us of President Russell M. Nelson’s counsel to “decide what would constitute a sacrifice for you,” and remember the Savior’s sacrifice.
As we seek the Savior through sincere sacrifice, fasting becomes a sacred gift—blessing others, drawing us closer to Christ, and allowing him to guide our path. When I fasted for my brothers, we saw an immediate miracle, but God has blessed me with his power in small and simple ways during many fasts throughout my life. As Sister Yee promises, we can approach our next fast with faith, and “the Lord will bring His spiritual and temporal relief to you and me—and to His children in need.”
To learn more about the power of fasting, read Sister Kristin M. Yee’s full Liahona article, “Relief Through Jesus Christ: The Power of the Fast.”
Source: Liahona
—Janna Miller, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY HANNAH BUSING
Find more insights
To learn about additional benefits of fasting, read Kelly Pratt’s Latter-day Saint Insights article “Fruits of the Fast.”
For guidance in accessing God’s power, read President Russell M. Nelson’s general conference talk “Opening the Heavens for Help.”