Read Luke 4:14-19
[Jesus reading from Isaiah]
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”
Luke 4:18-19 (NLT)
Fasting is an effective addition to prayer because the discomfort reminds us of our purpose—that we are praying to God and listening for His direction. Jesus’ experience in Luke is typical of many examples in Scripture—fasting and praying, listening, and then acting in the power of the Holy Spirit.