I’m as guilty of skipping over this as anyone else

May 17, 2026

Entrusted to the Lord

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When they had appointed elders for them in the various churches, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the protection of the Lord in whom they had believed.

Acts 14:23 (NET)

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Just the other day my church did a commissioning for a couple new elders.

One thing we missed doing in the church service itself was fasting for them.

Although we did pray.

Fasting is often tied to prayer and yet so few of us make it a regular practice of our walk with Jesus.

I’m as guilty of skipping over that as anyone else.

Sure I can make some time for prayer, especially early in the morning as part of my normal time alone with God routine.

But fasting?

That one seems to require a bit more discipline and I too often neglect it.

Here we have an example showing the importance of adding fasting to prayer.

Because this story in Acts is showing us what did happen rather than prescribing what should happen, it’s important to take it with a grain of salt.

In other words, I don’t take this as a decree to commission with prayer & fasting (at least from this verse). But I do take it as a prime example to follow.

Of course not everyone can reasonably add fasting to their routines.

It’s important to listen to your body and your doctor.

Yet the times that I have fasted from food and spent time concentrating on prayer have been sweet indeed.

Sweet enough for me to know from personal experience that it’s a great habit to add.

Something I will be doing soon.

— Ricky Ketchum

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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