For people who want to achieve certain "breakthroughs" in their personal lives concerning family matters, marriages, ministries, and businesses, it might be a good idea to go on a prayer and fasting commitment.

"Both prayer and fasting are supernatural weapons of spiritual warfare, and when used together, they cause us to become lethal to the enemy's plans formed against us," writes healing evangelist Becky Dvorak in an article for Charisma News. 

In fact, the practice of fasting has been mentioned at least 80 times throughout the Bible, and 30 of these verses are found in the New Testament.

Unfortunately, Dvorak says that most Christians do not use these powerful weapons. She cites the Bible verse Matthew 26:41 as the reason why: "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

"It takes obedience and discipline to activate the power of prayer and fasting," she says. "Prayer and fasting are spiritual disciplines. Just as godly parents train and discipline their children in the ways of the Lord, so too, our heavenly Father loves us and knows what we have need of."

Dvorak says that God understands what is best for His people so they need to activate their "spiritual weapons" and practice obedience and discipline.

According to her, there are several spiritual benefits associated with prayer and fasting. These are protection from one's enemies, victory over temptations, deliverance from evil spirits, repentance and revival, restoration, and release into ministry.

As for the physical benefits, fasting detoxifies one's body from impurities, resets hormones, and lowers weight, cholesterol levels, and even high blood pressure.

"Prayer and fasting have both physical and spiritual benefits for us, but even more importantly, they are heavenly weapons that when used together cause spiritual breakthrough for us," says Dvorak.