Fasting is
a powerful weapon in your spiritual arsenal. It takes understanding, planning,
preparation, and determination. Commitment and dedication bring results.
May’s Awakening, Day 31
Your fast
should always have a methodology—limited physical activity with a focus on
heightened spiritual awareness, a definite set of objectives and plan with
proper preparation both mentally and physically, keeping a journal record, and
the gradual process and means of breaking the fast and a return to normal
eating and activities. Obviously, the longer the fast the more important and
detailed your methodology must be. Additionally, the longer the fast the more
physical changes that your body will undergo. In extended fasts, the first
three days are usually the most difficult as your body adjusts, with many
disagreeable symptoms along with hunger, but then the body cycles into a more
comfortable zone for a time and then cycles back into a zone of hunger and
difficulty again. The more you know and are prepared with proper expectations,
the more beneficial the fast will be. It is essential to consult proper and
pertinent information on extended fasting before attempting to do so. Elmer
Towns’ book, Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough, is a great resource.
From that
same book, here are the nine biblical fasts described in the Bible:
The
Biblical Fasting Model is found in Isaiah 58:3–9a NKJV
‘Why
have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our
souls, and You take no notice?’ “In fact, in the day of your fast you find
pleasure, And exploit all your laborers. Indeed you fast for strife and debate,
And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this
day, To make your voice heard on high. Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day
for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And
to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an
acceptable day to the Lord? “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the
oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share
your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who
are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself
from your own flesh? Then your light
shall break forth like the morning, Your
healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord
shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
1. The
Disciple’s Fast: “To loose the bonds of wickedness.”—Fasting for freedom
from addiction or a besetting sin.
So
Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if
you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from
here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Matthew
17:20–21 NKJV
2. The
Ezra Fast: “To undo the heavy burdens.”—Fasting to solve debilitating
problems.
Then
I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves
before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and
all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of
soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had
spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who
seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.”
So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer. Ezra
8:21–23 NKJV
3. The
Samuel Fast: “To let the oppressed go free.”—Fasting for revival and
soul-winning for Christ.
So
it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty
years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. Then Samuel spoke
to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the Lord with all your
hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and
prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you
from the hand of the Philistines.” And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to
Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” So they gathered together at
Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the Lord. And they fasted that
day, and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the
children of Israel at Mizpah. 1 Samuel 7:2–3, 5–6 NKJV
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