Here are
the final biblical fasts from our Scripture model in Isaiah 58:6–9a (NKJV) in
yesterday’s devotion.
June’s Awakening, Day 1
4. The
Elijah Fast: “To break every yoke.”—Fasting to conquer mental and emotional
problems that would otherwise control our lives.
Then
Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more
also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about
this time.” And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to
Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. Then as he lay
and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise
and eat.” Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and
a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the
Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat,
because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose, and ate and drank; and
he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as
Horeb, the mountain of God. Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain
before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind
tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the
Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was
not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in
the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings
19:2–3, 5–8, 11–12 NKJV
5. The
Widow’s Fast: “To share bread with the hungry and care for the
poor.”—Fasting to provide for the humanitarian needs of others.
So
he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city,
indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said,
“Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” And as she was
going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread
in your hand.” So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread,
only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am
gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my
son, that we may eat it, and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and
do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to
me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord
God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil
run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ ” 1 Kings 17:10–14 NKJV
6. The
Saint Paul Fast: “To allow God’s light to break forth like the
morning.”—Fasting for insight and decision making.
Then
Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But
they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days
without sight, and neither ate nor drank. And Ananias went his way and entered
the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus,
who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive
your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his
eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and
was baptized. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul
spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Acts
9:8–9, 17–19 NKJV
7. The
Daniel Fast: “So your healing shall spring forth speedily.”—Fasting for
good health and physical healing.
“Please
test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and
water to drink. Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the
appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and
as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” So he consented with them in this
matter, and tested them ten days. And at the end of ten days their features
appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion
of the king’s delicacies. Thus the steward took away their portion of
delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. As
for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature
and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Daniel
1:12–17 NKJV
8. The
John the Baptist Fast: “Your righteousness shall go before you.”—Fasting
for an influential testimony to others.
Now
John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist;
and his food was locusts and wild honey. Matthew 3:4 NKJV
For
he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor
strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his
mother’s womb. Luke 1:15 NKJV
9. The
Esther Fast: “The glory of the Lord would protect us.”—Fasting for
protection from evil and Satan.
“Go,
gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat
nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And
so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
Esther 4:16 NKJV
As you can see, depending on your
spiritual need, you can put together multiple ways to fast and various ways to
focus your fast for your desired spiritual and physical result. Even if only
done on rare occasions, the spiritual discipline of fasting, done in concert
with prayer and the other disciplines, can truly allow for spiritual
breakthroughs.
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