Daily Word
Prepared By: Suzy Naber
In this part two of "Fasting" we will consider the purpose for fasting.
1) We fast to develop a righteous heart: One of the reasons we should fast is to purify and cleanse our hearts from all unrighteousness. Fasting is a way that enlarges us to develop a love toward others. When we fast, we get our flesh out of the way so the Spirit of God can move in our lives and help us develop a loving heart to care for the needs of the poor and the oppressed just as Jesus did. We have to touch people’s lives; to share food and feed the hungry, to shelter the poor when they are homeless, to clothe the naked, and to visit the sick. (Read again Isaiah 58)
2) We fast for purity: Fasting exposes all hidden and covered sins buried deep in our hearts that only God sees. It will reveal to us the things that control us, such pain, pride, or anger.
3) We fast for true repentance: Fasting is a supernatural means of true, heartfelt, lasting repentance. True repentance gains God's mercy and forgiveness. Joel 2:12 "Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping, and mourning."
4) We fast to get rid of unforgiveness and bitterness: Fasting humbles us and brings clarity and allows getting unforgiveness and bitterness out of our hearts, especially since unforgiveness and bitterness can be linked to illness, stress, fatigues, sin.
5) We fast to humble ourselves before God: Forgiveness is linked with humility. True humility gets God's attention and is the pathway to God's blessing. God resists or opposes those who do not walk in humility. (1 Pet 5:5-6) for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
(Ezra 8:21) Ezra knew that the only way to get God’s full attention and assistance was through true humility; "then I proclaimed a fast...that we might humble ourselves before God." (2 Chronicles 7:14) "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
6) We fast to hear the voice of God in decision-making: We want God's answer not ours! Fasting says, “Not my will but yours Father; ‘teach me your ways O Lord." Fasting removes the barriers to communication with God and helps us to be guided by His Spirit. We need to fast when confusion sets and when we have important decisions to make, such us marriage, new job, new project, new plan, etc.
(Daniel 9:3) "Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes."
Acts 13:2-3… "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them".
7) We fast to have our problems solved: When we face hardship and attacks in our lives, we need to fast and pray for God to interfere. God always reward our prayers and fasting "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God". (Acts 10:4)
8) We fast to have physical needs met
9) we fast to receive healing and wholeness of the body
10) We fast to conquer mental and emotional problems
11) We fast for understanding and divine revelation: Daniel needed spiritual insight and understanding of the Word of God. In response to his fast, God sent an angel to help him understand the meaning of the vision he saw. (Daniel 9:20-23). In fact, Daniel's life is full of divine revelation, visions and interpretation of visions. :
12) We fast for spiritual breakthroughs and revival in our lives
13) Fast to avoid disaster and destruction: In II Chronicles 20:9 "The people cried out to God and declared, Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, disease, or famine, we come to stand in your presence before this temple where your name is honored. We cry out to you and you will hear us and rescue us". Read also Joel 1:12-14, 2:12-17,
14) Fasting will Release Spiritual Power in Our Life and will rid us from demonic addictions; such as pornography, homosexuality, adultery, fornication, lust and many more. If we have children trapped in spirits of drugs, alcohol and every sort of addiction, fasting and praying will absolutely break those spirits off our children's lives.
In the book of Judges, chapters 19 and 20 we read the story where fasting made a great difference in battle against a people overcome with sexual perversion. God sent a prophet with a message to fast and pray. So after fasting, this power was broken and defeated.
15) Fasting breaks down barriers and strongholds in the spirit realm: Fasting and prayer is a powerful spiritual weapon that will effectively defeat all demonic forces and will set us free from demonic bondage. In Matthew 17:14-21 we read the story of the son who had seizures and was tormented by a demon. Jesus rebuked this stubborn demon and the demon left him. Then Jesus said, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting." Supernatural things could be released only through fasting and praying; "For nothing shall be impossible"
There are many other reasons to fast.
Conclusion: If we are serious about seeing the miraculous in our lives, in our families and communities, then we need to fast. Fasting causes us to focus directly on our Creator and Lord. This is where our true strength comes from. I challenge you to fight a good fight and win the battle through fasting. It is time to press on to full and complete victory! God releases supernatural blessing in fasting and praying
Scriptures to Read: The book of Daniel
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to realize the importance of fasting and help me to make fasting a life style in my spiritual walk with you. Thank you Lord. Amen.
November, 21, 2006 11:16 PM