Is this not the Fast which I choose

Is this not the fast which I choose …… Isaiah 58:6

The word ‘fast’ in Hebrew means to cover your mouth; that is, to seal your mouth. The essence of fast is for spiritual uplifting. Fasting is a very important part of our relationship with God.

Fasting always goes with prayer, fasting without prayer and meditation in the word is hunger strike. Fasting and prayer is one of the most powerful spiritual combinations on earth. True fasting brings humility and alignment with God. It breaks the power of flesh and demons. It kills unbelief and brings answers to prayer when nothing else works.

It has been well said that prayer is not preparation for the battle - prayer IS the battle. And of all the things we can do to enhance the power and focus of prayer, fasting is doubtless the most potent. 

This is where the power is at, because fasting puts us in harmony with an All Powerful God who demands humility from those who wish to be close to Him. Fasting humbles the flesh. When it is done for that purpose, it pleases the Spirit of God.

You can go a certain distance in God, and experience many things, without fasting much, but the highest, richest and most powerful blessings always go to those who together with other disciplines, fast much unto God. The most significant Biblical characters, with the possible exception of Abraham, were all men of fasting and prayer. Jesus, the Son of God, was a man of fasting and prayer (Matthew 4:2). So was the apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 11:27). Moses fasted 80 days. Elijah fasted 40 days. The early church fasted before starting any major work. The greatest spiritual leaders of the 20th century who are making an impact are all men of fasting of prayer to my knowledge. Anyone who started a significant spiritual movement in Christianity was, to the best of my knowledge - Luther, Wesley, Finney, Booth were all men of fasting. In our day, Cho, Bonnke, Osborn are all men of much fasting. If done right, fasting counts a lot with God.

Fasting gives you God's focus for your life. It is a major key to hearing God's voice (the other is true worship - the two are related). We need focus from God more than anything. The world we live in is working overtime to distract us, to entice us, to win our hearts and minds, our focus, and to determine our vision. Fasting cuts out the world so we can tune into God. If we are obedient to God fasting will make us catalysts for revival and awakening.

I will like to conclude with Isaiah 58:8-12, these are amazing  things to expect when you fast. If you desire any of these, then pray and fast.

“Then your light will break out like the dawn, your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. ⁹ “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am. If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, ¹⁰ And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday. ¹¹ “And the Lord will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.¹² “Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell.”

Taking New Territories

You are gods the Children of the most high...

In view of the above we are expected to conduct our affair like the most High to get the kind of result attributed to the most High. Hebrew 11: 2 'By faith our ancestors won approval'(International Standard version) and the first of 'our ancestor' mention was God Himself creating the world by Faith (Hebrews 11:3). It is wise for us as it is written to follow those through Faith and Patience inherit the promise. Our best example is God Himself.

Lesson from the Story of Creation......

Genesis 1:1, In the beginning God made the Heaven and the Earth and the earth was without form and void and darkness (confusion) was upon the face of the deep. Do you sense chaos, confusion, disorder, pandemonium, entropy, mayhem in any aspect of your life or are any of these the word to describe your present situation. Here is the good news; you are not the first to be in such situation, God was in a situation like that some years back and He found a way out. Yippee, there is a way out. Now let's see how God worked Himself out of Chaos.

Before you start praying...... PAUSE

Genesis 1:3, And God said, let there be light (illumination). This signifies understanding. Adjust your perspective, analyze the situation, use you head. This will help you know where and how to direct your prayer. Your life as a Christian is a covenant life: that means you have a part to play. Don’t just go to God and drop all you problem at His feet. Don’t be like he that is fighting against the wind. Don’t just expend strength without result. Have you been praying about a situation for a long time, does it look like you have been exacting strength in the place of prayer and no result? May be it is time to adjust your perspective; time to use your head. Ephesians 5:15 (MSG) ‘So watch your step. Use your head.’

...... To be continued