DAY 2

Fasting for Protection, Victory and Provision

Fasting is particularly effective when the people of God fast together, as it positions us for spiritual protection, provision, and victory. There are some wonderful biblical examples of this.

The book of Ezra recounts the long-awaited return of Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem. It was an arduous journey fraught with danger, so Ezra ‘…proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and pray for wise guidance for our journey – all our people and possessions… so we fasted and prayed about these concerns. And he listened.’ (Ezra 8:21-23) God protected and guided them, as Ezra goes on to say, ‘And the hand of our God was upon us, he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road’ (Ezra 8:31). It's so good to know that when we fast and pray in faith, according to God’s will, He listens.

Similarly, when faced with a vast army rising up against him, King Jehoshaphat acknowledged his powerlessness and, ‘…proclaimed a fast for all of Judah. The people of God came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek the Lord’ (2 Chronicles 20:3b-4). In that environment of collective fasting, the King prayed a powerful prayer of humility and dependence, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (vs. 12). The Lord answered with a prophetic encouragement and promise of His help. Jehoshaphat and his army then advanced with the weapons of praise, and God gave them a total victory. Let’s believe as we worship, pray and fast, that we will see a fresh release of spiritual breakthroughs during this time. 

We also read of another stunning account of the power of fasting in the book of Esther. Queen Esther averted a plot to annihilate the Jewish people when she called a three day fast for her people, enabling her to find favour with the King which eventually led to the exposing of the evil scheme, and resulted in the death of Haman, the perpetrator (see the book of Esther).

Fasting also positions us for greater provision in every area of our lives. In Isaiah 58, the Lord exhorts the people to combine their fasting, with caring for the needs of others, “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58:6-7) When we fast, pray, and give to those in need, we have the wonderful promise that God will take care of us, too: ‘Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rearguard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say, “Here am I.”’ (Isaiah 58:8-9) Wow, what incredible promises!

So, ask yourself this question, ‘What am I going to fast from today?’