Fasting - Part 11

As a church we started a 21 day fast Sunday, January 4th at sundown. Over the next few weeks I will be doing a series of blog posts to further explain the biblical practice of fasting.

In the last post we talked about the idea that fasting is not currency with which you purchase products or goods from God. With that said, petitioning God for a need through prayer and fasting is totally acceptable. The difference in the two approaches is this: One says, "God you owe me and I'm twisting your arm to make you pay up", and the other says, "God you are sovereign and I realize every need I have is met in and through You". When it comes to our approach to God the heart matters, and nothing whips our heart into shape faster than fasting.

Here are some examples from the Bible of people who petitioned God with prayer and fasting, and what they were petitioning God for:
*note these nine examples are from an article titled nine reasons for fasting by Jentezen Franklin

1. "The Disciples Fast" is a fast that frees you from addictions to sin or besetting sins as referred to in Hebrews 12:1. Besetting sins are those that ensnare us and hinders us from achieving God's purpose for our lives.
2. "The Ezra Fast" is found in the book of Ezra (Ezra 8:21). Ezra had been given silver and gold to take back to Jerusalem from King Artaxerxes. But there was a problem - thieves!
3. "The Samuel Fast" When the Phillistines were preparing to attack Israel, Samuel declared a fast for national revival. Samuel told the people to fast and seek God to return His poresence to the nation (1 Samuel 7:3).
4. "The Elijah Fast" One of the most powerful fasts is the Elijah fast. It breaks negative emotional feelings and habits. When Jezebel sent word that she wanted to kill Elijah he became so distraught that he was an emotional wreck (1 Kings 19:4). He was depressed... even suicidal.
5. "The Widows Fast" is about meeting the humanitarian needs of other people while you are fasting. In 1 Kings 17:10-16, we read the vivid story about a woman with very little who helped the man of God, Elijah. It was all part of God's plan.
6. "The Paul Fast" Are you faced with a major life decision and don't know what to do? Maybe you have a job opportunity... a broken relationship... or an unfulfilled dream. God has provided a way you can discern His voice - "The Paul Fast." Saul was going the wrong way in life. He was hunting down followers of Christ and persecuting them when the light of God's truth knocked him off his path (Acts 9:3-6).
7. "The Daniel Fast" When we look at the Daniel fast, this fast is partial and a prolonged fast that yields health and healing. Found in Daniel chapter 10, the Daniel fast is a fast from meats, sweets, breads and any drink but water for 21 days (Daniel 10:2-3).
8. "The John the Baptist Fast" John and his disciples fasted often, according to Matthew 9. He was on the Nazarite diet, which fasted alcohol all the time. He ate little more than locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:1-4). Because of John the Baptist's constant fasting, I believe he had greater testimony and influence on the lives of people in his generation than any other man (Matthew 11:1, John 1:6-7).
9. "The Esther Fast" is the fast for "protection against danger." We live in a world full of predators, disasters, and evil. But don't live in fear. God has provided the blessing of protection.