Fasting Together: Is there POWER in fasting? Satan would love for us to stay in the dark about the benefits of fasting! Whatever you choose, there are no rules, it is between you and God, so fast unto the Lord and pray, asking Him to root out the ugly and replace it with His grace, wisdom and spiritual clarity. He will do it!
Daniel was in a battle with the spirit world when he went on his 21 days of fasting and prayer. Satan and his cohorts resisted the angels that were to be sent for an answer to his prayers, but finally, they were able to break through. The earth began to quake and the men that were with Daniel fled because of fear! You can read of this battle in Daniel the tenth chapter.
Twenty-one days Daniel had been fasting…no pleasant bread, no flesh (meat) and no wine touched his lips. Basically fruits, vegetables, whole grains and only water to drink. (Don’t forget your water, so very important!) He was humbling himself before God and denying himself things that he would normally enjoy. And when he did that, look what happened: It shook heaven and hell.
Is there power in fasting? Yes!
Does it matter if we do it or not? Yes!
The spirit world is real. Angels are working on our behalf and God wants to release power like we have never seen before in these last days. However, we must do our part. We are not going to experience it just sitting around doing nothing.
Lack of knowledge of the power of fasting keeps us from experiencing the rewards that come with it!
Daniel has a vision at the end of this three week fast: “In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision. In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.” Daniel 10:1-3 ESV.
Three weeks of fasting had made Daniel very weak and he says to the angel, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.” Daniel 10:16, 17 ESV. The angel immediately responds!
“Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said, ‘O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.’ And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.’” Daniel 10:18, 19 ESV.
He was strengthened over and over again in this encounter with the angels. He had finished his three week fast and was physically without strength. The Bible even says that the man in the vision tells Daniel that Michael, the archangel and this other angel were fighting together in the spirit world for Daniel!
Daniel was fasting unto the Lord. Jehovah didn’t turn his back on Daniel but honored his sacrifice and his commitment and sent warrior angels on his behalf. (We will explore this story more in depth in a later post.)
He will do the same for you.
Fast as unto the Lord. Watch and see what will happen in your life this year when you put fasting and prayer together.
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