21 Days of Prayer - Day 11 - The Esther Fast - Protection From Danger

Day 11, January 15, 2020 

The Esther Fast - Protection From Danger

We have an enemy that seeks to steal, kill and destroy. We are reminded in scripture to resist the devil.

Esther was a Jewish young lady in the Persian empire under the king Xerxes when Israel was about 70 years into the captivity.  She was made queen. 

During this time the King had a commander of his named Haaman who hated the Jews and wanted to kill all of them.

Esther’s uncle Mordocai discovered the plot and let Esther know. He reminded her that she was in the position as queen for a reason.

Esther 4:13-14

13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

She realizes this and asks Mordecai and others to join her in a fast.

Esther 4:16

16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Fasting is a strategic thing to do. When we have important decisions call a fast. It can be just for a meal, a day, whatever. But take time to focus in on what God may be leading you to do.

Let your attitude be as hers.  “If I perish, I perish, but I’m going to serve God.”

I would also add the value of praying scripture. Getting God’s word into us brings a boldness. Our nice little devotional time gets the word in us and we receive a boldness. That boldness then allows us to take that “devotional” word and transform it into an offensive weapon.. The sword of the Spirit.

When we fast and get God’s word into us, we receive boldness to do what He wants us to do. We take the enemy and whatever He tries, captive.

2 Corinthians 10:5 New International Version (NIV)

5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

So today, be sure to take time to fast and put God’s word into your life and receive boldness and victory.

21 Days of Prayer - The John the Baptist Fast - Day 10 - January 14, 2020

Day 10, January 12, 2020 

The John the Baptist Influence - Influence and Ministry

John the Baptist had quite a fast.. Eating locusts and honey.

His disciples fasted as well.

But Jesus has this amazing thing to say about John.

Matthew 11:11-12 (NLT)

“I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! 12 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing,[a] and violent people are attacking it.

You might be thinking “how can I be greater than John the Baptist?”

However, with the Holy Spirit living within us, He (Holy Spirit) brings us His power and capacity to be greater than John the Baptist.. Do greater things.. Do have increased and influential ministry.

A lifestyle of fasting enables this.

Generally not a lot happens during the fast, but after the fast, break throughs and influence and effectiveness occur.

The great song writers and theologians Charles and John Wesley taught that we should have several times a week. They founded the Methodist Church.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NIV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

We are all ministers! He has committed us the message of reconciliation. 

We are all messengers. We are His ambassadors to make appeals on behalf of Christ for and to others.

We need the Holy Spirit to fill us and to guide us; and we need to observe fasting.

21 Days of Prayer - Day 9 The Daniel Fast - January 13, 2020

Day 9, January 11, 2020 

The Daniel Fast - Health and Healing

Daniel a young man brought into the pagan palace of the King of Babylon. 

But because of the way he lived his life, he had great influence.  This can be true of each of us. By watching the way we live, we can have influence in pagan places.

I want to live my life in such a way in which I don’t compromise my principles and then be asked by those in other places for advice. 

Daniel was a faster. He had this lifestyle .. perhaps not 21 days of prayer but he did pray 3 times a day.

Daniel 1:11-15 (NIV)

11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.

They looked better because they did not indulge into a world’s lifestyle. It’s OK for a Christian to live an empowered life.. Perhaps restrictive. You don’t have to but you want to because your life looks different at the other side because we will not indulge.

Daniel 10:1-3 (NIV)

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war.[a] The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

What stands out to me is that fasting serves more reasons than just the spiritual. It disconnects us from the world and to God. So it does serve the spiritual purpose.

However from a medical reason, there are incredible medical benefits in which your body gets rid of dangerous toxins that get stored up in your body. So could not the God who created your body, not only make something that was good for spiritual, but also for us physically. 

Fasting also helps your soul. Our soul craves things. Our soul gets emotional and wants things. Sometimes that part of us can rule the roost, or call the shots. So many people are addicted and while this is physical, it is also emotional. Those emotions talk them into taking things they should not.  But if you are fasting and telling your soul “no”, you are breaking the back of addiction. We can be blessed because we are not letting our feelings and emotions rule us.

So during this 21 days, pray and seek God for what type of fast you should do. Remember, God wants you whole.  

3rd John 1:2

2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

God wants your body healthy. He wants your soul healthy and He wants your spirit healthy.  

So let’s seek that out this week, and pray that as well for others. In Jesus name!