"Taking Action in Fasting"

ESTHER 4:15-16 (NLT)

“Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”

OH, BLESS THE LORD, OH MY SOUL AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME! LET US LIFT UP PRAISES AND WORSHIP TO THE KING OF KINGS!  SAINTS, I THANK GOD FOR YOU ALWAYS.  I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR WEEK THUS FAR AND CONTINUE TO LET JESUS BE THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE.

We serve an amazing God, that when we desire to draw near to Him, His Word promises that He will draw closer to us (James 4:8). As the days, weeks, and months go by, it’s imperative that we encourage each other in the Word of God. Daily, there is a wrestling that takes place within our flesh, which is presented as hostility towards God. In Romans 8:7-8 (AMP) it states, “The mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God’s law, since it cannot. And those who are in the flesh [living a life that caters to sinful appetites and impulses] cannot please God.” As children of God, it’s a requirement that we should fast and pray to deepen our relationship with Him. By doing this act, it keeps us humble in the sight of God. Just like our human body needs physical nourishment, our soul also requires spiritual nourishment through the Word of God in order to live. When we pray and fast, our spirit develops a hunger to have more of God and less desires to please our flesh. 

So what is fasting? According to Jentezen Franklin, in his book called Fasting, “Biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose. Fasting has always been a normal part of a relationship with God. As expressed by the impassioned plea of David in Psalm 42, fasting brings one into a deeper, more intimate and powerful relationship with the Lord” (Franklin, p.9-10).

Have you ever noticed when you have a craving for a favorite food that once you consume the food, you become satisfied? For example, when going to an Italian restaurant, one of my favorite appetizers is calamari. Oh boy! Give me a platter full, crispy and marinara sauce on the side. However, although this is something I love, I pray that my hunger and thirst for God will be greater than my natural desire for food. My heart’s desire for all is to have a greater desire than the physical craving we have for food as we are “Taking Action in Fasting.” We must have a greater hunger to have a deeper walk with God. The words given to me from the Lord, “Taking Action in Fasting” is a reminder to not be satisfied with my immediate results as with food, but to continue my pursuit of the Lord by fasting regularly. Even though I enjoy food, the Lord was showing me that it was also a good thing to enjoy fasting. “When you eliminate food from your diet for a number of days, your spirit becomes uncluttered by the things of this world and amazingly sensitive to the things of God'' (Franklin, p.10). I can still remember my first fast and the sense of urgency I had to see the fast end, just to satisfy my flesh and the craving to eat. When doing a fast there shouldn’t be any pressure or anxiety in “Taking Action in Fasting.” It should be an exciting time, to seek the face of God with an expectation to have a closer bond with the Lord. 

After Jesus had fasted for 40 days, He was immediately tempted by Satan, but in Matthew 4:4 (NLT), “… Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, "People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”  Jesus displays a perfect example that we must follow in order to stand in these last days. Our daily bread to enrich our soul should  be meditating on the Word of God day and night, for in doing so, the Bible says “they are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do” (Psalms 1:3, NLT). 

“Taking Action in Fasting” is vital and a requirement in order to grow spiritually. Jesus tells his followers in Matthew 6:16, “And when you fast…..”  and then he proceeds to give specific instructions about how they are to fast and pray. Many have pointed out the importance that Jesus didn’t say ‘if' ' you fast, He said “when” you fast. For this tells us Jesus expects His followers to fast, which is a spiritual discipline every believer must devote themselves to. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that aligns our hearts more closely with the heart of God. It encourages us to decrease, so that the Lord can increase in us. This teaches us not to be ruled by our physical and emotional desires but to grow in spiritual authority and power over the desires of our flesh. Our flesh will get weak, but in this we should rejoice that the power of Christ can work through us. One of my favorite scripture in the Bible is when Paul the Apostle says, “That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). 

Our focus Scripture, Esther 4:15-16, highlights Esther sounding the alarm for her people to fast with her in order to confidently go before the King. Esther was "Taking Action in Fasting” when she broke the law and risked her life to enter into the king’s inner court. When Esther and the Jews of Susa fasted for three days to ask God for help and to gain favor with the king. Interestingly, Esther’s actions have revealed to us that fasting was a normal routine for children of God. No one questioned her order, but the entire Jewish community knew exactly what to do. So let us be encouraged by Esther’s act of faith and obedience to God’s instructions by “Taking Action in Fasting” as a normal routine in our daily lives. 

Please take the time to read the Scriptures throughout.

Reference book: “Fasting” by Jentezen Franklin, publisher: Charisma House.