24 August 2009 Devotion for Today "So We Fasted" Ezra 8:21-25

24 August 2009 Devotion for Today "So We Fasted" Ezra 8:21-25

21Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a straight and right way for us, our little ones, and all our possessions.22For I was ashamed to request of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy along the way, because we had told the king, The hand of our God is upon all them for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him. 23So we fasted and besought our God for this, and He heard our entreaty. 24Then I set apart twelve leading priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their kinsmen, 25And weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God which the king, his counselors, his lords, and all Israel there present had offered. (Ezra 8:21-25)

This summer has met with some extremely challenging situations that I would never have survived had it not been because of the Lord's hand upon me (see Ezra 8:18) and a developing discipline which I had never really considered seriously adopting up until now: Fasting. Early this summer I took a course taught by Dr. Elmer Towns at Liberty University called "The Spiritual Factors of Revival." When I signed up for it, I thought: "This is going to be an easy course because he's going to cover a lot of history and I like history." Dr. Towns did teach us some history of revivals of the church since the first century, which was interesting. However, that was just a small portion of the course. The course was in fact one of the most challenging I have taken until now. One of the first things he stressed was how fasting was to help us to grow spiritually. However, fasting did much more than this. Fasting was to help us focus on God so that He would determine our goals, our priorities, and most importantly, our plans. He pointed out that there has never been a major movement of God's presence without fasting. He also pointed out that while we can pray without fasting, we cannot fast without praying.

I hesitate to say this because I don't want anyone to perceive me as a some spiritual giant or guru on the subject of fasting- that I am not. But I would like to share some of the benefits from fasting I have received this summer. I have, however, endeavored to fast one day per week since the first of June. Not only have I become aware of my hunger during these times, but I have also become aware of intense spiritual battles that brew around me every day- battles that have always been there but I have seldom ever noticed them. These spiritual battles have called for me to spend intense times in prayer. I have not been successful in fasting every week, but fasting has really helped me to intensify and to focus my heart on God. I am not as stressed out as I used to be when I sense conflict and battles brewing. My preaching and teaching has improved and so has my devotional life. I seem to manage my time better and do not fill my time with frivolous things. I am more compassionate and thoughtful in my relationships with others. I have also become more aware of God's blessings and see His hand working in situations that I would not have become aware of had I not done without my meals for a certain time. One thing fasting has not done is help me lose weight but perhaps it will in time, but that is not why I am fasting, anyway. Fasting has also helped me to capitalize on joy. I feel I do not suffer from depression or discouragement as much as I use to be. God is the one who receives the glory for the victories and shares the load of pain I sometimes feel.

Ezra discusses a fast that he proclaimed in Ezra 8. This narrative actually happened before they left Babylon even though it is discussed after they rebuilt Jerusalem. Ezra was offered military protection from the king, but he was ashamed to ask for it because he had already proclaimed how God would protect them. But the physical and spiritual oppression upon them as they journeyed was enormous. He was also concerned that, as they prepared to rebuild the Temple, where would they find Levites to dedicate as priests to offer the sacrifices and to perform the daily Temple rituals. Most of the Levites either died when the Temple was destroyed or were lost in 70 years of captivity. God revealed the answer through the fast as at least one levitical family presented themselves to Ezra and the other leaders of the band of returning exiles. The problems Ezra encountered were overcome by his leadership through fasting.

If you have a problem you are unsure or unclear of the answer, may I humbly suggest fasting. One of the reasons why I think I never fasted was my particular denomination seldom, if ever, stressed this. No pastor I have had ever preached about it. I feel now after over twenty-five years of ministry that I have been short-changed. Maybe I have done that to myself! You might not find the exact answer you are looking for- instead you may find more blessings than what you expected to receive.

Have a blessed day!