Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts by Elmer L. Towns Page A
Authors: Elmer L. Towns
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elders: “I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days” (v. 15,
KJV
). During that time he waited for the Levites to join them (see vv. 15-20).
Notice the timing of the fast:
----
He did not fast as he traveled.
He did not fast before they all gathered.
He did not try to solve the problem before fasting.
----
It is important that you recognize the spiritual nature of the problem before you try to solve it. Actually, we should live in the attitude of fasting because we should live with an attitude of dependence upon God. When facing a money problem, we usually try to cut financial corners, borrow money, arrange payments with our debtors; and when everything else fails, we may pray and even fast. Ezra, however, gathered the people and fasted first. The timing of the fast is just as important as its mechanics.
Step 5: Fast on Site with Insight
A new movement called “Prayerwalking” is sweeping America. 1 It’s nothing more than following the Old Testament injunction where God told Abraham to walk throughout the land He was going to give him (see Gen. 13:17). Also, God instructed Joshua to walk around Jericho before the battle (see Josh. 6:3-5). Then as Joshua was going to conquer the Promised Land, God told him to walk by faith throughout the land he would conquer (see 1:3-9). Prayerwalking is “praying on site with insight.” When we stand at the place of need, we pray with more heed.
Ezra implemented old-fashioned prayerwalking by bringing the people face to face with their problem—he brought them to the banks of the river before launching out into the wilderness. “Beside the Ahava River, I asked the people to go without eating and to pray” (Ezra 8:21,
CEV
).
Step 6: Fast for Step-by-Step Guidance
During the fast, not before, we seek solutions to our problems. Too often large problems frighten us, and we can’t think accurately or productively about the problems. We need to break down large problems into increments. If we can solve the smaller problems one by one, we can solve the larger problems. We need to fast and pray not only for the final solutions, but also for step-by-step solutions to the problems.
There was more than one road for Ezra and the people to travel to Jerusalem, and more than one solution to their problem. The question was, Which is the right road? Apparently, some roads had more travelers than others. Many of these travelers were soldiers traveling on diplomatic and governmental business. As a result, people felt protected by their presence. Also, some roads were so well traveled that bands of robbers found alternate routes.
Ezra called a fast “to seek of [God] a right way” (v. 21,
KJV
). The Bible tells us that God sovereignly directs our steps, but we should use common sense along the way. “We draw our maps to the destination, but God directs each step on the road” (Prov. 16:9, paraphrased). A modern version says, “We make our own plans, but the Lord decides where we will go” (
CEV
).
Use your own ingenuity
. Ezra fasted to solve his problem, but he did more than fast—he used his ingenuity. When you face a problem, don’t limit yourself to prayer. Prayer is wonderful, but when you only pray, you haven’t done enough. The Bible teaches both “faith and works.” On our knees we pray as if everything depends on God, but we get up and work as if everything depends on us. Our work involves sweat work, planned work, intricate work, determined work and smart work.
So Ezra began, “We went without food and asked God himself to protect us” (Ezra 8:23,
CEV
). Then Ezra devised a plan for the tremendous amount of money that had been given to him. He realized that part of his caravan might be lost if they were attacked by a large band of thieves, so he divided up the treasure and distributed it among the 12 priests, so some of it might get through even though some might be lost (vv. 24,25).
By dividing the
KJV
). During that time he waited for the Levites to join them (see vv. 15-20).
Notice the timing of the fast:
----
He did not fast as he traveled.
He did not fast before they all gathered.
He did not try to solve the problem before fasting.
----
It is important that you recognize the spiritual nature of the problem before you try to solve it. Actually, we should live in the attitude of fasting because we should live with an attitude of dependence upon God. When facing a money problem, we usually try to cut financial corners, borrow money, arrange payments with our debtors; and when everything else fails, we may pray and even fast. Ezra, however, gathered the people and fasted first. The timing of the fast is just as important as its mechanics.
Step 5: Fast on Site with Insight
A new movement called “Prayerwalking” is sweeping America. 1 It’s nothing more than following the Old Testament injunction where God told Abraham to walk throughout the land He was going to give him (see Gen. 13:17). Also, God instructed Joshua to walk around Jericho before the battle (see Josh. 6:3-5). Then as Joshua was going to conquer the Promised Land, God told him to walk by faith throughout the land he would conquer (see 1:3-9). Prayerwalking is “praying on site with insight.” When we stand at the place of need, we pray with more heed.
Ezra implemented old-fashioned prayerwalking by bringing the people face to face with their problem—he brought them to the banks of the river before launching out into the wilderness. “Beside the Ahava River, I asked the people to go without eating and to pray” (Ezra 8:21,
CEV
).
Step 6: Fast for Step-by-Step Guidance
During the fast, not before, we seek solutions to our problems. Too often large problems frighten us, and we can’t think accurately or productively about the problems. We need to break down large problems into increments. If we can solve the smaller problems one by one, we can solve the larger problems. We need to fast and pray not only for the final solutions, but also for step-by-step solutions to the problems.
There was more than one road for Ezra and the people to travel to Jerusalem, and more than one solution to their problem. The question was, Which is the right road? Apparently, some roads had more travelers than others. Many of these travelers were soldiers traveling on diplomatic and governmental business. As a result, people felt protected by their presence. Also, some roads were so well traveled that bands of robbers found alternate routes.
Ezra called a fast “to seek of [God] a right way” (v. 21,
KJV
). The Bible tells us that God sovereignly directs our steps, but we should use common sense along the way. “We draw our maps to the destination, but God directs each step on the road” (Prov. 16:9, paraphrased). A modern version says, “We make our own plans, but the Lord decides where we will go” (
CEV
).
Use your own ingenuity
. Ezra fasted to solve his problem, but he did more than fast—he used his ingenuity. When you face a problem, don’t limit yourself to prayer. Prayer is wonderful, but when you only pray, you haven’t done enough. The Bible teaches both “faith and works.” On our knees we pray as if everything depends on God, but we get up and work as if everything depends on us. Our work involves sweat work, planned work, intricate work, determined work and smart work.
So Ezra began, “We went without food and asked God himself to protect us” (Ezra 8:23,
CEV
). Then Ezra devised a plan for the tremendous amount of money that had been given to him. He realized that part of his caravan might be lost if they were attacked by a large band of thieves, so he divided up the treasure and distributed it among the 12 priests, so some of it might get through even though some might be lost (vv. 24,25).
By dividing the
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