THE BENEFIT OF FASTING AND PRAYERS





Fasting and prayer is a very strong spiritual weapon with very high physical impact.  Queen Esther declared a fast for the Jews to save them from the plot of Haman.  Elijah fasted that it shouldn’t rain on the earth and God answered.  Jesus also fasted for forty days and night giving us an example. The following highlight the potency and power in fasting.

1.       To secure divine intervention in difficult situations.  In the book of Esther, a man called Haman plotted to wipe away the Jews for no tangible reasons but Queen Esther declare a fast for the Jews “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Though I will go to the king, but it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16.  The fast was so serious and important that even their animals too were included in the fast.  Lo and behold at the end of the three (3) days there was a divine intervention for the Jews and Haman who is the architect of this evil plot was hanged. His plot fall on his own head. 

2.       To avert any impending danger or destruction. “Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey.  And he called out, “Yet for forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And the king issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, By the decree of the king and his nobles: let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish." When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.” Jonah 3:4-10


3.   To expedite or accelerate the fulfillment of prophesy.  Sometimes prophecies delayed due to spiritual/demonic activity. “In the first year of his reign (King Darius), I Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.” Daniel 9:2-3, Read also 1Kings 18:42-46

4.   To provoke divine visitation. Every time divine visitation is needed a fast is also needed to catalyze its purpose.  It can be a divine visitation for your family, a divine visitation concerning your health, a divine visitation on your marriage that is on the verge of collapsing and many more. Whiles the disciples were fasting and praying with one accord, there was a sudden revival from heaven and they were filled with the Holy Spirit.  Act 2:1-2


5.   The intensification of spiritual power.  When you feel weak in prayer and want to revive your inner man, a fast is needed. “But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 You need a fast to empower you in your personal or spiritual life, empower you in your ministry, empower in your church, and even in your family.

6.   Securing divine direction. The fast period is a period to carry out spiritual direction; whom to marry, career path, travelling options, etc.  It is a period to hear God and see things (visions). Act 13:1-2


7.   To secure physical health and vitality. When you fast, your energy base multiply. Fasting, scientifically is also good for our health. The food we eat is temporary stored in the liver for processing and conversion. The more you eat, the more pressure you put on the liver to work. It is important for us to allow the liver to rest by fasting.
Inspired the teachings of Pastor Paul Enenche
Incredible Prince


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