Day #6: Saturday, January 9th

The Rewards of Fasting

Scripture References: 
Matt. 6:16-18, 2 Chron. 20:1-25, Isaiah 58:6-12

Devotional

As you continue to walk your journey of 40 days of fasting and focus, your entire being will be filled to overflowing with the life of God.  

In 2 Chronicles 20, when King Jehosophat was up against insurmountable odds, he called a fast.  He was facing not only the threat of the loss of his life but that of his entire nation.  

“And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.  So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord;  and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.” 

This is a time to continue to set yourself in seeking the Lord.  The scriptures give the believer many different options as to what type of fast to enter into.  Here are the ones to consider:
Total fast - drinking water only
Modified total fast - drinking water & juices only
Daniel fast - Eating fruits & vegetables only with drinking water
Skip a meal fast - a day
John Wesley fast - bread & water only
Jewish fast - no food from sunup to sundown
Media fast - abstaining from TV, the web, and all media stimulation

Set aside a number of days to seek and focus on the Lord.  If you cannot commit to that, set yourself to seek the Lord one day a week or even one meal a week. 

Jesus made it very clear to expect a reward when you fast.  He said, “…and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”  Notice the open reward from the Lord for privately seeking Him.  

The prophet Isaiah outlines a number of breakthrough rewards for those who fast:

• Loosening of wicked bondages
  
• Shaking off of heavy burdens
  
• Freedom from all oppression
  
• Breaking of habits
  
• Divine illumination will come
  
• Your health will spring forth
  
• Supernatural protection
  
• Answer to prayers and success
  

Through fasting, barren lives once destroyed by drugs, alcohol, and other problems can be healed and restored to victory reflecting God’s glory.

Whatever path of focus you choose, pursue it by setting your entire being, like Jehosophat did, with all this strength and heart.  You will be rewarded greatly.

Prayer

“Lord, as I continue to focus on you, I commit to the fast of ______________.
I set aside the distraction of food to seek Your will for my life.
Speak to me.
Strengthen me.
Allow your will and purpose to be even more real to me.
As I seek Your face, thank you for rewarding me openly.
In Jesus’ Name.”