Choosing a Fast
In a class I had taken, I had an opportunity to study fasting. During this time, I experienced severe back pain. Many Christians interceded on my behalf, and from their petitions, God speedily improved my back. “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29). During that timeframe, God taught me to trust in Him with all aspects of my life. As we learned in class, the Bible discusses many types of fasts:
(1) The Daniel Fast – for healing of the body or to improve health (Dan. 1:12)
(2) The Disciple’s Fast – for a besetting sin that holds a person in bondage (Matt. 17:21)
(3) The Elijah Fast – for those who want to break from an emotional or mental thought pattern that may or may not be sin (1 Kings 19:8)
(4) The Esther Fast – used when facing a threat from the enemy or to be protected from satanic forces (Esther 4:16).
Deciding which fast to observe, I went to the Lord in prayer and asked for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Although different fasts seemed fitting at the time, through prayer, the Spirit revealed that I should choose the Daniel Fast for healing of my back.
Fasting
On a Friday night, I began to fast. Excitedly, I couldn’t wait to see what God was going to do. Hunger became apparent that night. But instead of eating, I had a desire to pray to our Heavenly Father. The next day was the hardest; hunger increased as I craved for more than vegetables, water, or juice. Cravings for chocolate were the worst. As I spent time mediating in God’s Word, hunger was diminishing. Thoughts of good food prompted thoughts of God’s goodness. A craving to learn more about God’s Word, instead of craving food, had begun to be so powerful. Prayer time became a deeper relationship with the Father. With a desire for true contentment and a joy in the Father, the discipline of fasting began to strengthen my prayer life (Luke 2:37).
The following day, my family and I attended church on a beautiful and bright Sunday morning. My heart filled with joy. Worshipping Him in His presence was a deep spiritual pleasure which fulfilled my hunger. Praises of worship in song to Him came from a grateful heart for His past miraculous gifts He had bestowed in my life. A tranquil peace filled my heart and mind. While spending precious time in His Word, the Spirit began to convict me of my sins that Sunday afternoon. As I went to God in prayer, I repented of my sins, and my heart continued to be purified. The Holy Spirit confronted me about the most difficult sin my life-pride (that old selfish sin). Mediating in His Word, the Helper led my eyes to helpful verses in the Bible, which addressed expressions of humility during a time of fasting. One verse in particular that was inspirational to my soul was Psalm 35:13 which says, “But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer kept returning to my bosom.” As God began to quickly heal my back, I heard Him saying, “Is this not the fast I have chosen… your healing shall spring forth speedily” (Isa. 58:6-8). Fasting released the Holy Spirit to do His work within me. By humbling me, the Counselor through His teachings taught me in Scripture that: (1) I am God’s child (John 1:12); (2) I have been adopted as God’s child(Eph. 1:5); (3) I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18); (4) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13).
Christ’s image. The Counselor (The Holy Spirit) showed me through God’s Word how to fear God and not other people.
Crippling Fear
Continuing the Daniels’ fast the next day, the Holy Spirit aided in identifying the destructive attitudes of fear in my life. Experiencing abuse in my past, instilled a deep intense fear of people within me. In the past, I did seek biblical counseling. The Holy Spirit continues to counsel and change me into Christ’s image. The Counselor (the Holy Spirit) continued to show me through God’s Word how to fear God and not other people.
Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled (I Peter 3:13-14).
I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears (Psalm 34:4).
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).
Not only did the Holy Spirit guide my eyes to see Scriptures related to fear. He also led me to see His creation. All around where I live are powerful, magnificent creatures, called horses. Horses are fearful creatures. They spook at anything that human’s consider benign. The ever-watching horse is always on guard for any potential life threatening hazards. In fact, horses will conjure up a hunter to run from, even if there is not a real predator around. But, a human predator can become a friend. A friend, like Jesus Christ, provides the love and comfort.
By realizing the severity of anguish Jesus went through on the cross and the tremendous hurt and shame He endured for us helped me to believe that God can be trusted. God allows our faith to mature so we can trust God for greater miracles in our lives.
Testing Faith
By God’s grace my fears were transformed into faith. Towards the end of my fast, the Counselor made it clear to me that the reason God allowed my back to hurt was that I did not completely trust in Him. In the book of Job, God allows satan to afflict His servant Job with a sickness that tested Job’s faith. Job’s faith leads him to see the sovereign God’s hand at work. When my back began to hurt, I confessed my sins and asked for forgiveness for not trusting Him. God honored and answered my prayers and my back pain dissolved. “And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him “ (James 5:15).
Spirit-Filled Praise
Remembering a sermon I had heard, I asked God for a heart of praise. One morning, not long after hearing the sermon, I woke up from sleep earlier than needed. Around 4 a.m. in the early dawn, I started to cry as I was sitting on the bed. Obediently and willing, I opened God’s Word to Psalm 149:5, “Let the godly ones exult glory; Let them sing for joy on their beds.” For almost four hours, I cried. Not from a sad heart, but from a heart full of joy. Tears of joy streamed down a face of renewal. After I started to cry, I turned on the radio and heard the most glorious, beautiful praise songs to our gracious Father. Convictions of pride entered the thoughts of my mind. Asking in weakness, I repented and asked for forgiveness from the idolatrous sin in my life. A greater closeness to the Almighty God became apparent. God’s greatness continued to overwhelm a soul of gratitude as I worshipped Him. The following days, the Spirit led my eyes to look at the skies more intensely. What beauty God made. In the white purity of the clouds, further up above, pass the starry blue, reigns The King on His throne. Looking up into the skies, my heart leaps with praise, longing to be with the Father. From within my heart, comes a heart filled with praise for His boundless grace and mercy.
God’s Reward
The Daniel Fast led me to spiritual insight, which is God’s reward for a disciplined fast. “And your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matt. 6:6). God rewarded me with wisdom and knowledge during the Daniel Fast. The Bible says, “To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding” (Dan.1:17). My faith led me to see the sovereign God’s hand at work in my life. God bestowed spiritual, mental, and physical benefits in my life while observing the Daniel’s fast.