Bible Reading: Judges 19, 20, 21, Luke 7:26-50
Memory Verse: “Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.” Judges 20:26 (KJV).
Some children of Israel, the Benjamites raped a Levite’s wife till she was dead and the remaining Israelites came together to fight against the Benjamites since they did not fish out the culprits out of their clan. Surprisingly, the Benjamites who had only 26,000 soldiers prepared for war against the rest of Israel who had 400,000 soldiers! (Judges 20:15-17). The Israelites decided to ask God who should go out first to fight the Benjamites. Though God told them who should go out first, but they lost the battle. (Judges 20:18-21). The second day, they cried and asked God if they should go ahead and fight their brethren, the Benjamites, and God said they should go and they still lost the battle. (Judges 20: 22-25).
But after the loss on the second day, they recognised the need to fast and seek the face of God in humility, giving sacrifice to Him. Judges 20:26 (KJV) says, “Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.” This changed the game as the leaders were given wisdom on what to do to win the battle.
By the third day when they went for the battle, the strategy changed. They did not just go to face the Benjamites, they set trap for them (Judges 20:29) . The result was sweeping as Isreal destroyed 25,100 out of the 26,000 soldiers of the Benjamites. This is the power of fasting. It shows humility before the Lord and makes you easily receptive to revelations.
What life’s challenge are you facing? Make sure you fast while praying over the challenge. Fasting is a weapon of war that makes you to be highly spiritually sensitive. No wonder Jesus said to the disciples that some challenges need both prayer and fasting before they could go away. In Matthew 17:21 (KJV), Jesus said “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Fasting does not only increase your spiritual sensitivity, it gives you authority over demons, improve your spiritual fervency and improve your health.
Action Point: Ensure you fast at least one day every week.