Prayer with Fasting
Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I am willing to die. Esther 4:16
Advertisement
Esther’s response when she faced impending doom for herself, her family, and all the Jewish people, was to fast and pray and to call the people to fasting and prayer as well before she went in to appeal to the king.
When difficult times come, when we face our own particular desperate situations, what do we do? Seeking God with prayer and fasting should never be our last resort; it’s the first place to start. Our actions when we fast, as Esther did, demonstrate to God, “Lord, more than I want food, TV, creature comforts, or anything else, I want you and am looking for your way of dealing with this.” As the Jews earnestly sought God in this way, he gave Esther a plan that brought about a mighty deliverance for her and for God’s people. When we add to our prayers the discipline of fasting, God will open our hearts to his strategies and will show us things we never would have known in the natural scheme of things. And because we are drawing near to him in this way, we will enter into closer intimacy with him through his Spirit.
Prayers:
LORD, show me when your Spirit is calling me to put everything else aside in order to seek you, and give me grace to respond to that call. Give me the discipline I need to be able to follow through, and the faith to know that you are able to deliver in whatever circumstances I find myself. Make my heart obedient, as Esther’s was, in seeking you above my daily bread.
Quotes:
BEAR UP THE HANDS THAT HANG DOWN, BY FAITH AND PRAYER; SUPPORT THE TOTTERING KNEES. HAVE YOU ANY DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER? STORM THE THRONE OF GRACE AND PERSEVERE THEREIN, AND MERCY WILL COME DOWN.
John Wesley (1703–1791)
The One Year Bible Readings for today are Esther 4:1–7:10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-26; Psalm 36:1-12 and Proverbs 21:21-22.
