Fasting for Crisis Intervention

(Before fasting from food and/or liquids, consider your health needs and conditions. Always consult your doctor first.)

“However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21 NKJV). The topic of fasting for crisis intervention is tremendously relevant in this time of political, economic, and spiritual turmoil in the world's nations. Today, we are contending for personal breakthroughs, and we’re contending for family breakthroughs. We’re contending for breakthroughs for our churches, ministries, schools, and cities.

If we ever needed breakthroughs, we need them now because we are at a historical crossroads. But we have this opportunity: God invites us to participate in making history before His throne.

A Crisis and Its Outcome

The Old Testament gives various examples of how extreme crises were addressed or needs were met when people sought the Lord with fasting and prayer, prompting God’s intervention and presence in those situations. When people react to major crises by the power of unified fasting, worship, praise, and prayer, God’s remedy comes forth.

One example of this is the remarkable story from 2 Chronicles 20:1–30 that relates how an enemy army attacked King Jehoshaphat and the Israelites.

In this passage, the significance and the value of Jehoshaphat’s call for a national fast should not be overlooked. To summarize this thrilling episode in the chronicles of God’s people: first, the crisis was acknowledged before the Lord; second, God provided a critical response. Here was the sequence of events:

·The people were called to unite in corporate fasting.

·The leader offered a sincere prayer of confession and dependence, appealing for mercy.

·God intervened and gave direction for action.

·The people responded with obedience and praise.

·God’s presence was released, and victory was won.

Today, God still remembers when Jehoshaphat called all the people of Judah to fast and how the people praised and worshipped Him. God commemorated that event by recording it in His book—the Bible, the book of remembrance. God recalls every act of worship. So, know that God remembers your sacrifices for revival breakthrough; those sacrifices are written down in His book in heaven.

Likewise, God remembers our united corporate fasting and our prayers of confession, dependence, and mercy. At such times, He gives us direction, and our response should be extravagant praise, which releases God’s presence in our midst.

Blessings from Fasting

Fasting is a tool that gives believers in Christ Jesus manifest power over Satan and his works of darkness. The fasting principle we can stand on is this: sacrifice releases greater power.

Isaiah 58 presents many blessings we will receive by choosing to fast as we endeavor to obey the Lord and serve others on His behalf. We need to remember that fasting is more than just abstaining from food; it realigns our lives with God’s heart, will, and purposes in our generation. I personally consider periodic fasting essential, but not necessarily always in its purest form of abstaining from food.

Fasting can also include choosing to forgo, for example, complaining, gossip, social media, or another negative trait or distraction. I have gone on a fast from negativity, which, take it from me, can be harder than fasting from food. I believe fasting from whatever is a hindrance in your life is a sacrifice before God for spiritual benefit.

To summarize Isaiah 58:6–12, fasting with obedience…

·loosens the chains of injustice.

·sets the oppressed free.

·breaks yokes of bondage.

·promotes sharing.

·provides for the needy.

·brings healing.

·springs forth righteousness.

·brings God’s glory to protect you.

·assures that God will answer your calls for help.

·encourages living righteously and being benevolent.

·means the Lord will guide you and satisfy your needs.

·strengthens your body.

·causes you to be fruitful and productive.

·can launch you into being a minister of reconciliation.

God Is Willing!

We must recognize the following principle: “If we will, God will.” The preamble of the principle is knowing for certain that God is able and willing. To get to revival breakthrough, we must have a renewed mindset of trusting that God is willing to help us—during great crises and in the everyday needs of life alike.

If your prayers are not based on knowing God is willing, you may need to identify hindrances that keep you from trusting Him completely. You have to get to a place where you know that you know this truth: not only is God capable, not only is God able, but God is also willing. Then you can call forth God’s intervention in every situation.

Again, God never changes His character, but He changes His mind occasionally. He Himself often prompts us to request such intervention, as He did by warning the Ninevites of their impending destruction due to their wickedness. (See Jonah 1:1–2; 3:5–10.)

One aspect of the nature or character of God is that He is an invitational, participatory God. He enjoys engaging with His children to fulfill His purposes. God invites us to co-labor with Him. He could do it all, but in His sovereignty, He has chosen to invite us into His process of ruling and reigning with Him. He loves working with us!

God is willing to intervene for us in times of crisis. He has allowed us to participate with Him in crisis intervention, which includes fasting.

As we consider crisis intervention, let us also remember that God is always faithful. God’s mercy always triumphs over judgment. That is the nature of our Lord. Yet we must understand the various dimensions of God’s nature to get as close to knowing Him as possible here on earth. And, as I have emphasized in this devotion, one of those dimensions is that not only is He able, not only is He capable, but He is also willing.