A FAST OF COURAGE

• DAY 188
• FEAR FILES: ESTHER
• SCRIPTURES: ESTHER 4

“Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.”‬‬

‭‭Esther‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV

There are many things that you can do to overcome your fears and fill your heart with confidence and courage. One of them is praying, another is studying the Bible. As we see in Joshua 1:8. Another way is by having a community of people or just someone that stirs and pushes you in the right direction, the direction of God and your purpose (just like Esther had Mordecai). Another way is fasting, or as I like to call it, a fast of courage.

Fasting is a Strategy

Esther was in a very difficult situation. She had to make a choice between two bad options: either she dies if she goes before the king or she dies at the hands of Haman if she doesn’t go. However, after she talked to Mordecai, she realized that she didn’t have a choice, courage, or strategy to do what needed to be done. But she knew one thing that she could do, which was to pray to God. She saw this as a good opportunity to set aside some things and seek the Lord for strength and courage to do what she should.

The Bible says…

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isa. 40:31). 

Sometimes you need courage to run and walk. Not to mention mounting with wings as eagles.

This Kind

Once, someone approached Jesus and requested his help in freeing a child who was possessed by a demon. The person explained that Jesus’ disciples had tried to cast out the demon but were unsuccessful. After Jesus reprimanded the demon, the disciples wondered why they had not been able to do it themselves. Jesus explained that their lack of faith was the reason for their failure. He also mentioned that in order to deal with this specific kind of situation, fasting and praying were necessary. (Matthew 17:20-21). In that particular circumstance, the disciples needed a boost. Their faith and courage required some encouragement.

Some levels of courage requires a fast. You need more than just reading your Bible or declaring the word. All those things are powerful, but when you need extra oomph, you need to take some time to fast. To put away everything for a period of time so that you can give more attention to the Holy Spirit.

Why Fast ?

One thing about fasting is that it helps you control your desires and impulses. It’s not just about giving up food; you can also avoid watching movies or engaging in earthly pleasures. Another benefit is that fasting can transform your heart and bring you closer to God. It clears away any distractions that hinder you from hearing God’s voice clearly.

Fasting can also bring about changes in difficult situations. Your faith and courage to wait on God and trust Him will turn things in your favor. It can lead to blessings and favor, just like what happened with Esther when she approached the king. Fasting has the potential to bring healing, reversing negative circumstances and bringing about miracles. I have personally witnessed such transformations.

Beloved, there are moments when you need to simply focus and say, “if I perish, I perish.” But you must recognize that this confidence comes only from God. You cannot accomplish it on your own strength; you must rely on the Lord. Pray and study what God’s word says about that matter before you tackle the situation.

Fast as a Habit

Today, I want to encourage you to set aside time for fasting and prayer. I know we recently completed a fasting period, but on your own, make fasting a regular practice. Not just when you have a problem to solve, but rather make it a part of your lifestyle. Once a week might be appropriate. This way, you will always be in sync with God, and when you actually need to fast, it won’t be challenging for you.

May the Lord strengthen you to wait upon him in the face of difficult situations and always. May you receive the spirit of courage and confidence and the capacity to stand against your opposition. May you receive the audacity to move forward in the name of Jesus. May nothing stand in the way of your courage In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Shalom.