Seeking God through Fasting

DAILY BIBLE READING:

2 Chronicles 19:1–20:37 
Romans 10:14–11:12 
Psalm 21:1-13 
Proverbs 20:4-6

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

2 Chronicles 20:3-4 (CSB) "Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, who gathered to seek the Lord. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek him."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In our Verses for Today, we read that the King of Judah was afraid. An enormous army had assembled against him and he believed his situation to be hopeless. So, he was filled with fear.

But, when our circumstances cause us to feel afraid, we need to remind ourselves that nothing is hopeless with God. When a particular situation seems humanly impossible, it is definitely possible with God.

Jehoshaphat knew this. He believed that his God was powerful and could remedy his desperate situation. So, rather than run and hide, Jehoshaphat reached up to Heaven for help. Our Verses for Today tell us how he did that.

2 Chronicles 20:3-4 (CSB) "Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, who gathered to seek the Lord. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek him."

He was afraid...

... so he resolved to seek the Lord ...

... he proclaimed a fast for all the people ...

... he led in this time of holy consecration as thousands of people gathered.

He wanted to clear out the lines of communication between he and his God and the way he chose to do it was to fast.

Fasting is an incredibly powerful but a little-used Christian discipline. It is said that many American Christians will not do much of anything that threatens their comfort. In fact, they tend to use Christianity solely for it's therapeutic value to increase their comfort rather than allow it to drive them to do the hard things of evangelism and discipleship.

Fasting is simply going without food for a specific period of time for the purpose of reflection, repentance, and reminding ourselves that we desperately need the Lord.

It's difficult. It is not at all comfortable. But, it reminds us that we don't live by bread alone but by the Words that proceed from God's mouth. We don't need food nearly as much as we need to spend time in our Bible as we listen, confess any sin, submit to God's authority over our life, and resolve to obey.

Friend, do you feel your need for God this badly? Are some of the difficulties of life getting you to a point where you are afraid? Then why not resolve to seek the Lord and use fasting as a way of doing that.

If you want more information on how to fast, click here.