Nehemiah 9:1 On the twenty-fourth day…the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads.
Fasting and prayer humbles us before God. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors (Nehemiah 9:2b). The remnant of Israel after their return from the Babylonian captivity humbled themselves by fasting and relenting. Fasting convicted them of the compromises in their ways and worship. The devil goads us with condemnation and fabricated false lies that we are doomed for life, however, fasting and prayer brings convictions and confidence. Fasting will flush out the guilt and gullibility and flood us with confession and commitment. Nehemiah was a leader amongst the people. As the scriptures were read, the hearts of the people melted and they repented. The Word of God is the water that washes away the stubborn stains of sins. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26).
When we fast, just thinking about food, or smelling food, can trigger the stomach to produce acidic digestive juices. This might cause acid reflux or heartburn. We are recommend to drink 8 glasses of water from an 8 ounce glass every day. Three litres of water during fasting will calm down the acidic attacks during hunger spasms that lures us to give up fasting. The brain would send a signal that it is breakfast time to the stomach and the belly would release acids to digest the breakfast cereal but since there is no food to digest, the stomach would burn the stomach lining causing heartburn. Dilute the acids by drinking plenty of fluids and houseclean the intestine, rectum and colon during fast. As the Word of God cleanses the soul, plenty of fluids cleans the body.
Fasting cleanses soul:
- Information: Spend more time reading the Word of God. If we read a chapter a day, we must double our time of Bible reading during the fast because Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). Every time the stomach rumbles and reminds us about food, feed it with the Word of God. Read eagerly.
- Reflection: Spend more time studying the scriptures. Unlike the ancient times when people heard the scriptures read to them only when they went up to Jerusalem for the festivals, we have the Bible in apps and in all our devices. Reflection and meditation carries the Word from our hand to our heart. Fasting is a good time to do a reflective study of different topics and books in the Bible. Reflection turns the sap in the Word into strength to our soul. Reflect on the Word of God regularly.
- Application: Application turns knowledge into wisdom. The Bible gives us clear guidelines to handle any situation. The application of scriptures in our secular and social world will sanctify us. There are antidotes to teenage temptations as well as middle age crisis in the Word. Apply the word daily.
Water and the Word of God flushes out the acidic reaction of the stomach and the soul.
Ezra 8:21 I proclaimed a fast there beside the Ahava Canal, a fast to humble ourselves before our God and pray for wise guidance.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, You taught us that we don’t live just by bread, biscuits and bacon but by the Word of God. Help us to feed on your word and quench the hunger cramps. Amen.
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