Nehemiah 1:4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven.
Nehemiah was in Persia when he heard about the destruction of his homeland and the disgrace of his people. He did not run to the phone or friends to share the stigma or the severity of the suffering, but he mourned, fasted and prayed for some days. Bible does not tell us how long he fasted but some theologians say that he fasted for 4 months before he approached the king for favour. Nehemiah fasted before he acted, reacted or petitioned. In Biblical times fasting meant voluntary reduction or elimination of intake of food. Nehemiah was a cupbearer (food/wine taster & tester) to the king, hence he might have been on a partial fast on the days he was on duty and full water fast on other days. Bible teaches us to confront conundrums, conflicts and confusions with fasting and prayer. After months of fasting and praying about his situation, Nehemiah found favour in the eyes of the king. Fasting unlocks favour with God and man.
Before Nehemiah opened his mouth to pray or petition to the king he fasted to overcome the apprehension and anxiety. Fasting dissipates conflicting confusions and disturbing questions. Nehemiah prayed the most profound faith-filled prayer after fasting, “Lord, the God of Heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Nehemiah 1:5). Science has proved that fasting is like housecleaning not only to the body but also to the mind. Pessimism, gloom, discouragement, anger, fear, morbidity, despondency, worry, unhappiness, mental tension, perversions, vile and depraved thoughts, excitability and other forms of mental tension habits disappear completely during fasting. Fasting is the most effective method of restoring health and mental wellbeing. Fasting changes the tone, taste and tenacity of our prayer.
Fasting heals the mind, morbidity and mental tension:
- Negate: Why should we fast? Fasting negates irritation, anger and annoyance with people and dismisses our disappointments with God. Fasting will help us see that God makes all things work together for good and that He can recycle the mess into a miracle. Fasting accentuates the silver lining in the thick, dark cloud. Fasting instills hope and negates disappointment, discouragement and despondency.
- Negative: What should we fast? Fast negativity, pessimism and gloom. Fasting helps us to get rid of the deride and humiliation and to forgive the inhumanity of the offender. Fasting helps us to forgive ourselves of our own stupor and low self-esteem. Fasting resuscitates hope and decapitates gloom.
- Nutrify: How should we fast? Fasting must be purpose oriented. We must have a clear goal and guideline before we start the fast. We must preset the time, the food that we are going to abstain from and the purpose of our fast. We can also fast on behalf of a sick friend, a wayward child or a disbelieving family member. As we fast and pray, God will orchestrate and overturn the fatal circumstance to ricochet into a favorable conclusion. Fasting and prayer nourishes the soul and nitrifies the mind.
Fasting breaks profanity, pessimism and pettiness.
Matthew 26:41a Keep watching and praying.
Prayer: Jesus my Risen Saviour, I need your help to demystify my mind that is clouded with cryptic confusion and criticism with fasting and prayer. Give me the grace to fast negative thoughts, break diabolical thought-patterns and overcome self-destructive negativity. Amen.
Leave a Reply