In 1 Chronicles 10, the account of Saul's death is detailed. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin and the 1st king of Israel. Saul died because he was not faithful to the Lord. After his death, the nation was turned over to David, from the tribe of Judah, who was a man after God's heart. When Saul's mighty warriors realized Saul's death, they fasted. They fasted as they mourned the death of their king and awaited their new king. I was convicted and repented while studying this for not applying this discipline enough in my own life. In Matthew 6:16, Jesus gave directions for "when" we fast implying that we will fast. We fast to prepare for ministries God gives us to do, to seek God's wisdom, to show grief like these men did, to seek deliverance and protection from God, to repent from sin, to gain victory in battles, and to worship our almighty God because He deserves our sincere "all in" worship. The enemy tries to stop us from fasting because he knows it's powerful. He tries to instill fear, plays on ignorance, and sometimes it has nothing to do with the enemy and it's just because of our own rebellion that we don't fast. Fasting restores us to our first love of Jesus and humbles us before Him. It energizes God's Word in our hearts, and brings personal internal revival. If we aren't willing to seek internal revival, how can we expect national revival? Revival starts with us - one at a time - and then it spreads. Our King is coming and I want to be implementing fasting with my praying as we wait in anticipation knowing He is coming sooner today than He was yesterday.
