Have you ever fasted? Are you fasting now? If so, you may be having one of those nights when, with your stomach rumbling and your palate watering, you're wondering, "Why am I starving myself? Does God really care if I fast or not?"

The answer is "yes." He does care. Tremendous power is released when you combine fasting with a fervent sense of spiritual purpose! Among other things, fasting releases power for deliverance, revelation, help in crisis, guidance, healing, strength to overcome sin and strength for spiritual warfare!

If you are fasting tonight, I encourage you to read all of Isaiah, Chapter 58. We can't reprint the entire chapter here, but please study it for yourself! In those passages God outlines His purposes in having us fast. Among other things, God says, "...is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every (enslaving) yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6, AMP).

Imagine being given the power, through fasting, to loose souls from the bondage of wickedness and to free them from oppression and heavy yokes? This is all yours when you fast! Remember, too, that fasting gives you power for spiritual warfare. Sleep peacefully, rising above physical discomfort, knowing that you are learning to use a mighty tool!

Heavenly Father, thank you for the power which You desire to release in me through fasting. Help me to be courageous and steadfast in my fast, and not to turn back, change my mind or give in to temporary discomfort. May my fast be pleasing to You, for when I am weak, You are strong. In Jesus' Name, Amen.