Fasting for Breakthrough: Stand Your Ground

by Marilynn Chadwick

Yesterday, I talked about the importance of approaching a fast with humility. When we are feeling weak, it's easier to lean into God's power. By giving up food, or social media or whatever, we have little reminders throughout the day to pray. Think I'll fix myself a snack…oops…guess not. That's my trigger to pray for pressing needs.

It's never easy to say "No" to hunger pains, or shopping, or social media. But fasting requires an extra measure of the Holy Spirit's strength. Especially if we're fasting for something of tremendous importance: the salvation of a loved one, deliverance from evil, healing from a dreaded disease, release from prison.

You're also fasting and praying for strongholds in your own life to be defeated. Our battle is a spiritual one.The Bible says that our struggle is not against flesh and blood and things we can see, but against the "rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV).

"Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13).

Take a closer look at the spiritual armor listed in Ephesians 6:10-17. You'll realize the armor that we are "putting on" is Jesus. Friends, only Jesus can defeat the enemy of our soul. The Bible says we are to resist the devil and trust the Lord to gain the victory. That means that our fight is to stand firm in the faith that Jesus accomplished our victory on the cross. We are to stand our ground. Prayer and fasting drive that truth deep.

A spiritual warfare tactic and my personal favorite verse to meditate on when praying and fasting is this short, power-packed promise from the book of James: "Submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Be encouraged as you go about your fast. Be alert and watch for God at work, in even tiny ways. Like I've said, I don't know why fasting works. It just does. And remember, the devil is a defeated foe. So, while you are fasting, be sure to feast on God’s promises and stand your ground!