Fasting To Overcome Fear

# 298 – We are continuing a series on fasting. As we have seen, this spiritual discipline is not just for Old Testament believers, yet we can learn much about fasting from their example. Our next example will come from the Book of Esther. Some quick background on the situation in the Book of Esther. An order was issued by the king to exterminate all the Jews in the country on the 13th day of the 12th month. Imagine such an order given in our country today for all Christians to be annihilated on Dec.13th! Imagine the fear that would grip us! How did the Jews (the OT church) react? They fasted and prayed. Es 4: 3 And in every province where the king's command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. There was a glimmer of hope for the Jews because the Jewess Esther was in the king's harem. Perhaps she could persuade the king to change the order. This was very risky for Esther and so she asked the people to fast on her behalf. Es 4:16 "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!" There was an atmosphere of fear among Esther and the people and they responded by fasting. Are you wrestling with fear right now? Have you told others about your situation? Have you asked them to fast and pray for you. Have you tried fasting yourself? Fear is a powerful emotion. If someone could bottle it and use it to make tires we wouldn’t need 4 wheel drive vehicles, because when fear gets a grip on you, it doesn’t let go easily does it?  Perhaps that’s why we find the phrase “fear not,” 80 times in Scripture.   But it’s one thing to say “fear not”  and quite another to be delivered from this paralyzing emotion, especially when you’re the one being gripped by fear!  You know what I’m talking about don’t you?  Fear that consumes your every waking moment. You can’t stop thinking about something impending in your life, something that is larger than you! In the next couple of days we will talk about fear and the weapon of fasting that God has provided for us to combat it! Father, help relieve our fears.