Written by
Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
Fasting and prayer are major components of healing
the nations. Fasting and prayer should always be accompanied with genuine
repentance.
The prophet Jonah was asked by God to deliver a
judgmental prophecy of God’s intended destruction of Nineveh on account of
their wickedness. Initially, Jonah disobeyed God but as Jonah obeyed God and
proclaimed the message, the people of Nineveh were convicted of sin, turned to
God in repentance through fasting and prayers for forgiveness of sins. The
Bible records that God pitied them and
relented. It is significant to note that it was not the mere act of fasting
that made God pardon them. It was the state of their hearts – they turned from
their evil ways. Additionally, they humbled themselves through the fast. That
explains why the Bible instructs believers not to rend their garments but their
hearts and return to the Lord. This was exactly what the people of Nineveh did.
Please see Joel Chapters 2 verses 12 to 13, 1 verse 14 as well as Jonah Chapter
3 verses 5 to 10.
It is also instructive to note that this was what
Daniel did. Daniel accompanied his intercession for the restoration of Israel
with prayer and fasting. Please see Daniel Chapter 9 verses 1 to 3. Nehemiah
also fasted and prayed when he learnt about what had befallen Jerusalem – the
distressing state of the survivors coupled with the broken down walls and burnt
gates (Nehemiah Chapter 1 verses 1 to 4). The Old Testament prophet Samuel also
led the people of Israel fasting and prayer as they returned to the Lord after
practicing idolatry. Please see 1st Samuel Chapter 7 verses 1 to 17.
Quite instructive is the fact that as they fasted and prayed, the Philistines
attacked them but God gave them overwhelming victory.
These people fasted, prayed for forgiveness of sins
as well as the healing and restoration of Israel. Significantly, the fasting
sessions and prayers of these people at different times for the nation of
Israel yielded great results in the healing of the nation as God answered their
prayers.
Prophetess Anna ministered through prayers and
fasting and spent a great deal of her time in the temple. As a prophetess, Anna
was consecrated to a life of intercession with God, away from people,
distractions and confusion. Anna functioned in the ministry office of a
Prophetess using the tools of intercession, prayers and fasting. She was
blessed with seeing Baby Jesus (Luke Chapter 2 verses 36 to 38).
Fasting and praying for the healing of the nations
is not only when a nation has sinned. It is also necessary when the enemy plots
evil against nation or nations and the people of the nations. A case in point
is the Jewish people during the reign of King Ahasuerus in Persia. The Jews
were captive exiles in Persia. Mordecai who served as a gateman refused to bow
down to Hama. Haman plotted and sealed the annihilation of the Jews with one of
the irreversible decrees of the Persians and the Medes. Please see Esther
Chapter 3. Mordecai appealed to Esther for help and Esther turned to God but
requested a three day national fast by her fellow Jews (Esther Chapter 4 verses
15 to 17). Thereafter, Esther approached the King and the irreversible laws,
though not reversed were overwritten by God. Haman engaged in self destructive
actions and was hanged (Esther Chapter 7). Mordecai and Esther then wrote and
signed decrees that empowered the Jews to protect themselves against anyone who
attacked them (Esther Chapter 8 verses 8 to 17). Fasting and prayer to seek
divine assistance gave the Jews deliverance from annihilation, promotion and
respect, forms of healing.
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