“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” – Esther 4:16 (NIV)
Tucked away in the Old Testament is a short but powerful book: the book of Esther. Within its ten chapters, which I have read many times, is a plea that has come to define my own life.
Last month, as I felt led to reread Esther, I found myself being asked to do what Esther and the Jewish people once did: fast for three days. At first, I was unsure whether an Esther fast was a recognized practice or simply an idea I had come up with on my own. But after some research, I discovered that this type of fast has indeed been observed by many.
Whether it is a partial fast or a complete one, chosen according to your health and ability, the purpose remains the same: seeking breakthrough, standing in intercession, and stepping forward with courage and favour.
Just as in Esther’s fast, I came to realize that the answer I was seeking came after the fast ended. There was no other way to explain it. While this is not a magic formula, fasting pursued with faith and humility can invite the kind of divine deliverance we are longing for.
I’m sharing this on the blog because I am a firm believer in living in victory. The book of Esther is not simply a beautiful story about an orphaned girl who meets her prince. It is a powerful reminder of how God moves through our lives when we humble ourselves and seek Him with all our heart, soul, and mind.
That is why I’m sharing the power of this fast with you. We all need divine intervention at times, and perhaps now more than ever, we are being called to seek God “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).
Rising with the Son 