Tonight, I am especially addressing those of you who are fasting or are about to begin a fast. I'd like to mention the tremendous power for spiritual warfare that is released when you fast.

In the book of Mark, Jesus told His disciples something that we, as soldiers in God's army, cannot ignore. Referring to a vicious demon that had possessed a little boy, He said, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting" (Mark 9:29, NKJV).

However, fasting for power in spiritual warfare applies not only to deliverance; it also helps us gird ourselves for the warfare we will encounter whenever we take on new challenges...especially the challenge of tackling a new leg of our spiritual journey!

Ezra understood this when he "proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children...So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer" (Ezra 8:21, 23, NIV).

What is your purpose for fasting? Is it for power in warfare in the new challenges ahead? Is it to "break every yoke of sin and bondage in yourself or others? Is it for more effectiveness in ministry? Or guidance? Or healing? Or a closer fellowship with God? Whatever it is, may God richly honor your fast by granting you the strength to complete it and the power to "break every yoke!"

Heavenly Father, thank you for granting me the purpose, strength and self-discipline I need to fast. I humble myself as never before, and ask that I might "break every yoke," be loosed from every sin that plagues me, and have the power to make the journey ahead safe for myself and all who go with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.