Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough: A Guide to Nine Biblical Fasts (9 page)

As you pray during the Ezra Fast, determine the best time to address the problem. Many problems will solve themselves without your
involvement, if given time. Even as you are fasting, therefore, you may be giving your problem time to solve itself. The Ezra Fast may be the moratorium that is needed to solve the problem. Also, time allows emotions to cool and issues to come into focus.

What does the larger group think about the problem?
When you get everyone in the church involved in the Ezra Fast, you focus the attention of everyone in the church on the problem.

Sometimes you need to consult people individually to gather data. At other times, a pastor will gather information from the board, a fact-finding committee or even the whole congregation. Sometimes you must interview many people, but do so individually to determine facts, discover attitudes and gain insight into the nature and/or timing of the problem. When you consult those most directly involved in the problem and encourage their input, you strengthen your ability to lead people to resolution.

Calling for an Ezra Fast accomplishes two purposes. You are inviting God into the problem and asking for His solution, and you are inviting everyone involved to be a part of the solution.

A problem may affect only one segment of people directly, but its implications may touch other people. This is true in a family, a congregation or a work setting. Therefore, seek to involve the larger group in the Ezra Fast because the larger group should take responsibility for the problem, develop a solution and solve the problem.

People ask advice from those they respect. When you invite people to the Ezra Fast, you show them respect and appreciation for their contributions; hence, you will gain their support. You not only gain their wisdom to solve the problem, but you also gain their respect. They will look up to your spiritual leadership.

Three Attitudes Toward Problems

A Christian usually adopts three attitudes when approaching a problem. I first heard this formula from a southern preacher who was describing how the church should react to a threat.

Although these three common attitudes toward problems are broad-based, ultimately it is best to apply a strategy to solve your problem. The Ezra Fast may not result in a total solution to your problem, but by fasting you may learn the seriousness of the problem, and thus discover a strategy for dealing with it.

Good leaders pick their own battles. Be careful not to let someone else choose your battle for you. There will always be a cause that will motivate Christians or your church to action (e.g., abortion, civil rights violations, the sale of alcohol or pornography, etc.). But you cannot spend all of your life fighting battles. Although the Christian life is both battling and building, the majority of your life should be spent building up the Church, building up the saints and building up yourself. Those who fight every alleged dragon eventually loose their credibility. Dr. Adrian Rogers, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, advised, “Some hills are not worth fighting for.”

Three Problem-Solving Eyes

The greatest benefit of the Ezra Fast is that God gives you “eyes” to see the problem. As you fast to God, you see the problem through His eyes. But you must also see the problem through the eyes of your family/congregation. It is important to see the problem through the eyes of those who created the problem, such as your opponent.

Eyes to see the positive
. When you call for the Ezra Fast, you should first pray for victory. Know what you want the outcome to be, and ask God to give it to you. Don’t enter the fast “problem centered,” because this will make you a pessimist and render you unable to pray in faith. Pray as the disciples did, who asked the Lord, “increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). Keep looking to God, and He will make you positive.

“We must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. We must keep our eyes on Jesus” (Heb. 12:1,2,
CEV
).

When we are mentally, emotionally or spiritually blinded, we don’t see properly.

The Ezra Fast produces a new vision of what God can do. Blinded eyes surrender their values, but the Ezra Fast helps refocus your priorities in the Word of God. Blinded eyes blame other people, but during the Ezra Fast you see the cause of the problem. Blinded eyes make us guilty, but during the Ezra Fast we confess our sins and stand forgiven in Christ.

Problems grow when you lose perspective. The Ezra Fast can build up a positive perspective both toward the problem and toward God’s plan for your life. Do not give in to your problem, nor to the people around you. Above all, do not give up your values.

Eyes to see the people
. During the Ezra Fast, focus not only on the problem, but also on those who are fasting with you. Those who are wholeheartedly with you are usually not the problem. Those who criticize the fast, resist it or do something to undermine it may be part of the problem—although they are probably not its instigators.

The Ezra Fast may give you an opportunity to pray with others. “If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:19,
NIV
). During the Ezra Fast, therefore, gather people together for corporate prayer meetings. Ask for (1) requests from the group, (2) testimonies from the group and (3) prayer by members of the group.

Eyes to see the facts
. When you enter into the Ezra Fast, you may be embarking on a strategy to handle or solve your problems. Begin by looking for scriptural solutions to the problem. Take time to write out the scriptural principles involved in the problem. Ask, “How have people in the Bible solved a problem similar to this?” Ask, “How have others in the Church solved a problem similar to this?” Answering these questions will compel you to read the Bible, and to understand passages that speak to the problem. All the while, you are attempting to discover biblical solutions that may be applicable to your situation.

Throughout the Ezra Fast, strive to keep a balance between “head
knowledge” of the Word and the “heart expression” of the Spirit as you address your problem. Too much Spirit without the Word will lead you to an emotional
blow up
. Too much Word without the Spirit will cause you to
dry up
. The right balance between the Word and the Spirit will lead you to
grow
up.

Step-by-Step Problem Solving

When people participate in the Ezra Fast, they need to make sure they have a step-by-step strategy for problem solving. Some people think that during the Ezra Fast they should only meditate and pray. They expect God to give them answers out of a vacuum. Although God may speak in the dark of the night, He usually does not. Actually, following a step-by-step strategy to solve a problem could be successfully used by those outside of Christ. Because it involves truth, and all truth comes from God, the same strategy could be used by those who are in Christ. Problem solving is not a key that is hidden in the Bible for only the redeemed. Everyone faces problems, and God has given to all people a sound mind. He therefore expects all of us to use our total resources to solve our problems. A step-by-step approach to problems is available to all.

Step 1: Get the Facts

You need more than a Bible and a concordance as you approach the Ezra Fast. Although these are essential, you must also include all the facts and information you can gather. This involves files, records, charts, lists and any other pertinent information.

If you are planning the Ezra Fast while away from home, begin packing for the trip a few days in advance. Make sure that all file folders, records and books are in a briefcase/box. Once you get to the place for the Ezra Fast, you will want to review all the facts before formulating an opinion. Sorting through all the reports, minutes and files will refresh
your mind by bringing the information into your awareness. You are already beginning to move toward an understanding of the problem.

Write out your problem, then write down any sub-points it may have. This may involve listing the primary and secondary people involved, as well as all the events involved in the consequences. Sometimes writing out the problem involves listing times of events related to the problem, money, assets and/or issues. As you begin to write out the problem, don’t be satisfied with a single declaration. A reexamination of the files may give you a different perspective. Then you will need to rewrite the problem. You need as much information as possible to make a good decision and determine your plan of action.

Step 2: Establish Biblical Principles

After you have clearly defined the problem, search the Word of God to determine biblical principles for the solution to the problem. The Bible speaks to all issues without naming every issue. Just as a new car has an “operator’s manual,” so God has given us the Bible as our operator’s manual containing principles for all of life. Although every issue is not discussed in the Bible, the basic principles of life still apply to every issue. If at all possible, have available Christian and secular books dealing with the topic. (Consult your local Christian bookstores for books about the topic.) Also, find information by consulting concordances, Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias, commentaries and topical handbooks.

Step 3: Evaluate the Facts

During the Ezra Fast, you will have time to think through your problem. First, write out the problem from the top of your head. Then as you pray, attempt to rewrite the problem from the bottom of your heart. There can be a difference between the top of your head and the bottom of your heart, just as there is a difference between your objective analysis and your emotional commitment. Your problem and its stifling influences may exist somewhere between the two.

During the Ezra Fast, spend time in prayer, and when God reveals new insight, redefine the problem. Each time you spend extended time in the presence of God, come back to your pencil and paper to define the problem again. It is said that the steps to solving a problem are taken in the steps to defining the problem.

Step 4: Determine the Various Solutions to the Problem

Too often Christians expect an answer in an environment of sublime contentment. They think problem solving occurs without effort. They expect God to speak out of a vacuum, and that is not His usual way. God speaks through information found in the Word and from other sources. You may go into a quiet place for prayer; however, there are more steps to solving a problem than just prayer and contemplation.

Follow the problem-solving steps to find a solution. As you enter into the Ezra Fast, every time a solution to your problem comes to mind, write it down. Obviously, not all of the ideas that come into your head will be good ones. Even so, write them down. Through the discipline of writing down even a ridiculous solution, the correct solution may “pop” into your mind. One solution may trigger another. Therefore, do not attempt to solve your problem until you have exhausted your list of solutions.

Even then, your exhaustive list of solutions may not be
the
exhaustive list. Share your list with others, especially those who are on the Ezra Fast with you. Maybe they have a thought or idea you have missed, and vice versa.

On rare occasions, you may want to ask everyone participating in the Ezra Fast for solutions. About 150 years ago, the Independent Presbyterian Church of Savannah, Georgia, was contemplating building a new sanctuary. The building was to be set toward the rear of the property, resulting in a large front yard. Everyone voted unanimously for the project except one lady, who withheld her vote. It is said that she prayed (we do not know if she fasted), then went to the chairman of the session and shared her idea.

She suggested building the new sanctuary toward the front of the
property, to allow room for a garden between the sanctuary and an educational building toward the rear. The garden could be used for weddings and social gatherings. It would be a garden where the beautiful camellias and azaleas of the area could grow.

Furthermore, beautiful windows on either side of the pulpit could face the lovely garden. Because there were no electric lights in those days, the windows would shed light on the pulpit. When brought to vote by the congregation, again there was a unanimous vote—this time to move the sanctuary forward and allow for the garden. It is possible for one small voice in a congregation to offer a solution to a problem that no one else has seen.