09/24/2026
After David committed adultery with Bathsheba, she became pregnant. Soon after the news David had her husband executed by sending him to the front line of his army so he could take her to be his wife.
Some time after the baby was born, Nathan (the prophet) confronted David about his sin. David confessed and repented before God, but even though he repented, there were still consequences for his actions.
The prophet told David that the young boy would die. Soon after the prophet left, the child became gravly ill. David immediately went into prayer and fasting. He knew that God said the child would die, but he had hoped to find grace in the eyes of God.
After the seventh day his son died. When David’s servants told him about the child’s death, David cleaned himself up, ceased mourning, and began to eat again.
(Story in 2 Samuel 12)
Throughout the Bible God’s people turned to fasting as a natural response to sacred parts of life, such as death or a great tragedy, and at other times, it's done with hopes of prayers being answered. "Fasting is calculated to bring a note of urgency and importynity into our praying, and to give force to our pleading in the court of heaven.” Arthur Wallace
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that helps us center our attention on the Lord and discover His will so that we may live according to it. People fast in different ways, some abstain from food like David had done, while others refrain from other activities, or even speaking. The period of time in ones fasting can vary, but the focus in each fast is the same......
........seeking God to know His will for us.
When we deny ourselves the basic necessities, several things began to happen. First, the Holy Spirit empowers us to set aside earthly matters such as work, relationships, and pleasure will take a lesser place in our lives. Secondly, our attention will shift from ourselves to the Lord. Our thinking will become clearer and our ability to understand God's plan sharpens because we aren't distracted by other things. As with prayer, fasting is to make us more receptive to His guidance. This is one of the most powerful spiritual weapons that any of us can wield.
