“One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.”
“It was May 1940. The Nazi’s have just overrun France. 338,000 Allied troops were trapped on the beach at Dunkirk (Western France on the English Channel). British Prime Minister Winston Churchill is gearing up for the annihilation of the British army and the last line of defense against the Nazi’s and England.
On May 26, 1940 understanding the seriousness of the situation, King George called the nation to a day of fasting and prayer. Tens of thousands prayed in Westminster Abbey. Also during this time, Hitler issued an unexpected order to stop the Nazi army’s ground assault, just ten miles short of Dunkirk. In addition, a strange mist of fog and smoke covers Dunkirk, preventing Nazi aircraft to bomb the beach where the Allied soldiers are hunkered down. Third, a notoriously choppy and dangerous sea of the English Channel becomes uncharacteristically calm for several days which enable small civilian boats to cross the channel from Britain, under the fog, and rescue all of the Allied troops. A lot of miracles happened to save 338,000 souls that day. What happened?
Some might call this a strange coincidence. Or maybe the Allied troops just got lucky? Maybe it was simply Hitler’s biggest strategic mistake?
I like to think that this is a perfect example about the power of Fasting and Prayer, as a powerful combination. When something arises in your life, from someone you know being sick to a life-changing situation, we are apt to reach for Prayer. And that’s excellent. But how about Fasting?
Biblically, Prayer and Fasting go together.
In Acts 13: 2-3 we see how the apostles while worshiping the Lord and fasting and praying that the Holy Spirit comes to anoint Barnabas and Paul as ministers to the world.
In Jonah 3: 5, 10 we see how the prophet Jonah who is called by God to warn the Ninevites of their coming destruction that it’s through their fasting and prayer that they are able to demonstrate repentance to God and are spared destruction.
This is truly amazing stuff!
Why wouldn’t we Fast when we Pray knowing that Fasting can amplify our prayers!”