Habits of the Heart - & The Elijah Fast

Elijah is my hero!

Ever since I made a commitment of my life to Christ I have admired and been drawn to the life of Elijah. What a man he was. Such an amazing power he had. I guess it was the fact that he was a man of action that attracted me. Under God’s guidance he was moving forward all the time. Something was happening in his life. The fact that he had a “low time” at one point didn’t really bother me – everyone has that time of frustration. I just moved past that part of the story in 1 Kings 19 and kept watching him as he pushed forward for and with God. Elijah was the kind of man that could be a hero for any Christian!

God helped me to do a little adjusting lately as I prepared to speak on fasting. Last evening we came to the “Elijah Fast” as part of the fasting series that Elmer Towns wrote about in his book “Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough”.

Towns talks about “Habits of the Heart” and points to “Elijah’s Emotional Negative Habit”. I have never really thought that my hero suffered so deeply with an “Emotional Negative Habit”.

Returning home last evening I sat for a long time considering the overwhelming possibilities that this has for the ministry of people (and to people)… not that an “Emotional Negative Habit” is a possibility – BUT RATHER that the setting free of the “Emotional Negative Habit” would be the greatest release that we could know.

In 1 Kings 19: 4- 9 we read the following (this is the NIRV - from Bible Gateway click here)
"Then he traveled for one day into the desert. He came to a small tree. He sat down under it. He prayed that he would die. "Lord, I've had enough," he said. "Take my life. I'm no better than my people of long ago." Then he lay down under the tree. And he fell asleep.

Suddenly an angel touched him. The angel said, "Get up and eat." Elijah looked around. Near his head he saw a flat cake of bread. It had been baked over hot coals. A jar of water was also there. So Elijah ate and drank. Then he lay down again.

The angel of the Lord came to him a second time. He touched him and said, "Get up and eat. Your journey will be long and hard."

So he got up. He ate and drank. The food gave him new strength. He traveled for 40 days and 40 nights. He kept going until he arrived at Horeb. It was the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.

Elmer Towns points to the fact that the “Elijah Fast” was not that intentional – but that what Elijah did in his broken and fearful state was a fast. And the most important thing is the Fast brought results. He had spent a day alone in the desert (frightened and in panic…mind you), then sat down admitted that he could not take any more, and prayed… and then fell asleep.

After he was ministered to by an Angel he rose and went back into action. In fact the excess of action is not pleasant in my thoughts – 40 days and 40 nights, traveling the full length of the country where he would spend more time alone with God.

Elmer Towns points to the fact that Elijah traveled to Horeb – a mountain range that had special mountain – Mt. Sinai. This was the “heart of all places” for the people of God. Mt. Sinai was where God had met Moses and had prepared the First Email in a Stone Tablet called the Ten Commandments.

In his book Mr. Towns suggests that we can help ourselves by either returning to the actual place we knew that God spoke to us, or doing so in meditation.

Last night with my mind swirling with these many thoughts, I returned in my thoughts to an altar in Oakville, Ontario at the front of Evangel Pentecostal Church – it was there that God called me to ministry. I then traveled to another spot in the sanctuary where he filled me with the Holy Spirit. Later I traveled with God’s help to some other major turning points in my spiritual walk. What amazing things God has done for me.

A I turned to bed last evening… I had entered a fast. I did not eat after the dinner meal. As I explained to the group last night, I usually(translate ALWAYS) have food before I go to bed. I mean ALWAYS. It is part of my religion I am sure. It was very small – but very powerful – I didn’t eat anything.

As I climbed into bed I was praying and certain men that I am praying for came strongly to my mind. In fact I believe that some amazing things began happening last evening as a result of what God led me through.

Today I making further plans with God’s help. I am spending some special time with just God and my thoughts. The next step is happening for me.

I encourage you to consider getting the book that Elmer Towns has written “Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough”. Perhaps making it some of your summer reading would be a good thing. You can get this through your local Christian bookstore or click on the line above.