Daily Devotional - Psalm 109:21-26

But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy [is] good, deliver thou me.  For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust. My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.  I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads. Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:  -Psalm 109:21-26


Nothing really ingrains your need for the Lord more than fasting.  Trials, temptations, those will make you turn to the Lord, but fasting makes you lean on the Lord more than anything else.  Fasting isn't about getting what you want.  It's about growing closer to God, understanding Him more, and relying on Him more.  It's about understanding that But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19)  Don't get me wrong.  I'm not talking about fasting as a way to lose weight or as a diet regimen.  I think fasting and praying is an important part of a 'diet' regimen, though, a diet of feasting on the Lord.  Nothing brings you closer to God than being without something you need.  With every hunger pang of fasting, you can be reminded of His power and mercy.  Here's what I think I'm starting to catch on to:  in fasting you learn to rely on God for strength and guidance and that lesson is carried over to all areas of your life.  What are you struggling with?  Is God bigger than that problem?  The God who made the universe and all that is therein and holds the world in the palm of His hand is definitely bigger than that piece of cake.  When you fully rely on Him, He can deliver you from whatever you're struggling with.  Put that problem in His hand.  Let Him guide you in what you eat, what you watch, what you listen to, what you do.  Take as an example, Daniel and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  They didn't want to be defiled by the king's food and they chose to stay the course, to eat that which was edifying to their walk with God.  They proved in their obedience that God's way was the right way. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.  And in all matters of wisdom[and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. -Daniel 1:15-20  Not only were they blessed physically with a healthy countenance, they were blessed with wisdom and spiritual understanding above any other servants in the court.  Put your problems in God's hand.  Stay the course and do that which is edifying to your walk with God and find the blessings that will come from that.