And the God of heaven will prosper you! (Nehemiah 2:18).

The enemy is busy attacking your mind and body both physically and spiritually, but sadly many people are unaware and are still sleeping while he is wreaking havoc on their lives and families. The alarm has been sounded to alert you to: Wake up! You are under attack! When you are fully conscious you need to: Grab your Weapons! Get ready to fight.

Warfare will deplete your resources. It will also wear out your physical body so that you become weak from exhaustion. It is at this low point that the enemy will suddenly spring an ambush.

So: Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. When you have done all, you just stand firmly. Stand in truth, righteousness, peace, faith and the word of God. (Ephesians 6:11-18).

While standing you have to be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

Only a well-armored body can defend and protect his life and property. When you pray and apply the Word of God to your life, the Lord will cover and secure you under His shadow. The Word of God will also feed and replenish your bodies both physically and spiritually.

Fasting is also important and is a companion of prayer. Fasting is our offense strategy of war. Always remember that a weak and malnourished spirit will be susceptible to the attacks of the enemy. Many people find it hard to give up their meals, so they infrequently fast if at all.

You do not need to avoid fasting because the abstinence of food is not the only way to fast. Another very effective method of fasting is found in Isaiah 58.

The prophet told us that the Lord hates our traditional fasting services that are done without sincerity while our hearts remain unclean. The fast that God prefers is one in which we abstain from our selfish desires and make a commitment to lose the bonds of wickedness and to undo the heavy burdens. To let the oppress go free and to break every yolk; to share our bread with the hungry and to bring to our house the poor who are cast out; to cover their nakedness and not to hide from our brethren.

It is also important that we follow the examples of the believers in Acts 2: 46-47 which is to fellowship daily together in one accord, visiting each other and eating together in love, joy, and humility. We need to encourage each other while praising and giving thanks to God together.

Last year the Lord gave me a very disturbing dream and at the end of the dream he told me precisely to save a child because the child that I saved might be my very own. I obeyed the Lord and learned from that experience that when you help a child or a family by showing them unconditional love and kindness in every aspect of their lives, the Lord will do the same for your family.

The Lord has been showing me how selfish and self-centered we have become. We hardly reach out to strangers and the needy but chose instead to stick with our family or private world because we are afraid of being hurt. We need to recognize that all of us are experiencing the same spiritual attacks from the enemy. He does not discriminate. So it is important that we encourage and uplift each other.

When we practice the fast of Isaiah 58, the Lord promised that He would make our light break forth as the morning. In other words, we will become the light of the world. The Lord will also make our healing spring forth speedily, and our righteousness will precede us. We will become an example to others instead of a stumbling block, and our church will grow physically and spiritually.

This fast is very potent and efficient. When we practice it, we will receive immediate deliverance from all our problems and trials. The Lord will heal the sick and the lame.

Since this fast is so effective, You may be wondering why we are not practicing it more often. The question does need a rocket scientist to figure it out. Satan has blinded our eyes with pride so that we disregard the fast of Isaiah 58 as insignificant. We chose instead to focus only on the abstinence of food.

While this traditional type of fasting is also necessary, you must bear in mind that it must be done in humility and sincerity for it to be effective. I am pleading with you if you have never done it before to try the fast of Isaiah 58 which is to abstain from your personal and materialistic desires and reach out to a stranger or a family in need. If you have done it in the past, continue to do so because the Lord is well pleased with you.

Never forget that our enemy is Satan and his weapons of attack are offensive words and emotions that lead to sin. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

The word of God is our weapon of war that opposes the evil spirits and will destroy them. When you obey and practice the word of God, it will build and replenish your body and soul so that you are healthy and strong. You will enjoy abundant life in God.

Have you ever practice the fast of Isaiah 58?  If you have practiced this it, please share with us the results.

How effective are your weapons against the enemy?