God reminded me last week that Elijah had done a 40 day fast (1 Kings 19). This fast was really precipitated by self pity and fear resulting from Jezebel’s threat to kill him in retaliation for killing 400 of her prophets. Believe you me, a threat, indirect or implied, can cause the strongest saint to falter. Self pity is one of the pitfalls of the prophetic ministry. The prophet is usually so engrossed with the things of the Lord, almost to the exclusion of a normal life, that the sins of the flesh are not usually a problem. It is the self pity that results from loneliness, persecution, lack of all kinds, anger at the saints’ hypocrisy etc that can get one’s goat.
Elijah went into a state of depression, manifesting the symptoms of isolation (1 Kings 19: 3):
- hiding in the wilderness (v 3),
- self pity (v 4),
- sleepiness (v 5). I believe that he would have slept forever if the Lord had not pitied him.
The Lord is extremely concerned about the health and well being of His prophets. God sent angels’ food for His servant. This was food that had come directly from heaven. God in His humor, showed Elijah that it was in the process of being cooked and not ready made, like the manna the Israelites ate in the wilderness. That was how special this man was. Furthermore, think of how many fires the poor angels would have had to make on a daily basis for the ungrateful children of Israel.
Anyway, the divine meal (fellowship with God) of bread revived him because Jesus is the bread of Life and the water represented Jesus the water of Life and the water of the Holy Spirit:
- The first meal was to prevent Elijah from dying and the second was to prepare him for a long 40 day journey, actually a marathon.
- The divine meal broke the yoke of depression from the man of God and gave him a divine strength/enablement that caused him to walk for 40 days to the mount Horeb where God had revealed Himself to Abraham as Jehovah Jireh.
Elijah was apparently awed by the fact that God had sent angels to feed him because he went to the place where He could meet God. Is this our response in times of trouble. He retreated into his modus operandi:
- going into a cave
- a hole
- another hiding place.
He then received a theophany of the Lord, (angels’ food will bring you to that place) because God called out in astonishment, asking him what he was doing in Horeb? He had come to the place, the mount of God, because He knew where his help lay as in Ps 121. Notice that Elijah’s complaint related to the prophetic ministry which had overwhelmed him (1 Kings 19: 10). God revealed Himself to His servant in stillness and gave his servant a word.
This is why He takes us away to Himself out of the normal and busy routines of confrontations with the devil into places of quietness. Prophets do need breaks from the normal routine, or the ministry could break you. God also gave him an extra bonus by giving him support in the form of Elisha, who ministered to him, or became his junior minister, if you please. I will tell you an angel story next time. Bye for now
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July 13, 2013 at 11:50 am
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June 11, 2013 at 4:28 pm
Hooo this is so wonderful. am really too depressed l started an Elijah fast not knowing wat l was doing coz l had prayed and fasted to no avail. Am lonely and fed up with life. Every man that comes for marriage proposal disappears in thin air and in the night a devil keeps warning me that if l ever left his camp l would die. If he doesn’t appear, it will be a woman. Please join me in prayers
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June 16, 2013 at 10:25 am
Greetings Juliana
Re: How I overcame the pain of singleness – 1995
Thanks for sharing with me. I too am single. I have had to deal with the lows of singleness. However, today, I have overcome. I was living in Jamaica at the time attended a church called Love Fellowship (Pastor Al Miller). That night, a lady preacher from the US preached. Most of her message dealt with how God was doing a new thing in her church – manifestations of the power of God.
At the end, she invited people to the altar. I went after a longish struggle. She very gently laid her hand on my forehead when she got to me. I floated backwards unto the floor. When I got there, I began to pray and worship Father.
The joy of the Lord broke out on us as someone began to laugh. All the people slain in the Spirit began to laugh with side splitting laughter. That went on for quite a while. When I got up I was full of the joy of the Lord and the pain had gone.
The enemy tried to bring back the pain a few days later, but I refused to accept his offer. LOL.
Your solution is this:
a. You are a complete human being in Christ as a believer. AS you fellowship with the Father, He will fill you with the joy and peace of His Presence.
b. God offers you joy in exchange for sorrow, as prophesied in Isaiah 61.
c. Find ways to minister to others who are lonely – the elderly, children, the hospitalized etc. You spend too much time internalizing and focusing on your lonelines and that is why you are depressed. You will receive joy as you help those in similar situations. 🙂
c. Resist the demon in Jesus name – he is trying to keep you in bondage. He will flee from you.
I now pray for you:
Father in the name of Jesus I pray for Juliana. I ask you to heal her brokenness and minister life to her now. I rebuke sorrow according to Isaiah and transfer the Spirit of Joy, Laughter and Dancing to her.
I thank you Father, that you mend those who are broken. I ask you to draw Juliana near to you and to fill her heart with your Peace and Presence.
I give you glory, praise and honor today, Precious Father. I adore and worship you – worthy of all that you say and prove you are. My heart is filled with joyfulness and I will continue to bless you at all times, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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May 12, 2013 at 3:06 pm
Dear Bridget
You are welcome – God’s blessing, peace and angelic prosperity to you.
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May 1, 2013 at 11:32 am
Greetings Garcinia
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Greetings Frank
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Mercedes
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January 16, 2012 at 2:40 pm
just how does a person do a elijah fast? not eat at all for 40 days,just water. or a littel bread with water once a day. not sure how to practice this particular fast. i have done a 21,40 day daniel fast. but never have heard of this fast. please tell me how to do the food and water part of this fast. thank you
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August 25, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Dear Michael
I would not encourage you to do this kind of fast. This fast was due to circumstances beyond Elijah’s control. One other comparison is Jesus’ forty day fast in the wilderness which was to prepare Him for three years of ministry and death on the cross.
My own personal recommendation is regular fasting periods. You can also fast from other things apart from food such as TV.
Mercedes
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May 16, 2011 at 6:45 am
Hi, where was it written that Elijah fasted for 40 days in the scripture? Permit me to say that Elijah did not fast for 40 days as you suppossed! He eat food from heaven through the Angel. I can say that the food is divine. One cannot eat divine – angels, food and not manifest. Therefore, he went in the strenght of the Angelic food for 40 days. You can reply my mail; fxmoney8@yahoo.com
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May 29, 2011 at 10:10 am
Dear friend
I understand what you are saying. However a fast is to be deprived of something pleasurable – in this case food. The miracle is that angels’ food can keep a human healthy for up to 40 days!
Sincerely
Mercedes
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January 2, 2011 at 4:36 pm
[…] Elijah’s 40 day fast! January 2007 5 comments 5 […]
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August 1, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Hi Prophetess Mercedes,
Your blog really helped me–I’ve been led to spend a series of 40-day periods doing something. Yesterday, I attended a Prayer breakfast, and my prayer partner was asked what was the purpose of my 40-day experience, so she could pray for me. I didn’t know. She prayed for clarity, and as I considered the question today, I found your blog.
I believe I have been wrestling with self-pity, similar to Elijah, despite a very active Christian Therapy practice and Women’s ministry, I still find time to feel distress about being single. Lately, it seems that my distress and frustration are increasing as my practice and ministry grow. I’ve been torn by what I believe God told me in January 2009, and the lack of visible movement towards the manifestation of that Word…a test of faith. I believe my first 40-day journey will deal with this issue, once and for all.
I appreciate your ministry, and know that you have helped another sister in Christ find clarity in how to focus and hear from God.
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March 7, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Hello,
Today,
While I was rearching some information on the Eligiah fast.. I believe the Holy Spirit directed me to this web page.. IT ahs anwsered some of my questions already and I know it was the Lord. I am already encouraged by what you have written to Monica and also enocuraged by everything you have written.. This was a complete anwser to my prayers and great enlightenmnet to say the least..I to am the same as Monica.. However, I am facing some decision soon that I totally need GOds anwsers and direction on.. Please pray for me and this request..
I am so Blessed to find this site today!
Brenda Merrick- Wambold.. izzoffire38@yahoo.com
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March 22, 2010 at 12:38 pm
God bless and keep the faith.
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April 22, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Hi my name is Monica, and through I understand why Elijah was depressed because I too have the exact same problem and I was wondering how do I do this fast….I was to do the Elijah Fast
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April 23, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Dear Monica
I feel your pain. I too went through depression. I know that depression can be caused by chemical imbalances in the body and would like to ask if you have seen a doctor. However, I know of a cure that is found in scriptures:
Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy [shall be] upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; [and] sorrow and mourning shall flee away (Isa 51: 11). Sorrow and mourning, equivalent to depression, flee in the presence of joy and gladness.
God is the Holy Spirit of joy and gladness as Galatians 5: 22 and 23 shows. He deposits these qualities in us when we believe His word. There are some progressions, however:
* start by giving thanks regardless to what is happening around you. This is God’s will for us according to 1 Thessalonian 5: 18). This lifts the mood immediately by helping us to focus on good rather than sad things.
* Sing and talk about the goodness of God. As you do so, He will turn your sorrow into joy and dancing.
* Sometimes circumstances of life can depress us. THe psalmist in Psalm 31 revealed that he felt better when he called on God. I encourage you to tell him the exact nature of your trouble.
* Finally, I decree in the name of Jesus that the spirit of depression will lift off from you and that you will receive the spirit of joy. Isaiah declared in 61: 1-3:
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
I therefore call you forth and loose you from this prison. God bless you and please let me know how you are doing
Meantime, I would not recommend that you do Elijah’s fast at this time unless you are going to be doing it within certain guidelines. Remember that he did not eat for 40 days and nights. Parallels are israel’s 40 year fast in the wilderness. IF you really feel led and do not have any medical problems, you need to drink at least 8 glasses of fluid daily and take some food at least once or twice a day. You can also omit meats and use other vegetarian sources of protein if this is possible.
You can fast from some activity that is nice but not absolutely necessary, such as your favorite movies. You can fast from sleep at least an hour and pray/meditate. This fast can be adapted and fun to fit your lifestyle.
Blessings and keep the faith.
Sincerely
Mercedes
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May 14, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Thank you. I truly appreciate this maam 🙂 God bless you
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