..4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span…
…10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid…
…16 And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening. 1 Samuel 17:4,10,11,16

“The intercessor struck the giant a hundred times. On the hundredth blow, the giant fell. And then a voice asked, ‘Which blow was the most important?’”

Extended fasting can produce a breakthrough where other methods fail. Elijah’s experience with the forty day fast is a clear example of this. Elijah had just witnessed one of the most dramatic demonstrations of God’s power, yet despite this incredible victory on Mt. Carmel, Jezebel was still alive and dominating the land. Furious about the death of her prophets and under the possession of the spirit of Ashtoreth, Jezebel vowed to kill Elijah, who ran for his life. The Angel found Elijah on the verge of collapse and, after feeding him, the Lord initiated a forty day fast as Elijah journeyed to Mt. Horeb. I believe that this forty day fast was an act of spiritual warfare against Jezebel’s sorceries and that still today, the forty-day fast will help cleanse us from her influences.

In the book, ‘The Prophetic Whisper’ Richard Gazowsky shares the significance of a forty-day strategy that the Lord gave him:

“I am going to show you a secret vulnerability in Satan’s kingdom. His weakness is in the flies.” Later that day, we went to the Carmel Public Library and looked up the word “fly”...I discovered that the meaning of Beelzebub, one of the names of Satan is, “Lord of the Flies”...Scientists have discovered that flies have a reproductive period that lasts from four hours to over forty days, depending on the species. When pest controllers go to eradicate flies in a certain area, they spray pesticides every day for a forty-day period. If they destroy the reproductive cycles of presently existing flies, they can kill off a whole generation of future flies. I then saw what God was trying to show me...if a Christian will pray consistently for a forty day period he will be able to conquer most satanic strongholds in his life.

Not only did the forty-day fast break the power of Jezebel’s intimidation and influence, more importantly, it prepared Elijah to receive the most important commission of his life: to anoint Elisha.

Is there a Goliath in your life? Maybe that situation, addiction, or a stronghold is defying you. Your fast is a tremendous act of spiritual warfare. Take the stone of God’s word and sling it for forty days. Declare the victory of Christ over that thing that has taunted you. Goliath taunted the armies of Israel for 40 days and then came David with his stone and sling. Satan can’t hold on long, he is a sprinter. He may taunt for 40 days but your marathon stand could break Satan’s hold over you, your children and your circumstances. Let’s all move in faith for personal breakthroughs all over the world during this forty day fast.

Prayer: Father, we declare that this is the day of a breakthrough. God, we strike this giant over and over and over again with the stone of Your Word shot from the sling of our confession. We overcome our giants through your name. We declare before the powers of darkness taunting our lives that, “We overcome you by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of our testimony, and we love not our lives unto death.” Even now we shout in faith with the hosts of heaven, “Now salvation!” Revelation 12:10-11.