The Widow’s Fast 1 Kings 17:1-16

1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

1 Kings 17:2-3 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

1 Kings 17:4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

1 Kings 17:5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

1 Kings 17:6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

1 Kings 17:7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

1 Kings 17:8-9 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

1 Kings 17:10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

1 Kings 17:11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

1 Kings 17:12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

1 Kings 17:13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

1 Kings 17:14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.

1 Kings 17:15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

1 Kings 17:16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

The Widow’s Fast in the Bible Is not this the fast that I have chosen? . . . Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Isaiah 58:6,7

The Widow’s Fast in the Bible Anna, the Prophetess, “And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” Luke 2:37

The Widow’s Fast in the Bible And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. Luke 21:3-4

The Widow’s Fast in the Bible Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2

The Widow’s Fast in the Bible For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 2 Corinthians 8:3-4

How to Observe the Widow’s Fast Step 1: Become Others Oriented

How to Observe the Widow’s Fast Step 2: Recognize Your Own Blessings

How to Observe the Widow’s Fast Step 3: Use Some of Your Grocery Money

How to Observe the Widow’s Fast Step 4: Fast and Pray for Guidance

How to Observe the Widow’s Fast Step 5: Pray for Those You Help

How to Observe the Widow’s Fast Step 6: Identify with Others’ Suffering

How to Observe the Widow’s Fast Step 7: Consider a Long-Term Investment

Practical Principles to Remember Learn to Identify Other Specific Human Needs

Practical Principles to Remember Learn the Monetary Value of the Food You would Consume in a Typical Day

Practical Principles to Remember Note the Value of Spending the Money to meet the need before You begin fasting

Practical Principles to Remember Set Specific Goals

Practical Principles to Remember Learn to Identify with those You Serve

Practical Principles to Remember Look for specific ways to Reduce Your Personal Cost of Living to Enable You to Contribute more to the needs of Others