Published by MATHEW 6:16
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.”
Fasting what is that? Jesus is talking about going without food and drink for a specified period of time you determine is right for you. Some people fast for a whole day. Others may only do it for just one meal. People like me, with diabetes, cannot go the whole day but we could do one meal. The reason I know this is when we have to have our blood drawn to check our levels we have to fast for 12 hours. We can only drink water during the fast period.
Fasting is a subject we hear very little of in this day and age. I remember when the Wednesday evening service at church was called Prayer and Fasting, now it is called Prayer and Praise. We go and sing a few songs and hear a few testimonies and a short sermon. I do enjoy the time but what happened to Prayer and Fasting?
Fasting is not a new subject, as after Christ was born. Psalms 30:13 reads in part. “ Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting.” In the Old Testament times people would put on sackcloth to show they were in morning. They were in morning and were praying for the healing of people. They were so concerned for them that the writer fasted before God to get His healing for the people.
Mahatma Gandhi would go on long fasts to help get the people of India out from under the control of England. He put forth a peaceful revolution and it worked. India is free today.
During the 1960’s and 70’s IRA members would be put in jail and would go on a fast to either get out or for Northern Ireland to be free from England’s rule also. They have not succeeded.
If these people go on fasts to get what they want, why can’t Christians go on a fast to get the ear of God. Jesus told his followers and us during the Sermon on the Mount to fast. He even told us how to fast. We are to act like things are normal in our lives. We are not to brag to the world that we are fasting. Even our family should not know. It is a private time between God and us.
When we have a burden that weighs heavy on our hearts we are to fast. Fasting is a way of showing God we really mean business and want our prayers answered for the good of His glory.
Before the time of Jesus the Jews would take sacrifices to the temple. The priests would kill the animal and burn it on an altar. Several times in the book of Leviticus, when it talks about the burning of an offering it says that it is “an aroma pleasing to the Lord.” Today our prayers and fasting in “an aroma pleasing to the Lord.”
God loves us so much that Jesus said if we ask anything in His name it would come to pass. Getting the mind of God in prayer and fasting is a good way to know if we are asking just for selfish reasons or for God to get the glory out of the answer.
We are told Jesus fasted 40 days and nights before He entered His ministry. Paul went to the desert for a time of fasting after his conversion. Twice in Acts it tells us of the early church fasting. (Acts 13:2 and 14:23)
It seems that today’s church is into feasting instead of fasting. Look at any church and you will see more people that are overweight than those who are not. There is a story of three little boys in public school doing show and tell. One little boy went to the front of the class and shows a cup and says, “I am a Lutheran and this is a Communion Cup. We drink wine out of it during our time of Communion.”
The second little boy went to the front of the class and said, “I am a Catholic and this is a Cross with Jesus on it and we use when we pray.”
The third little boy went to the front of the class and said, “I am a Nazarene and this is a casserole.”
I am asking you during this Thanksgiving season to set aside some time for your spiritual renewing with fasting and prayer.
