Are you fasting to fast? 1-9-2023
Or are you fasting too fast? Some people like to fast at
this time of year, they fall into a couple of categories. Those who fast for
health, and those who fast for spiritual reasons.
If you are fasting for your health be sure to do healthy
things and not only abstaining from eating. Drink water, work out, you know, do
the right things. Get your vitamins!
If you are fasting for spiritual reasons it should be similar
to the physical but even more so because
you are focusing on God and your
spiritual health!
If your fast for spirit is not eating anything then be
careful that you do not walk over the line between the two; do not fast for
health and pretend it’s for the spiritual growth that you are fasting.
Many people fast just to fast. They are what I call ‘fad
fasters’. People who fast just for the sake of it because it is’ what they do’
are probably not going to gain any blessings in health or in spiritual growth
because they fast amiss. You may think I
am overthinking this but I have scriptures below to back me up. That really is
what we want is to focus on the scriptures and prayer time with God in order to
fast properly.
“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don’t
be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins! Yet they act so pious! They come
to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like
a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to
take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me.
‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you
impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’
“I will tell you why!” I respond. “It’s because you are
fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your
workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This
kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. You humble yourselves by
going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads, you dress in burlap and
cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think
this will please the Lord?
“No, this is the kind
of fasting I want: free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of
those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free and remove the chains that
bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need
your help. Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will
quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord
will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply. Isaiah 58:1-9
You see we can start out thinking we are doing the right thing,
but get caught up in the hoopla of fasting and forget that there should be a
purpose. We fast to please God, to get closer to Him and to see what it is He wants
for us to do. Some may fast for direction, others for understanding or even
healing; in all these things we can be fasting to please God not man if we focus
on Him and His Word.
What I learned is that when we fast we are to make a trade,
sort of, by replacing the time we would have spent eating with time in worship,
prayer and reading our Bibles, and then thinking on the things we learned.
Often we will write a journal during our fast then go back and read in the days
after to see all that we thought of during the times we felt our weakest or our
strongest. It is very beneficial to read because it shows us the instructions we
have gained, both spiritually and in understanding. Sure, some things we will remember but if you
are like me you may learn so much during your fast time that you forget some until
you re-read it.
“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites
do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them
for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever
get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. But when you fast,
comb your hair and wash your face. Then
no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you
do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-19
So, basically as Jesus said there, do not make it obvious
that you are fasting. A lot of people will go around telling everyone they are
fasting and being sad about it. Rejoice! Shout for Joy that you are taking part
in your time of fasting! Thank God for giving you the strength to complete the
fast His Spirit has prompted you to do. What I love is when I know someone is
fasting along with a group and I see them being offered something they are
abstaining from and the person just says something like,” Oh, no I’m fine
thanks!”, and that is all! No explanation. I have to admit that I have
mentioned it to people lately of one of the things I may fast, or have fasted,
but in this conversation I used it to explain the why, and how of fasting.
So remember, replace the thing you are fasting by prayer and
study in the Word. Meditating on the things you learn.
Respect the Lord by giving Him glory in all that you fast, and do during your
fast. Thank Him for the time spent, the thing you are praying for and give Him
praise even before you complete your allotted time for fasting.
Thank Him for helping you through it all, and all of that,
but focus on the healing, the growing stronger in faith, the clarity of His
Word.
In His Love,
Teresa Wilson