What is the Real purpose of Fasting?Lent is upon us
and I desire to quickly. I also wish to drop weight. I think I will quit red meat or chocolate. Perhaps I will just offer up meat on Fridays. I actually desire to quick this year. I will try the “Daniel Diet plan.” That sounds like a good scriptural fast. But Why? Why do i even wish to quickly? It appears like a lot of effort and self sacrifice. Genuinely fasting is not about weight reduction or eating healthy for a brief duration of time. Numerous individuals think fasting has to do with providing up something you like that you understand is not great for you. HMMM. I understand it is bad for me, but I need an unique celebration to offer it up for a little while. Is this how Christians are called to live? Is this the scriptural function of fasting. In the bible there are 3 main factors to fast:1) To repent and look for God’s forgiveness
2) To look for God’s assistance
3) To seek a better, committed, and submissive relationship with God.I wish to look for a more detailed, devoted, and submissive relationship with God. If you read the whole sixth chapter of The Gospel According to Matthew you will see 5 seemingly unrelated styles – Offering to the Needy, Prayer, Fasting, Treasures in Paradise, and Do Not Worry. Though they seem unassociated they are closing connected together. In Isaiah 58 God highlights the fasting he appreciates is taking care of those in need. So when we checked out Jesus teaching his disciples the importance of providing to those in requirement and giving for the sake of love not to impress other men, in essence Jesus is teaching a crucial tenet of fasting.Tenet # 1: Fasting is
offering to those in need out of love and not out of show.Throughout the bible we see that fasting
is also associated with prayer. When Jonah went to Nineveh and preached their approaching doom the king tore his clothing, put on sack cloth, fasted and hoped commanding the people to do the exact same. When Esther decided to go to the king to conserve her individuals she asked Mordecai to ask the people to join her for 3 days of fasting and hoping. So we see Jesus teaches is disciples to effectively hope before he teaches them about fasting.Tenet # 2: Reliable prayer is essential for an effective fast.When we genuinely quickly we connect with God and we take our prayer life to a greater level as we look for a closer relationship with Him. Even as we hope Jesus taught us to begin with honoring and worshiping God. We start by sending ourselves to Him and we pray that His Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Our fast is to get rid of self. Our fast is to reject self. Our fast is to recommit to God. Our quick has to do with a direct relationship with God and has nothing to do with individuals who sit next to us in church. We do not look for approval of man. So Jesus states do not be like the hypocrites. Wash your face, fix your hair and correct your clothes so that it is not apparent you are fasting.Tenet # 3: This is only in between you and God!The things you provide for God is between you and Him and just those things will last. Approval of guy is temporary.
Earthly treasures are momentary. A position of authority is short-term. Just the things you provide for God will last. You can not serve 2 masters. Fasting focuses your attention on God and His Will. Fasting helps us to understand that God needs us to put nothing prior to Him. The main reason we reject ourselves is to put God first. To put God above all things. When you fast keep in mind God’s 1st rule;” You shall have no other gods before me “. Tenet # 4: Have no other gods prior to me.Many times the cares of the world make it hard for us to truly seek God. We stress over the lease, food, clothing, how our hair looks etc. We worry about our daily needs and this is easy to understand. As
we grow in Christ we understand stressing hinders our
development. However be encouraged. God is the developer and keeper of the earth. The earth is His and the fullness thereof. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. The Lord IS your Shepherd and in Him there is no want. If he takes care of the birds and the flowers just how much more will he look after you His Child? As we fast, as we seek a closer relationship with God he wants us to be comforted and not to stress. God wants us to seek very first His Kingdom and His Righteousness and he will look after all our needs. To seek His Kingdom reflects us developing a more detailed relationship with God and ending up being submissive to His Will. To seek His Righteousness returns to how we treat our brothers and sisters. God states Love Him initially and primary and to love each other as we like ourselves.Tenet # 5: Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.So true fasting is not about quiting something that we know is bad for us. Real fasting is not about an unique diet. A real quick is not about weight loss.A true fast is to look for God’s forgiveness, God’s help
, or God’s relationship.- Fasting Diet