Cheerfulness In fasting it is virtuous to conceal our suffering and discomfort with cheerfulness. Matthew 6: 16 – 18 says, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when […]
Cravings Fasting has a way of revealing what our hearts really crave. It can reveal what our soul needs and how we satisfy those deepest wants. Matthew 4: 2- 4, tells us, “After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of […]
Thirsts Let your thirsts drive you to God that he may satisfy your desires and meet the needs of your soul. Psalm 63:1 reminds us, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land when there is no water.” […]
Replacing vs. Abstaining Fasting is more about replacing than it is about abstaining – replacing normal daily activities with focused praying, confessing, feeding on the Word and worshiping the Lord. Nehemiah 9: 1- 3 reminds us “On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and having dust […]
Spiritual Inventory Fasting is one of the most important things a believer and follower of Jesus Christ can do. It is an opportunity to take serious spiritual inventory of our soul (mind, will and emotion) and examine our spiritual fruitfulness. The more capacity we can create for God to occupy will put us into a […]
Real Hunger Fasting is a struggle against the flesh and is emotionally and physically demanding; in this we discover what we really hunger for. There is great truth to this statement. Fasting has a way of revealing what we will fight for. If our flesh continues to dictate our mindsets, followed by our choices and […]
Discerning Fasting is a tool that aids in discerning the call of God in our lives. Fasting helps us slow down and hear God’s voice. Acts 9:3-6, 9 says, “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and hears a voice say to […]
Yearnings Fasting is ultimately a yearning for something missing. Something was previously experienced but now is absent from our lives. Matthew 9: 14 – 15, “Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast? Jesus answered, ‘How can the guests of the […]
Confession Remember to accompany your fast with confession of sin. Confess your sin, our spiritual weaknesses your lack of dependence on God, through this we can experience the cleansing forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Take the time to read 1 John 1 – 2 1 Samuel 7:6, “When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water […]
Dependence Fasting is a humbling experience that reveals who or what we really depend upon or are controlled by. What a sobering thought. Psalm 69:10 says, ” When I weep and fast…” We need to be humble before God in all times. “More than any other single discipline fasting reveals the things that control us. […]