FASTING
Fasting is a Biblical practice that is not often thought of as part of the modern Christian culture in America. What is it for? Why would you do it? What are the benefits? I recently did a small study on fasting in the Bible. To my surprise, there was not a lot of focus in the Bible on how to fast. Fasting is only mentioned a handful of times in the Old Testament and again in the New Testament. There is no instruction that I have found on when it might have been required or how to do it.
Fasting is mentioned in Isaiah 58. God challenges Israel that they are fasting and asking for help. But their hearts are not right before Him. How can they expect God to answer their call for help through their actions, when their hearts before God are not correct? Joel 2 mentions fasting as a call to repentance, to turn back toward God. Ezra 8 mentions fasting in the context of asking God for direction on what to do. Esther 4 mentions fasting as a way to request protection from God before she approaches the king.
In the New Testament, Jesus gave instruction about not flaunting when you fast. In Mathew 6, he said that you should act normal when fasting and your Father in heaven will reward you. In Acts 13 and 14 we see the believers fasting as they send out disciples and as they make important decisions regarding who the elders of the church should be.
Fasting was obviously a big part of the Old Testament and New Testament church/believers. It seems clear that there were at least 3 specific reasons to fast outside of tradition. Those were to repent, to ask God for help, or to seek an answer from God. So what are the benefits of fasting?
Fasting allows us to set aside extra time (the time we would be eating) to devote to prayer and meditation, to seek God’s answer or help on something. It allows us to practice self discipline as we say no to satisfying hunger. This can carry over into other spiritual disciplines as we practice abstaining from something, in this case, food. Fasting also gives us an opportunity to rely on God for strength for the day instead of relying on food.
Fasting can be different for everybody. It can be fasting from one meal. It can be fasting for one day or multiple days. It can be fasting from food but still drinking water and other liquids. You can fast from a particular item (like your phone or TV). Everybody’s life and activity is different and fasting should be adjusted to where you are in life. But I would encourage you to pray and ask God what it would look like to fast. How can you include this spiritual practice in your life to draw you closer to Him?
Fasting is mentioned in Isaiah 58. God challenges Israel that they are fasting and asking for help. But their hearts are not right before Him. How can they expect God to answer their call for help through their actions, when their hearts before God are not correct? Joel 2 mentions fasting as a call to repentance, to turn back toward God. Ezra 8 mentions fasting in the context of asking God for direction on what to do. Esther 4 mentions fasting as a way to request protection from God before she approaches the king.
In the New Testament, Jesus gave instruction about not flaunting when you fast. In Mathew 6, he said that you should act normal when fasting and your Father in heaven will reward you. In Acts 13 and 14 we see the believers fasting as they send out disciples and as they make important decisions regarding who the elders of the church should be.
Fasting was obviously a big part of the Old Testament and New Testament church/believers. It seems clear that there were at least 3 specific reasons to fast outside of tradition. Those were to repent, to ask God for help, or to seek an answer from God. So what are the benefits of fasting?
Fasting allows us to set aside extra time (the time we would be eating) to devote to prayer and meditation, to seek God’s answer or help on something. It allows us to practice self discipline as we say no to satisfying hunger. This can carry over into other spiritual disciplines as we practice abstaining from something, in this case, food. Fasting also gives us an opportunity to rely on God for strength for the day instead of relying on food.
Fasting can be different for everybody. It can be fasting from one meal. It can be fasting for one day or multiple days. It can be fasting from food but still drinking water and other liquids. You can fast from a particular item (like your phone or TV). Everybody’s life and activity is different and fasting should be adjusted to where you are in life. But I would encourage you to pray and ask God what it would look like to fast. How can you include this spiritual practice in your life to draw you closer to Him?
by Michael Hasty, Deacon
Posted in Faith Blogs
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