Matthew 6:16 – 18 “And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and sour and dreary as the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to and seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. But when you fast, perfume your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.”
Today fasting has become trendy. There are all kinds of programs and apps to assist you in knowing how to fast, depending on your weight and body type. One of the best sources of information for Christian fasting is the article on Cru.org https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/fasting/how-to-do-a-biblical-fast.html This excellent article explains Biblical fasting, some Biblical examples and purposes of fasting, wrong motivations for fasting, right motivations for fasting, types of fasts, entering into a fast, continuing a fast, and ending a fast. I highly recommend this article. Here is their introduction:
“Biblical fasting can be defined as abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. Simply going without food because it is not available or because of medical reasons is not biblical fasting. There must be a spiritual motivation to qualify a fast as Scriptural.
John Piper writes in his book Hunger for God: “Christian fasting, at its root, is the hunger of a homesickness for God. Christian fasting is not only the spontaneous effect of superior satisfaction in God, it is also a chosen weapon against every force in the world that would take that satisfaction away.”
Fasting is a major component of spiritual warfare and should be respected as such. There were many examples of people in the Old Testament who fasted and prayed at the same time. Nehemiah fasted when he learned of the sad state of Jerusalem. Esther and her hand maidens and Mordecai and the Jews fasted before Esther went before the king to beg for the lives of her people. King David fasted, repenting and begging for the life of his first son with Bathsheba. But by the time of Jesus, the ultra – religious had turned fasting into a major show, trying to make certain that EVERYBODY KNEW THEY WERE FASTING!!! All we have to do to find out how these religious leaders behaved was to look at Jesus’ injunctions on what not to do. Evidently, they looked gloomy and sour and dreary and did not bathe or use normal perfumes – THEY WERE SOUR AND GLOOMY AND DREARY AND STINKY!!!
Jesus encouraged His followers to fast, not as a grim religious duty, but as a sign of love for their heavenly Father. Those fasting were not to run around with horrible expressions on their faces but were to be joyful! Today, if you choose to fast, do so as an expression of love for your heavenly Father. “And your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.”
PRAYER: Father, thank you for the privilege of coming before you in prayer. Thank you that you give us the freedom to fast as well. Help us to be wise in our fasting and to pray so that your Kingdom will fully come and your Will will be fully done in our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of Jesus. Amen.
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