A reminder for
today
“And whenever you are
fasting, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they put on a sad and
dismal face [like actors, discoloring their faces with ashes or dirt] so that
their fasting may be seen by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward
in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head [as you
normally would to groom your hair] and wash your face so that
your fasting will not be noticed by people, but by your Father who is in
secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18)
Prayer and Fasting (Marilyn Hickey)
The combination of fasting and praying is not a fad or a
novelty approach to spiritual discipline. Fasting and praying are not part of a
human-engineered method or plan. They are not the means to manipulate a
situation or to create a circumstance. Fasting and praying are Bible-based
disciplines that are appropriate for all believers of all ages throughout all
centuries in all parts of the world.
Through the years, I have learned that many people in the
church have never been taught about fasting and prayer, and many have therefore
never fasted and prayed. As a result, they don't know why fasting and praying
are important, what the Bible teaches about fasting, or how to fast. To many,
fasting sounds like drudgery -- or a form of religious works. To others, fasting
sounds extremely difficult. People tend to stand in awe at reports of those who
have fasted for several weeks. When I hear about such fasts, I no doubt think
what they think: If I fasted that long, I'd die! I couldn't possibly do that!
KEY REASONS TO FAST AND PRAY
I do, however, encourage every believer to fast and pray for
two very important reasons:
1. The Scriptures
Teach Us to Fast and Pray
The Bible has a great deal to say about both fasting and
praying, including commands to fast and pray. The Bible also gives us examples
of people who fasted and prayed, using different types of fasts for different
reasons, all of which are very positive results. Jesus fasted and prayed.
Jesus' disciples fasted and prayed after the Resurrection. Many of the Old Testament
heroes and heroines of the faith fasted and prayed. The followers of John the
Baptist fasted and prayed. Many people in the early church fasted and prayed.
What the Scriptures have taught us directly and by the examples of the saints
is surely something we are to do.
2. Fasting and Prayer Put You into the Best Possible
Position for a Breakthrough
That breakthrough might be in the realm of the spirit. It
may be in the realm of your emotions or personal habits. It may be in the realm
of a very practical area of life, such as a relationship or finances. What I
have seen repeatedly through the years-not only in the Scriptures but in
countless personal stories that others have told me -- is that periods of
fasting and prayer produce great spiritual results, many of which fall into the
realm of a breakthrough.
THE PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL FASTING
There are two main overriding principles related to prayer
and fasting in the Bible. First, biblical fasting is going without food. The
noun translated "fast" or "a fasting" is tsom in the Hebrew
and nesteia in the Greek language. It means the voluntary abstinence from food.
The literal Hebrew translation would be "not to eat." The literal
Greek means "no food."
I know people who say they go without television or movies,
and they call these "fasting" times. I'm not opposed to that
definition of fasting-fasting does imply that we are giving up one thing in
order to replace it with something else, and in the Bible sense, specifically
to replace it with prayer. But in the main, I believe fasting has to do with
our abstaining from food. Second, biblical fasting is linked with serious
seasons of prayer. The more seriously we approach prayer and fasting, the more
serious the results we will experience.
Abstaining from food is often God's way of showing that His
desire for us is that we regain mastery over all things associated with our
flesh in order to subdue our flesh and elevate our emphasis on spiritual
matters. God's promise is to help us as we overcome the flesh and put all
carnal temptations into subjection.
Lord, teach us to fast according to your will. In Jesus
name.
Have an awesome day dear friend of Jesus.
Cheers