Why do I fast? Because I want to hear God more clearly. It’s not something I can admit I do often, but I believe I should. Some may look at fasting as a challenge or an opportunity to lose weight, which are not the right intentions, but done with the right intentions you’re bound to see God work in your life in ways you may never thought possible. It’s a voluntary action to which one, usually fast food, as in scripture usually describes as “choice food,” and instead eat vegetables and drink water only, or totally abstain from food altogether but free to drink all the water you deem necessary. If you feel led to fast something other than food, as I have done before and will from time to time apply to my fasting practices, that’s totally between you and the Holy Spirit.
I’m not one to get all political on what you should and shouldn’t fast, or if you should fast gluten or not, this is between you and God. Your sacrifice to Him. Now if you haven’t fasted before… maybe take baby steps. Fast one meal a day. I have some friends that go the whole 40 days with only water. I’m looking forward to a 40 day fast starting this Monday January 15, 2018. If you’d like to join please contact me and I’ll give you more info and the team of friends that are on this journey as well. We actually are scattered all over the states and have conference calls on certain nights.
One very important aspect to fasting is not to make it known to everyone. Yes, I may be blogging about it now, but this is also an invitation and encouragement to do so. It’s not to gain the opportunity to brag or status of achievement. This is about your relationship becoming more intimate with Christ and focusing on the nitty gritty.
Matthew 6:16-18 (NLT)
16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair[a] and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Fasting is a discipline that Jesus demonstrated from time to time. It’s a time of denying our fleshly desires and hone in on our spiritual connection with God. It’s also a time of preparation of what is about to unfold in one’s life. In the following two scripture we have Jesus’s 40 days of fasting, and Daniels, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah tasty vegetable diet. I’ve recorded an audio version of each story for you convenience.
Matthew 4:1-11 (NLT)
The Temptation of Jesus
“4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
3 During that time the devil[a] came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’[c]”
7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’[d]”
8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’[e]”
11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.”
Daniel 1 (NLT)
Daniel 1 (NIV)
Daniel’s Training in Babylon
“1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.[b] 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and winefrom the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.”
I encourage and challenge you to examine your life and seek God out if He is calling you to fast. Is your busy life and excuses getting in the way of your prayer life? Are gadgets and media consuming your time? Maybe addictions and temptations consuming you? Is there a big decision that you must overcome? A big next step, opportunity or responsibility coming your way? Why not live by Jesus’s and Daniels example. Give up these pleasures of your life for just awhile and get serious with God. No excuse is good enough not to fit God in. He will speak to you and lead you, but if your attention is divided, what is it to Him unless we show him the same genuine love we know He has for us?
Refined as Pure Gold 