Good day beautiful people,
I hope that your week has been purposeful, and that you’ve not bypassed any opportunities for growth? Today I’ll be sharing my experience on fasting, and I hope you can learn a thing or two.
Matthew 6:16 ~ “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.”
Fasting is not about trying to bend/twist God’s arm in order to get a blessing. It’s not about trying to force God to change His plans, or timings for our life. Neither does it mean we’ll automatically get blessed more, for doing so. It’s about drawing closer to God and saying, ‘Lord I surrender my pleasures before you! You are more important to me than anything else in this world’. Fasting like prayer should be a way of life for a believer, if one is physically able to fast. Fasting can also help one receive clarity and direction, in specific areas of their life.
This time round the Holy Spirit has strongly challenged me to SHOW kindness to others by going the extra mile. I can help support those whom God has placed around me in various different ways. At time’s when I’m not eating, I can potentially run errands, or bake a treat, and gift it to a friend.
Isaiah 58:2-6 ~ “Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me. ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why!” I respond. “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord? “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people.”
As mentioned earlier fasting is a time to draw closer to God through prayer, and delving into the word (the bible)! I also believe that LIVING out the word of God is an important aspect of fasting. We can live out the gospel by walking in obedience to God’s commands. We’re commanded to LOVE God, and to love our neighbour. Our love for God can be expressed through us not allowing idols (social media, certain foods, clothes, cars etc) grab hold of our attention, and we can show love to others through lending a helping hand to those in need.
Also be careful not to get so preoccupied with just ‘doing stuff’, instead of spending quality time with God. For example in my case, when fasting I’d spend a lot of time writing up blogs posts, instead of spending the majority of my time getting intimate with The Lord. Don’t get me wrong I did pray, read, study scripture, listen to the odd sermon, but the Holy Spirit has been nudging me to go even deeper, in God’s presence. God wants MORE of my heart. I feel God convicting me about putting more effort into our relationship, by vamping up my prayer life. And I’ll be very honesty and say that I’ve allowed sleep to get in the way of my prayer walk. I hear God call, but my feather duvet sends me to sleep pretty quickly! I desire to spend more time meditating on scripture, and praying at night, rather than spending hours browsing on the internet 🙈! And I believe that the Holy Spirit will help me achieve this goal.
Psalm 27:8 ~ My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”
James 4:8 ~ Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
I’d like to encourage us as believers to spend quality time with our Heavenly Father! Also do not feel discouraged if you’re unable to fast due to medical reasons etc, you can still enjoy valuable time with The Lord. There are many things one can give up for a period of time, other than food! You can refrain from partaking in activities which consume A LOT of your time, activities which can potentially become idols in your life.
Anyways I hope you had a wonderful week thus far? Stay safe, take care, and God bless.
Love from
Christian Lady After God’s Own Heart
https://christianladyaftergodsownheart.co.uk/shop/
^^^Get your free Christian eBooks by clicking the link above!