“Be careful NOT TO PERFORM YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS before men TO BE SEEN by them. If you do, you will HAVE NO REWARD from your Father in heaven….” Matthew 6: 1 BSB (Emphasis mine)
In today’s edition, we are going to look at one of the righteous acts taught by Jesus as part of His sermon on the mountain in relation to fasting. But before we delve into the intricacy of fasting, let us try to define it in order to aid our understanding of the concept of fasting.
Fasting is the abstinence from all or some kinds of food or drink, especially as a religious observance. Fasting is essentially giving up food (or something else) for a period of time in order to focus your thoughts on God. While fasting, it is required for people to read the Bible, pray, or worship. Fasting is found throughout the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, over fifty times! Fasting is a spiritual discipline that is taught in the Bible. Jesus expected His followers to fast, and He said that God rewards fasting. Fasting, according to the Bible, means to voluntarily reduce or eliminate your intake of food for a specific time and purpose.
There are three categories of fasting. The first category is the DECREED FASTING which has to do with the commemoration of biblical events e.g. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) (Lev. 16:29–31; 23:27–32; Num. 29:7). this is the only fast ordained in the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old testament). There are several other examples of the decreed fast during the first and second temple periods in the Old testament. These includes TISHAH BE-AV, a day of mourning for the destruction of the First and Second Temples (Jer. 52:12–13), ẒOM GEDALYAH (the Fast of Gedaliah), in memory of the slaying of Gedaliah and his associates (Jer. 41:1–2; II Kings 25:25) and TA’ANIT ESTER which the Fast of Esther (Esth. 4:16).
The second category of fasting is the LEADERSHIP FAST which has to do with the religious leaders decree a fast based on their convictions to their followers. For instance, we find many church leaders decreeing 3days, 7days, 21days or even 40days fasting for their congregation. Sometimes leaders of nations can also decree a fast for their nationals. A typical example is when the president of Ghana decreed a national day of fasting which were observed by both Christians and Muslims during the wake COVID-19. A biblical example was when a national fasting was declared in Nineveh where both humans and animals fasted (Jonah 3:5).
The third category is the personal fast, which has to do with an individual initiating a fast based on his/her personal conviction or needs. For instance, Daniel sought the face of God through fasting (Daniel 9:3), David humbled himself in a fast (Psalms 35:13), Jesus also embarked on a personal 40days fasting (Matthew 4:1-2) and a widow also embarked on a personal fasting in Luke 2:37.
Beloved, fasting must not be seen as a torture but as a requirement to the enhancement of our spirituality. Our walk with God will never be complete without fasting and prayer because; fasting and prayer can help us hear from God directly, they can reveal our hidden sin, they can strengthen intimacy with God, enable us to pray with right motives, and can finally build our faith. Not only does fasting and prayer help us focus on God, but through that period, it brings us closer to Him and changes our hearts.
Therefore, it is expedient to know how to fast the most effective way to enjoy its benefits or blessing. In the next edition, we will discover the various types and the most effective way to fast. God bless us all.
PRAY WITH ME
Lord Jesus, I thank you this day for my life. From this day forward, I have resolved in my heart not to see fasting as a torture but rather a blessing. I will periodically embark on a fast to enhance my relationship with God. Holy Spirit, please guide and help me achieve this. This I pray in the precious name of Jesus! Amen!Author: REV. SOLOMON LUTTERODT
