Time to fast...

[MomsterLuv]

I have fasted a few times, and your question really blessed me in more ways than you can know (I'll explain later).

I think fasting is a really under emphasized, in part because of the admonition of Matthew 6:16 "Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward in full".  So, those who have fasted tend to keep it on the DL, but there is a fine line with this, as with all our works before the Lord.  I'm not saying to advertise when we fast, but I am saying that we should encourage it's practice because I believe there is really a great, deep, spiritual thing in it.  (No, I'm not some weird, crystal wearing nut job, I'm actually pretty conservative nerdy).  There are many purposes and many results but there is always a spiritual communion with God that results. 

I mean, it's a practical way to deal with many things.

 For example; worry and fear.  See, me...like many people one of the things I do when I worry or am afraid is eat eat, but God's word is contrary to this tendencies of the natural man.  The spiritual man isn't ruled by the flesh, but he rules his flesh in submission to the Holy Spirit.  God's word encourages us not to worry, for it accomplishes nothing. Queen Esther was worried and afraid when Mordecai admonished her to go before the king, her husband.  She told Mordecai to assemble others to fast for her and also that she and her maidens would also fast.  Out of that, she not only gained courage but also the added bonus of discretion and wisdom. (Esther 4"16-5:1)

Fasting is also wonderful for preparation and alignment with the Spirit of God as with  Paul and Barnabas, both set apart prepared for their first missionary journey with fasting (Acts 13:2-3).  When we fast, we have hunger which triggers a reminder that we are fasting and triggers our thoughts to God.  When I fast, every-time I get hungry or see something I want to chuck down my mouth I pray. To continually deny my flesh for God's divine purpose. How great is it that we call so wholly on our great and mighty God to prepare our purpose and plot our plans?  How marvelous to allow God the first fruits of our intent and begin with a desire to align our minds, our attitude and our purpose with His perfection for His glory?

Humility and revelation are perhaps my favorite reasons and results of fasting.  Our hearts are wicked and as much as we show our best side, there is always the other side.  Really, a believer is tormented by what he knows is that other side and in fasting, we humble ourselves before the Lord and He is faithful to reveal and restore. God is so good.  Boy do I love Him and I am so thankful for His Word which has saved me from myself more times than I can count.

All in all, my favorite passage on fasting is Isaiah 58.

"Cry loudly, do not hold back; Raise your voice like a trumpet, and declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways, as a nation that has done righteousness and has not forsaken the ordinances of their God. 'They ask Me for just decisions, they delight in the nearness of God.

'Why have we fasted and You do not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?' Behold, on the day of your fast, you find your desire, and drive hard all your workers. "Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist. You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high.

"Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one's head like a reed and for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord? Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke? "Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not hide yourself from your won flesh?

"Then your light will break out like the dawn and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. "Then you will call and the Lord will answer' you will cry, and He will say, 'Here I AM'. If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking of wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday.  "And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in the scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. "Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the ag-old foundations; and you will be called repairer of the breech, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell.

Jacob was the trickster, working out his schemes. Israel, the same man was he who was governed by God.  I just love that God used the name Jacob rather than Israel. I love that God acknowledges the absolute imperfection of his people and still calls them righteous.  He still knows that they seek and delight to know His ways.

I love that God teaches His people that they mix up their actions with worldly pursuits, injustice, finger pointing, greed and indifference and god restores them to godliness and directs their paths to good and righteousness.  But it's not just that, He promises not just freedom, not just forgiveness and not just restoration.  God promises blessing, tremendous, indestructible, overflowing blessings.

How great is My God!