Fasting is not:
• an alien
practice. It has the support of both Old and New Testaments, featured in the
life and teaching of Jesus (Matthew
4:2; 6:16-18, 'when you fast'), and in the
early church (Acts 13:2);
• a mark of
spiritual superiority (Luke
18:9-14);
• an attempt to
persuade a reluctant God to fulfill our desires. That is more like manipulation
or magic than prayer. Prayer is about relationship with God and discovering his
mind rather than getting our way (Ezra
8:21-23; 2 Chronicles 20:2-4).
Fasting is:
• a means of
giving up certain things in order to give more time and spiritual energy to God
(I Corinthians 9:24-27);
• a
demonstration of our priorities. It shows that we love God before other things
and that we are serious about out spiritual life. As we put other things aside
we draw closer to him (Joel 2:15-17);
• an indication
that we are serious about God, his way in the world and what we are praying
about (Isaiah 58:5-7);
• not only about
giving up food. There may be other things to give up too - hobbies, work, even
sex (I Corinthians 7:5);
• often
associated with repentance, demonstrating sorrow for sin (Joel
2:12.13).
Copy Right: Afghan Christians Web Page 2001
Home
Last Update: Feb 2001