What Fasting Is All About
Dear reader,
Sweet girl Koko here 👋🏾
I trust that you read the last blog article Bukola wrote — Gentleness. And if you have not read it, I advise you to check it out and share it with a friend.
Happy Good Friday! Remember that Christ is the reason we celebrate 🎊
For #goodfriday movie recommendations, click here
Let me tell you what I did in the last three weeks.
I struck a balance between my school projects and spiritual growth. I was given to fear, felt lonely, and it seemed my heart was growing cold. For these reasons, I entered a fast.
What does it mean to fast? Why should I fast? When should I fast?
First, when we fast, it should not be to look righteous or perfect. I have heard boastings about how long some people stayed without food or water. You should know that fasting is not a spiritual ego boost.
It is simply a practice of humbling yourself before God. And allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal your spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life.
John Piper wrote in his book (Hunger for God),
“Christian fasting, at its root, is the hunger of a homesickness for God. Christian fasting is not only the spontaneous effect of superior satisfaction in Go. But it is also a chosen weapon against every force in the world that would take that satisfaction away.”
This can only mean that Fasting helps to rekindle our intimacy with God.
Luke 4:1-2 KJV says,
“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted by the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were finished, he afterwards hungered.”
Jesus fasted before he started his public ministry. He understood that he needed to prepare Himself for His assignment. So, He was led to the wilderness to seek God.
Then Isaiah 58:3–5,
‘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 responded. “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 think this will please the Lord?
In this passage, the Lord points out how the posture of our hearts and characters should be when we fast. The Israelites were pretentious and unwilling to turn from their wicked ways. So, their fast was not genuine. It was unpleasant to God.
Finally, in Matthew 6:16–18, we see Jesus teaching His disciples how to fast.
“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. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 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.
During a fast, the posture of our hearts is so vital.
We must be deliberate about humbling our hearts and surrendering ourselves to be pruned by the Holy Spirit.
In the end, we are refreshed mentally, spiritually, and physically. And our faith and confidence in God are reinforced.
So, dear reader,
If you haven’t fasted in a while, this is your cue to do so. And if you have been boastful because you fast often, this is your cue to repent.
I hope that the next time I write to you, you should have put my cues to use.
Love,
Koko
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter to keep up with our daily updates.
