Fasting is a divine corrective to the pride of the human heart. It is a discipline of body with a tendency to humble the soul. ~ Arthur Wallis ~
Why don't Your disciples fast like John's disciples and the Pharisees do? {Mark 2:18}
You have undoubtedly tried many things to move closer to God - prayer, worship, reading the Bible and joining a cell group. You might have devoted yourself to the church or to serving the community. Do you ever fast as an act of surrender and dedication? Some Christians do, and give the money they save in this way to the poor who don't have much to eat.
People in Jesus' time fasted as a token of remorse and confession. The original law of the Old Testament demanded that people should fast once a year. Later on, it was increased to four times. In Jesus' time, the Pharisees fasted twice a week. In the times of the apostles, Christians sometimes fasted for a specific occasion, especially when they prayed in earnest for a new missionary outreach (see Acts 13:2; 14:23).
Jesus fasted when He was tempted in the wilderness and it is likely that He fasted four times a year as the Old Jewish custom stipulated. He didn't give His disciples any specific instructions about fasting and neither did Paul.
If you are convinced that God wants you to go without food, do it. You might wish to do it from time to time as a sign of remorse and confession, or to be enabled to concentrate more on prayer and meditation. You may also fast as an act of love for Jesus, or as a way of showing your sincere concern for the millions of hungry people all over the world. Don't feel pressurized, but fast as a sign of your commitment to Him.
Jesus, You broke the bread at the Sea of Galilee. Break the bread for those who have nothing to eat. Amen.
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