Day 5: God’s Fast

You say, “Why have we fasted and You have not been impressed? Why have we been hard on ourselves and You have not even noticed?” I, the LORD, say, “Because you are fasting to please yourselves and even while you are fasting, you oppress your workers. What good is your fasting if it ends in quarreling and strife and hitting each other with your fists? You cannot fast like this and expect your voice to be heard by Me.” Isaiah 58: 3-4
Jesus said, “When you fast, do not look miserable like hypocrites do. They dishevel themselves so their fasting will be noticed and admired by others. I tell you the truth, that is their only reward. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be noticed by others but only by your Father who is unseen. Your Father, who sees you in private, will reward you.”
Matthew 6: 16

Isaiah 58 outlines the kind of fast or response that God wants from us. He doesn’t want what the Israelites had been giving Him: a stolid, pious, self-righteous, cold, calculating, look-at-me, tit-for-tat, complaining, religious attitude.

God did notice them, what they were really thinking. They were fasting so that He would give them whatever they craved, without the humbling prayer part. And they were trying to squeeze more work out of their helpless, tired, hungry and sick workers and relatives. They were getting into fights about who was the most religious. They weren’t fasting to humble themselves before God in prayer and listen to Him. They were just playing church and acting gloomy, to be noticed by the people they thought mattered. They were fasting to puff up their own egos. They were bowing their heads in front of everyone, and then advertising that they were religiously sleeping in sackcloth and ashes. All the while, they were pretending that their fasting was about God. This was going on during Isaiah’s time (800 years prior to Jesus) and was still continuing during the time of Jesus! They just weren’t getting it!

So what is the kind of fast that God wants, that Jesus described and carried out? One that comes from a sincere and a generous heart. Doing His kind of fast in private will not stir up a woe-is-me attitude! Don’t discontinue doing good works while you are fasting. You will feel energetic, like the rising sun. If someone gets a whiff about you fasting, all they will see is joy, lightness and right actions. Let whatever is happening point to God, not to you. The reward you will find is precious time spent feasting on God’s word!

What are the rules for fasting as a spiritual discipline? Whatever they are, they are not detailed in the Bible, only known by custom and that varies. But we do know that God cares more about your attitude and goal. The how-to’s are up to you! For encouragement and accountability, you might want to partner with someone you trust. If you haven’t yet, join us on this 30 Day Fast and know that others are seeking God this way also. Subscribe for each day’s post by submitting your email address at the bottom of this blog page.

Review how your fast is going so far. You want a plan that you can follow through on. Is your plan specific enough? Is it too simple or too complicated? Does it include enough prayer? Is it focused on God? Are you recording your progress? It is okay to adjust it at this point.

What have I learned or felt so far?

Dearest Christ, amplify my reason to fast for these 30 days, show me Your heart about it. But first of all, I want to be hungry for You! Feed me with Your presence. Amen.