How Not to 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 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, “Whenever you fast, do not make a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they make their faces sad so that they will be noticed by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But as for you, when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be noticed by people but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Matthew 6: 16-18

How not to fast:

Don’t fast to impress God.

Don’t fast as a magic formula to get what you want.

Don’t ignore humble service while you are fasting.

Don’t look miserable, gloomy or disheveled.

Don’t try to be noticed or appear super-spiritual.

God promises that while we humble ourselves, in private, during our fast, He will hear us and He will reward us! What could that reward be? Probably not a Porsche! But one reward will certainly be space to experience a more intimate relationship with Him. Another reward will be more clarity to understand your journey. And an additional reward could be an update on His next direction for your life.

Developing a habit of spiritual hunger through fasting and prayer will keep your eyes more firmly on Him as you continue to move through the life He has planned for you.

What reward are you looking for during your fast?

All-seeing Father, I always want to hunger for You and find You in my daily prayer and quiet time. But I ask that in this special time of focus on fasting and seeking You, I experience more of You. Spill over into my daily tasks and relationship encounters. I want a firmer heart for Your path as You begin to show me more. Amen.