Fasting The Right Way



One of many ways to seek help from above is by fasting.
As much as we know that fasting is a process whereby the body is denied attention to many of its daily needs like food and some other things in other to concentrate more on God, yet there is a need to know the steps involved in carrying out this exercise correctly to achieve a desired result.

Fasting, without any argument is an inevitable step in seeking the face of God.

Unfortunately, with one goal of answers to prayer in mind, many are still getting it wrong.

 Isaiah 58:3-5, “Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not?

Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?
Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.  Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, And to smite with the fist of wickedness: Ye shall not fast as ye do this day, To make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, And to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
Wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?

Fasting is not a punishment but an avenue to get a quick response from God.

The period of fasting should be completely dedicated to God and God alone.
Fasting should not be carried out for a competition, strife and debate. It is done only for recognition before the Most High God and not before men.
Partaking in a fast when it is not settled in one’s heart to observe it, but was carried out because every other person was doing it, without a clear purpose for the exercise is not reason enough to engage in the fast. There must be a reason for the exercise. Remember, God never do a thing without purpose.

Unlike the Pharisees, it is believed that every man goes into fasting when there is a dire need for a divine intervention especially when it has to do with our health, future, finances, immediate family, parents, nation, jobs and loved ones. It is still not clear why somebody will just engage himself in a hunger strike all in the name of fasting to show off as a child of God.

However, the reason behind every fast is revealed by the type of reward that came thereafter.

Jesus admonished in Matthew 6:16-18, “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly”.

Two types of reward were clearly mentioned in this scripture;

1.   The reward of praise from man as a result of showmanship display of hypocrisy.

2.   The reward of answers to prayer by God having handled the exercise spiritually and according to His will.

There is a need to find out the reason for fasting that we might be able to determine the kind of result we hope to get.  The choice is actually yours!

There are scriptural principles that guide the execution of an acceptable fast with which God cannot turn down our requests.

 Isaiah 58:6-9, “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, And to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, And that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; And that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: And thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; Thou shalt cry, and he shall say, here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger and speaking vanity”.

Fasting period is a period of liberation, repentance, forgiveness, tolerance, restitution, amendment to broken relationship, giving, open-handedness, bigheartedness, generosity, kindness, love, affection and so on.

We need to acquaint ourselves with these doctrines of the bible before we embark on a journey to fast so that we can have required answers to our supplication.
We must settle it in our heart, agree with the Holy Spirit to see us through the period of solemnity, and then choose the time to start and go ahead as planned.

This is a wonderful opportunity that God has made available for man to get his voice heard in heaven. How often are you taken advantage of this privilege?

All He wants is your sincerity of heart, and here is fast at your disposal as an instrument to showcase yourself before Him.
What are you waiting for? Fast does not kill, rather it makes us to be spiritually awake.

Are you battling with a recurring sin in your life, an incurable disease, joblessness, infertility, affliction of one kind or the other; with the knowledge to do it the right way, engage God in fast and prayer, He will help you and bring the solution ashore.

 Nevertheless, as effective as fast could be, it may not really work for an unbeliever until he/she has reconciled and amended the broken relationship between him and his heavenly Father through His son Jesus Christ.

The opportunity therefore is there for you today, surrender your life to Jesus Christ. He is the only way, the true way and the true life; no one comes to the Father except by him.

Visit our new convert page and follow the instruction thereof.

It is a pleasure having you around here today.

We believe you have been touched with this publication.

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