Fasting For God and His Purposes

Many are "fasting" this weekend around the world to assist World Vision in the 30-Hour Famine to bring light and attention to the issue of world hunger. We too will be joining in as the weekend begins. However, the "famine" we partake in is not about us, but our reliance upon our God and prayer, to change not only the lives of the millions of hungry children and families, but the hunger inside of each of us to know our Lord and Savior in a more personal way.

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for,they disfigure their faces to show others they are Fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father Who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.(Matthew 6:16-18)

"Fasting" is a very important spiritual discipline often misused or even forgotten in today's CHRISTIann circles. We often here of various fasting plans, but many are now done for weight loss or general health and have nothing if little to do with spiritual goals. However, if we research the Bible, from Moses, to Daniel, to Esther, the prophet Joel, Nehemiah as he prepared to go back and build the wall, David on many occasions, and even Jesus as He began His earthly ministry . . . .fasting was and IS a vital part of a believer's life. Fasting not only brings one closer to God, but also brings one closer to the needs of others! As we turn over our plates so to say, we focus our attention on the Lord, His provisions, others' needs, and the Spirit's control over our very own selfish desires. We begin to recognize how weak we are physically and how extremely dependent we are upon our God. When the disciples could not heal the epileptic boy, they were confused as to why they could not, yet Jesus did. Jesus replied to them,"However, this kind (a demon) does not go out except by prayer and fasting." (Matthew 17:21)