The Lost Art of Fasting

During times of personal trials, suffering and mourning, God's people would fast and pray. The operative word here being 'and'. Fasting without prayer is Weight Watchers. It may be great for our bodies but doesn't do anything for our Spiritual walk. Isaiah 57 shows that God is not interested in the rituall of fasting - but the results from fasting.

Fasting is not a way to get God's attention. We are the apple of His eye. It is an opportunity for God to get our undivided attention. I believe that God's desire for fasting is "thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."

During fasting my focus should be, "What does God want from me?" We begin this with an intense look at ourselves and the sin that "so easily entangles". Second, seek His face. Focus on His attributes, " praise Him for He is worthy of praise". Third, do you have a request? Lay it before Him. Fourth, and most important, listen. Too often in my walk I have found myself so determined to get my way that I am deaf to hearing from Him.

If I bring my desires or needs to God during a fast, does that mean He has to answer with a "yes"? --- Not necessarily. God is not our servant. We are supposed to be His. Stef brought up a great example of fasting from Davids life. He fasted over the illness of his child born out of adultery. The child died anyway. But later Solomon was born. He would be David's heir. Was this a delayed yes? God may answer yes, no or ....that yes may come 50 years from now. Our job is to be faithful and praise Him no matter what.