What is fasting?

 BY Argie Simonis

Before we look deeper into fasting and all its benefits, we need to know what fasting really is and that if we are not careful it can be misused.

Fasting is NOT simply going without food. It is much more than that which many do not understand and give up because they do not see any immediate benefit in their lives.

A characteristic example of misuse of fasting is found in Matthew 6:

"Moreover when you fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear to men to fast. Truly I say to you, They have their reward." Μatt. 6:16

Fasting is something between us and God. So when we do it in order to be seen by men, we fast to men and not to God and our fasting will be fruitless.

"But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;" Μatt. 6:17

"That you appear not to men to fast, but to your Father which is in secret: and your Father, which sees in secret, shall reward you openly." Μatt. 6:18

~~ Fasting is our response to God's love, mercy and grace. It is an exercise of discipline in our flesh, and our separation from the things of the world to the things of God. This should be our motivation when we fast. ~~

When Jesus referred to the secret place where we fast, He did not mean that noone should ever know that we fast, but that this should not be the reason we fast.

In other words, we should not walk around sloppy and dirty so that people can see us and when they ask us what is going on, we should say that we are fasting. This is what Jesus calls hypocrisy.

See how the Lord himself defines fasting through Isaiah:

"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 you break every yoke?" Is. 58:6

"Is it not to deal your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are cast out to your house? when you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you hide not yourself from your own flesh?" Is. 58:7

According to the Lord,  fasting's main purpose is freedom. Isaiah writes to us here that it will break the wickedness in us and we will be freed from our burdens. It will free us from oppression and break every yoke that the devil has put on us and we will be able to better hear the voice of the Lord, His instruction for our lives and see more answers to our prayers.

When we stop seeing ourselves as the center of the universe and start blessing others, helping the poor and giving our time and help to our family and those around us, we are rewarded not by men, but by heaven:

"Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall spring forth speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard." Is. 58:8

"Then shall you call, and the LORD shall answer; you shall cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If you take away from the middle of you the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;" Is. 58:9

"And the LORD shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat your bones: and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not." Is. 58:11

Praise the Lord!