Give in secret…fast in secret. God really
likes to keep things private. WHEN you fast…not IF you fast, no one should know
that you are fasting. Fasting is generally considered to be giving up a meal…or
several meals. It could be giving up other things…dessert, soda, even
television, sports or other entertainment. Fasting should be done to focus on
the Lord…not to focus on what we’re giving up. Jesus Himself fasted, eating nothing,
for 40 days at the beginning of His ministry. At this point in His ministry
when Jesus is speaking to His followers in the Sermon on the Mount He had just
taught on prayer. Now He is adding in the dimension of fasting. Fasting makes
prayer more powerful. It should be done with a humble, obedient and focused
heart. Consider the fasting that Paul wrote about in 2 Corinthians 11. Should we
fast now? Yes. When faced with faced with serious predicaments, illness, or when
sending out missionaries, it is warranted to fast. The time should be used to remember
the reason for the fast and to privately focus on the Lord in prayer.
RSVP:
Jesus is inviting you today to consider fasting in a private, secretive way.
How will you respond to Him today?
Prayer
~ Lord, I return to You with all my heart, and with fasting, weeping and
mourning (Joel 2:12). You have my heart, my soul and my attention—bathed in the
perfume of Your love. Thank you for this lesson on fasting--privately.
© 2014 by Mickey
M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise
noted.
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