40 Days Fast
40 Day Fast
Is. 58 speaks of the fast that God honors & of the fast that he doesn’t honor…
If I’m going to fast for 40 days - I don’t want to “waste my time & simply trudge through”. I assume no one would want to…so…I’d like to share some thoughts on fasting that I hope are beneficial…
If you are fasting just because – then you missed it…If you are fasting because everyone else is – then you missed it…If you are fasting & believing for something to change – you are on the right track…
A fast has to have a spiritual connection or it’s just a diet or a practice of asceticism…
So, 1st – make it an item of prayer. Ask, what would God have you do without? Not so much to deprive you of it – but rather to cause you to have to trust Him in order to be able to go without…Typically, food is a first thought – but not necessarily restricted to that. If you ask God what to fast & your first thought is “no way” – then you might have just heard from God…If your first thought is “that’s easy” – you probably heard form yourself…
Whatever it is - when you are “craving” it – that craving time should become a praying time – even a time in the Word & devotions – some type of activity that “feeds your spirit” – while “starving your flesh” . I mean – that when you are screaming for “that” – Pray/Read/Meditate...It’s a time to go to God for help…This simply says that you are saying no to yourself – so that you might say yes to him & as you trust him – your faith will become stronger – it “forces” you to walk by faith daily…
So, you see – that if fasting doesn’t require you to call on & depend on him – there’s no chance for spiritual growth…
Examples of fasting – Food groups (meat…sweets…etc…)…Caffeine…Certain daily meals (no need to fast breakfast if you never eat it anyway)…Not eating until a certain time of the day (Fast until noon or 6pm daily)…Eating only once a day…No food at all (this can’t be done without some serious prayer before & during)…The challenge – when you do eat – don’t eat all the food you “fasted” – or you actually will gain weight & offset the whole point anyway…
Some would benefit from “fasting” habits that are killing you…What do you have to lose other than a bad habit?
Funny thing about fasting – it will reveal to you – what controls you & what’s in you. If you are getting angry “because you are hungry” – take notes on what you need to be learning about yourself…Anger…Impatience…Control freak…Something needs to be looked at…
Some fast TV &/or other activities that have too much of a grip on their life…
It’s called – “Afflicting the soul”…It’s all about allowing your flesh to break down & it’s control over you in some area & allowing your spirit to thereby grow & gain greater capacity in your life…
Fasting is taught in both the Old & New Testaments…Christ taught that it’s linked to a greater release of faith – as when we are facing a mountain in life – prayer & fasting are key to that mountain being removed…
It’s a great spiritual discipline & should be practiced by Christ Followers…What greater thing could you do to say to yourself & God that you are serious about something in your life?
As I often say – “there’s nothing fast about fasting”. But – if you make it a spiritual activity – you will be a different person 40 days from now…You should expect something to change somewhere in your life & even the lives around you…
Think about it – how often do we practice saying no to ourselves?
Is. 58 speaks of the fast that God honors & of the fast that he doesn’t honor…
If I’m going to fast for 40 days - I don’t want to “waste my time & simply trudge through”. I assume no one would want to…so…I’d like to share some thoughts on fasting that I hope are beneficial…
If you are fasting just because – then you missed it…If you are fasting because everyone else is – then you missed it…If you are fasting & believing for something to change – you are on the right track…
A fast has to have a spiritual connection or it’s just a diet or a practice of asceticism…
So, 1st – make it an item of prayer. Ask, what would God have you do without? Not so much to deprive you of it – but rather to cause you to have to trust Him in order to be able to go without…Typically, food is a first thought – but not necessarily restricted to that. If you ask God what to fast & your first thought is “no way” – then you might have just heard from God…If your first thought is “that’s easy” – you probably heard form yourself…
Whatever it is - when you are “craving” it – that craving time should become a praying time – even a time in the Word & devotions – some type of activity that “feeds your spirit” – while “starving your flesh” . I mean – that when you are screaming for “that” – Pray/Read/Meditate...It’s a time to go to God for help…This simply says that you are saying no to yourself – so that you might say yes to him & as you trust him – your faith will become stronger – it “forces” you to walk by faith daily…
So, you see – that if fasting doesn’t require you to call on & depend on him – there’s no chance for spiritual growth…
Examples of fasting – Food groups (meat…sweets…etc…)…Caffeine…Certain daily meals (no need to fast breakfast if you never eat it anyway)…Not eating until a certain time of the day (Fast until noon or 6pm daily)…Eating only once a day…No food at all (this can’t be done without some serious prayer before & during)…The challenge – when you do eat – don’t eat all the food you “fasted” – or you actually will gain weight & offset the whole point anyway…
Some would benefit from “fasting” habits that are killing you…What do you have to lose other than a bad habit?
Funny thing about fasting – it will reveal to you – what controls you & what’s in you. If you are getting angry “because you are hungry” – take notes on what you need to be learning about yourself…Anger…Impatience…Control freak…Something needs to be looked at…
Some fast TV &/or other activities that have too much of a grip on their life…
It’s called – “Afflicting the soul”…It’s all about allowing your flesh to break down & it’s control over you in some area & allowing your spirit to thereby grow & gain greater capacity in your life…
Fasting is taught in both the Old & New Testaments…Christ taught that it’s linked to a greater release of faith – as when we are facing a mountain in life – prayer & fasting are key to that mountain being removed…
It’s a great spiritual discipline & should be practiced by Christ Followers…What greater thing could you do to say to yourself & God that you are serious about something in your life?
As I often say – “there’s nothing fast about fasting”. But – if you make it a spiritual activity – you will be a different person 40 days from now…You should expect something to change somewhere in your life & even the lives around you…
Think about it – how often do we practice saying no to ourselves?
posted by PB at
2/06/2008
1 Comments:
ok..
here we go.
I'm very encouraged within to see where God is going with this. It is always closer to Him, yet in new ways.
For me..
He showed me me 'fast'..
Currently the greatest stronghold is my SNOOZE button.
I've decided to take the hour of snooze and 'fast' by getting straight up and dedicating this selfish area to the King.
Thanks for being such a great pastor and encouragement.
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