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
