Fasting Activities

.... As discussed in our previous postings, fasting is primarily intercessory in nature. It is an act of prayer in which we are laying down our lives on behalf of others. This is a very Christ-like motivation and God has great respect for it, but only when the whole disposition of our lives, throughout this episode, supports and verifies this selfless motive. For example, our fasting should be directed to God alone and should never be done to seen by men (Matthew 6:16-18). And in a very similar way, God examines our outward activities while we are fasting:

.... "‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers. Indeed you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high."

(Isaiah 58:3)

.... In other words, when we are fasting, we have a human tendency to introduce selfish motives from other directions. For example, if fasting curtails our social activities for the evening, we may be tempted to work some overtime instead, or to make our employees do so, to earn a few extra bucks for ourselves; or why not do a movie, or go and play some video games? But would you call this a fast, and an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord?

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.... Or why not save some lunch money, if you are skipping meals anyway? Or why not steal a march on our diet by using your fast to shed some extra pounds?
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.... One may be tempted to think in such terms, but when we do so we are allowing selfish motives to play a detracting role. For God has warned us not to mix our intercession with such motives if we want our petitions to be honored by Him:

.... "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?"

(Isaiah 58:6-7)

.... So if you have extra time on your hands because of fasting, use it to focus on your prayer, or at least spend it in some other form of serving the Lord, rather than using it to serve your pocket book. If you have uneaten food or unspent lunch money, which was saved through your time of fasting, quietly donate it to the poor; then end your fasting with a feast of thanksgiving in expectation of the Lord's presence, that He will soon come to minister in the situation over which you've prayed (Mark 2:19).

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.... We should always check ourselves in the whole disposition of our fasting, examining our motives and the outcome of our activities, to subjugate everything to Him in the petitions we are bringing. And if unexpected gains do come your way through your time of fasting, use a little healthy imagination to bless others generously, that your selfless motive may stand undiminished.

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Daily Bible Reading: Romans 2