A Final Thought On Fasting…

Morning!

Raises his cup of coffee

So looking through Daniel some this morning I have noticed that fasting is a huge part of Daniel’s faith.  He began his captivity (also could be described as his professional life) with a fast.  It was a fast to honor God, a choice to reject that which was meant to defile him.  He drew near to God and God drew near to him.

I think it’s worth mentioning that this fast by Daniel was rewarded with gifts.  Wisdom and knowledge and skill in visions and dreams, literature and wisdom.

In Daniel 2 it is prayer that revealed the secrets Daniel was looking for.  These revealed secrets saved Daniel and his friends’ lives as well as the lives of other wise men of Babylon.

In Daniel 6 it is prayer that gets Daniel in trouble with the law and we see an example of a different leader fasting.  King Darius, as described by the text.

Daniel 6: 18

“Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him.  Also his sleep went from him.”

Then we see…

Daniel 9: 3

“Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.”

Then again in…

Daniel 10: 2-3

“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.  I ate no pleasant food, no meat, or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”

Fasting and prayer.

When you think about it some, it is fasting and prayer that set Daniel apart.  Both were integral tools and reasons that he did as well as he did and pleased God, which, in the end, is what the definition of godly success is, is it not?  Daniel was put in a position where he could please God himself, but he was also put in a position where he could please God on behalf of others.

So the question we need to ask ourselves is are we living to please God?  Not just to please Him, are we living to serve God.  Does our heart tell us that we are?  Do our actions say we are?  Maybe our hearts are in the right place, but our habits aren’t?

Matthew 7: 1-7

“Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.  Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.  Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.”

We have a High Priest who understands.  He has lived a life without sin, tempted, but never fallen.  There is nothing that befalls us that He has not been tempted with Himself.  He is patient and long-suffering.  Generous and just, showing mercy upon thousands who call upon His Name from an honest heart.  We have a High Priest in Jesus who fasted Himself.

Matthew 4: 1-11

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.  Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’  But He answered and said, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’  Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down.  For it is written: He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’  Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’  Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.  And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’  Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan!  For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’  Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”

Are we trying to do a thing with God?

Have we fasted and prayed with Jesus before we tried to do the thing?

Are we looking for knowledge?

A breakthrough?

To break a stronghold?

Fasting and prayer.

Jesus began His ‘career’ with a fast.  As He was beginning to do a thing with God, He fasted and didn’t fast for a short period of time.  He fasted for forty days and forty nights.  Now, I’m not suggesting we fast for that long, at least not yet.  I can barely last through lunch time when it comes to fasting at this point, but I plan to keep following Scripture and practicing.  As appropriate.

Christian leaders fast and if they don’t, they should.

Jesus fasted.

How is our fasting life?

I think that’s a good start for the day.

1 John 5: 21

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.  Amen.”

Happy waiting!

:)