Fasting Day 1

Morning!

Raises his cup of coffee

If you joined in fasting, how did it go?

My fast lasted until lunch.

My first reaction was disappointment in myself until I realized that I had jumped into something that was far more complicated in its Spiritual ramifications than I had originally thought.  Fasting is not just about denying oneself food.  Fasting doesn’t even have to involve food, although the traditional understanding of fasting involves denying oneself food.  You can fast from TV just as much as you can fast from fast food.

The point is to give something up for God that you don’t necessarily need to give up.  It is a personal affliction that is meant to send us in the direction of God and to seek Him.

For a purpose.

Every fast must have a purpose.  A specific purpose.  Otherwise, what is the point?

So without realizing it at first, I was taught by the Holy Spirit using my own actions in reality about fasting.  After praying to be taught about fasting, of course.  The key was not the length of the fast.  The key was not what I was fasting.  The key was doing the fast with the Holy Spirit and seeking His knowledge and guidance to guide me into Truth, as Scripture teaches.

2 Peter 1: 2-8

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him, who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge, self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.  For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This was one of the Scriptures I was meditating on during my fast.

So I asked myself: What is virtue?

Virtue: (noun)

- Conformity to a standard of right: Morality; a particular moral excellence.

- A beneficial quality or power of a thing.

- Manly strength or courage: Valor.

- A commendable quality or trait: Merit.

- A capacity to act: Potency.

- Chastity especially in women.

(Apparently there is an order of angels in the celestial hierarchy that made the definition as well)

We are to add to our faith.  One of our goals as Christians, as Peter teaches here, is to add to our faith.  Our faith is our trust in Jesus.  That comes with a necessary trust in God the Father and The Holy Spirit.  Three Persons in One God.

Is there such a thing as trusting in Jesus too much?  Something to think about.  (I would say no.)

So we are to add to our faith virtue.  What is virtue?  It is conformity to a standard of morality.  Whose morality are we conforming to?  Jesus’ morality.  Because He is the Word, He is from the beginning.  What is Right is Right because it was made Right by Him and what is Wrong is Wrong because it is not Him or of Him.  He is merciful and patient, desiring all men to come to repentance and the knowledge of truth, but what God has made Right stays Right.  Regardless if our persons are accepted with Him or not.  Why are we doing the conforming?

Because He died for us that we could Live.

When was the last time we asked God to increase our faith?

I am already convinced our study in fasting will do just that.

In this little formula, adding to our faith virtue is followed by knowledge.  Adding virtue to our faith, according to our Scripture here, is tied to knowledge of Jesus.  If we add virtue to our faith in the real world then we will find real world knowledge of Jesus through adding virtue.  We have to figure out what Jesus wants us to do and a great place to start with that is Scripture.  We have to study to make sure we are approved then we need to enact said discovery in our faith.  The more knowledge we add, the more self-control we will have to add as well.  The more we will start looking like a new person.

That thought shouldn’t worry Christians.  It’s the entire purpose of Sanctification.

2 Peter 1: 16

“For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we’re eyewitnesses of His majesty.”

Our God lives.  He is King of kings and Lord of lords.  Powerful beyond understanding.  Interested in us personally.  If our God lives, then we should see Him in action in the real world.

Have we asked for God to reveal His Majesty to us lately?

Have we given thanks for the little times He reveals Himself to us?

Have we given Jesus the first fruits of our love and excitement for Him when He reveals Himself?

Some initial thoughts on fasting for us to go through today.  I’ve done some additional research and will be looking into some of these Scriptures today for those who want to read ahead with me.

Matthew 6

Joel 2

Daniel 10

Ezra 8

Isaiah 58

Acts 13

Psalm 69

Acts 14

Exodus 34

Nehemiah 1

There is a start.  As we are in Daniel for our study now I will start with taking a look at Daniel 10 for tomorrow.

1 Thessalonians 5: 15- 24

“See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit.  Do not despise prophecies.  Test all things; hold fast what is good.  Abstain from every form of evil.  Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful who also will do it.”

I think that’s a good place to start today.

Happy waiting!

:)