Fasting - Part 9

As a church we started a 21 day fast Sunday, January 4th at sundown. Over the next few weeks I will be doing a series of blog posts to further explain the biblical practice of fasting.

One of the misconceptions people have about fasting is that in order to do it right you have to wander off into the wilderness, hold up in a cave, and rock back in forth in some type of meditational prayer chant (BTW if God leads you into the wilderness on some type of spiritual journey… who am I to talk you out of it?).

More than likely your time of fasting will more closely resemble what Jesus said in Matthew 6:16-18:

16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Interpretation – when you fast go about your business as usual, and in the midst of that here is what you’ll find to be different… you will be acutely aware at all times that you are seeking God - even in the most mundane of activities. I believe this is one of the key reasons fasting is so powerful in a believers life – fasting is a continual prayer offered up to God.