On Fasting- II

FAST WITH A GOAL IN MIND

In my previous blog, we saw that the nation of Israel was required to fast one day a year initially and four days a year later. We can call this ritualistic fasting as people are fasting as a part of a community without any personal motives. When Pharisees fasted twice a week, it was also a ritualistic fast. That is why Jesus did not give much credence to it.

Ritualistic fasting is not what Jesus taught. He wanted us to fast individually and collectively for a goal. We can call this  result oriented fasting.

Even though the fast Jesus promoted was for spiritual reasons only,  I believe we can fast for our material needs also.

I know of hundreds of young and older believers who have done this and how God has honored them for it. Many students do this during preparation for final exams or entrance exams. It is a noble thing to do, since you are declaring that "God, I cannot do this without your help. I seek your face for guidance." God can help you in so many ways if you seek Him. Some others do this when preparing for job interviews. I was pleasantly surprised to hear from my daughter after her wedding that both she and her fiance had gone on a 21 day concurrent fast to seek God's blessings for their marriage. So you can go on a full or a partial fast seeking the will of God for any reasons God can honor. Result oriented fasting is scriptural and God will not put you to shame. (Again, my personal guideline in this matter is this: If it is a short fast, go for full fast. If it is a long fast, go for partial fast, if you have to go to work or school while you are fasting. If you are physically up to it, always do the full fast.)

There are many incidents of fasting in the Bible. Since books on that topic is readily available, I do not want to go into the details of it here. Suffice to say here that most of them were result oriented fasting- either to accomplish  a specific goal or seek God's will concerning certain things. Ezra fasted for guidance and protection. Esther fasted for the schemes of the enemy to be destroyed and for the favor of God to be manifested. Moses fasted to linger in the presence of God and to receive the Law. the Antioch church fasted for direction in ministry.

Never give up in the middle of a fast. Esther had to wait until the last minute to see God's breakthrough. Hamans of the world will do everything in their power to destroy you. It may look hopeless at times. The world may conclude that the enemy is winning. But don't worry. Just wait on the Lord. Things will change. Your prayer will confuse the enemy. The evil spirit in them will begin to manifest more and more as it detests the presence of God that begin to emerge and manifest when people of God pray. All the covenants with the evil will begin to crumble. The victory belongs to the children of God.

We as a family have done goal oriented fasting multiple times. From our experience we encourage you to fast and seek the will of God concerning the pressing needs in your life. He will come through for you. No weapon fashioned against you will prosper! Every mountain that stand in your way will be removed!

"As for me, I will call upon God, And the LORD shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.... Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalms 55:16,17,22).

Join us at least for a day as we do this chain fasting for the blessings of 31st PCNAK.