“And when you fast..”
MATTHEW 6:16
As believers, we participate in and practice a lifestyle of fasting, collectively within our churches and individually. My thoughts today address the specifics of personal and private fasting. Just like prayer done in secret and before the Father, Jesus taught that fasting was to be the same. We have a promise of reward, but we do not do this for the reward.
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6: 16-18
Fasting is a tool we use to ensure that our relationship with our heavenly Father is the most essential thing in our lives. When Jesus begins his next thought in verse 19 about the laying up of treasures in heaven, we learn that our prayers and our fasting are eternal treasures. Praying and fasting connect our hearts to all things spiritual and Godly.
Our natural man holds earthly appetites with eyes that are never satisfied. The Apostle John warns us in the second chapter of his first epistle that the allure of all that is in the world, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life appeal to our natural man and rob our love for God. ‘Temptation is the pull of man’s own evil thoughts and wishes’ is the Living Bible translation of James 1:14. James warns us that sin enters through our appetites.
While living in this world, we must pay attention to the appetites we feed. There was something about that ‘apple’ that drew Eve’s attention. She considered it long enough to determine it was good for food. She found it pleasing to her eyes and desirable to make one wise.
Fasting checks our desires and provides us with the right alignment of spirit, soul, and body. Since the time and attention we give to anything has the power to influence our hearts, minds, and bodies, this fasted-checking recalibrates our appetites, ever edging them back to a hunger for the Lord.
The Apostle Paul also understood the pull of the flesh and wrote 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we have an imperishable one. Therefore, I run in such a way as not without aim: I box in such a way as not beating the air, but I discipline my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Paul also warned against practicing only body exercises and leaving the disciplines of renewing the mind and spiritual growth to conform to Christ. While bodily exercise profits a little, godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of life that now is and that which is to come, 1 Timothy 4:8.
Fasting is a spiritual discipline. Attentive to the Holy Spirit and desiring only to please our Father, we live by His Yes and No. There is a time for everything in our lives. Depending upon the needs we face, fasting might require some length of days, or we may choose to live a fasted lifestyle for the sake of spiritual discipline.
While we place no trust in the natural discipline of denying our flesh (for we are warned in Colossians of turning that into will worship, which strengthens our flesh), we fast for the purposes of strengthening our spirit man as we attend to His word.
We DO NOT fast and sit around all day feeding on social media or entertainment of any kind. Fasting is to be a separation unto the Father and in secret. That means you don’t ideally fast when you have obligations or activities that require your attention, i.e., job and family matters. Some private and quiet space is needed for the best result.
Wherever we find a natural desire that tends to greed and indulgence, we note that these are the antithesis of doing all things in moderation (Phil 4:5). Paul tells us everything God has created is good and is to be received with thanksgiving.
One of the benefits of fasting is returning to a place of appreciation and thankfulness for what we have just given up. After all, we are to be content with food and clothing.