Well the shofar has sounded and many have come to the end of this appointed time of fasting and praying and others are continuing on as directed by the Lord.
Let us continue to seek the face of G-d for the the things we are believing Him to do.
Here's a little encouragement from "The Lord's Table" on Fasting:
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that will cause us to grow in godliness, if done properly.
I say, "If done properly," because Scripture is full of examples of fasting done wrongly. Let's look at a few examples:
3 Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. 4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Isaiah 58:3-4
These people fasted, but they did it incorrectly, as is evidenced by their quarreling, strife and violence. Some people become mean when they fast and, therefore do not accomplish anything by their fasting. Indeed, God tells them that He will not hear their prayers when they fast with a self-centered attitude. Let us make sure we are not mean, rude, or self-centered when we fast.
Here is another example of fasting incorrectly:
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. Matt. 6:16-18
These people fasted to be noticed by others and thought to be quite spiritual. Their fasting was useless because it was done for men, and not for God. Friend, when you fast, don't let everyone know about it. This verse tells us several things about fasting.
- Don't fast for show, or to draw attention to yourself. Your fasting should not be obvious. Fast "in secret."
- Expect to be rewarded by God, according to His promise in verse 18
Proper fasting should have the effect of freeing us from bondage: "to set the oppressed free, and break every yoke." For too long, we have been slaves to wrong eating habits; we have been oppressed by sin, and this habitual sin has wrapped the cords of the yoke around us very tightly. Fasting with a right attitude is given to us by God as a way of breaking sin's power, and freeing us from the control of lust, overeating and other sinful eating habits. Fasting should be freeing!
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. Isaiah 58:7-9
From the above verses, we see that we are not only denying ourselves when we fast, but also that we should be "others-centered." In essence, we are turning away from focusing on ourselves and our needs, wants and desires in order to help others and meet their needs. And, as we do this, it becomes obvious that sin's power is broken and the selfishness that comes by habitual sinning is put aside. "Your healing will quickly appear." Fasting should bring healing!
9 If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. 11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:9-11
The above passage tells us that if we "do away with the yoke of oppression," stop pointing fingers, and give ourselves to meeting the needs of others, then God will satisfy all our needs. Fasting, done correctly, with an emphasis on breaking sin's power and helping others, should be satisfying!
Next, we want to examine what we should do while fasting. There is a passage in the book of Daniel that spells out clearly for us what a "perfect fast" should look like. Notice this passage, and take note of everything that Daniel did while he fasted:
1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans-- 2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Daniel 9:1-2
3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4 And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Daniel 9: 3-5 NKJV
Now we begin to see the overall heart attitude of Daniel as he fasted; he was seeking the Lord earnestly. Seeking God, then, may be defined as studying God's Word, making earnest prayer to Him, and confessing sin.
This should be our focus during our fast days. We deny our craving for physical food; let us indulge our spiritual craving for more of God and His Word. Let us read it and seek to understand it, as Daniel did. Let us fast with the attitude of humility, confessing our sins, and asking God for forgiveness.
