What is fasting? The word fasting means to abstain from food and water for a certain time, and in the Bible we find that there were several men who did this act, and even Jesus himself told us about this, which is supposed to be the correct way in which we should fast.
Jesus said about fasting:
16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Matthew 6:16-18
We must have well defined in our Christianity what is fasting, and in that way we can make a fast that pleases the Lord. The first thing we must take into account is that we do not fast so that others know that we are doing it and thus want to presume that we are a little more spiritual than others.
Jesus speaks to them saying that do not fast so that others know, since that is the way the hypocrites do it.
Fasting is an act where, apart from abstaining from food and water, we abstain from this world, we separate ourselves for God, we go before His Presence to strengthen our relationship with Him, to please Him more. We also fast when we are going to take an important decision in our lives, but fasting should never be to show others that we fast.
Remember this always: “Fasting is a means to abstain from the world and strengthen our friendship with God, it is not a means to show spirituality to others”.
How to fast
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The Lord Jesus Christ teaches us about fasting as an appropriate thing, although in the Church nowadays, in general, we do not hear or are conscious of it being practised much. However, fasting is accepted by Jesus, and we know the way he explains we can do it. The Lord Jesus Christ said about fasting:
“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:16-18
If we read the article posted above, which is entitled “How to fast”, we can find there an appropriate description of the subject, as it is supposed we should understand it.
May the Lord God give us a right sense of the practice of fasting, as a way of preparing our minds and souls to be closer to the Lord, praying to Him in times of very hard situations
4 comments on “How to fast”
How to fast
=========
The Lord Jesus Christ teaches us about fasting as an appropriate thing, although in the Church nowadays, in general, we do not hear or are conscious of it being practised much. However, fasting is accepted by Jesus, and we know the way he explains we can do it. The Lord Jesus Christ said about fasting:
“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:16-18
If we read the article posted above, which is entitled “How to fast”, we can find there an appropriate description of the subject, as it is supposed we should understand it.
May the Lord God give us a right sense of the practice of fasting, as a way of preparing our minds and souls to be closer to the Lord, praying to Him in times of very hard situations
AMEN.
Fasting to my understanding, is an act of humbling yourself before God. Fasting also goes with praying.
Exactly when do we fast and what are the actual dates for passover and all the holidays Jesus celebrated??