Okay so these guys took a very funny approach to such an important topic. All jokes aside though... Why do we really need to fast? Is it really just about not eating food? Is it really about a list of rules? Is it really just something that we do because we are Christians?
Fast: To abstain from food for medical or religious reasons; A period of abstention or self-denial.
Well the truth is, fasting is about allowing your spirit to conquer your flesh. Not giving yourself food aids in improving your self-control. However, its not all about not eating. You do things in place of eating food. You spend times in your bible. You spend time praying. You spend time singing to the Lord. You can even connect with other believers and share testimonies for strength. So instead of giving your self natural strength through food, you make your natural self weak and strengthen your spiritual self. Absent the the spiritual components, fasting will have no spiritual value and you are just HUNGRY for no reason.
When we are having problems with our emotions and desires and having a hard time controlling ourselves, fasting is the solution. When a person is hungry, it goes against nature to want to fulfill other desires like lying, gossiping, fornication, etc. Food is what you really want and on the hierarchy of needs its the most basic need that we have as people.
Fasting is like spiritual conditioning. You are training your body to obey your Spirit. You are training yourself to control your desires. You are training yourself to hear from God without distraction.
Fasting is also a way that we show God that we are committed completely to our devotion and surrender to Him for whatever the cause. In scripture, we see that many people pray and fast to get God to intervene. Fasting allows us to hear from God with clarity because we have intentional time that we focus solely on Him.
We will soon begin our focus on fasting in The Quiver. Start thinking of things that you need to fast for. Start considering how you will incorporate fasting into your regular habits of worship.
Let us continue our dialogue on fasting...
Fast: To abstain from food for medical or religious reasons; A period of abstention or self-denial.
- Fasting is NOT about not Eating
Well the truth is, fasting is about allowing your spirit to conquer your flesh. Not giving yourself food aids in improving your self-control. However, its not all about not eating. You do things in place of eating food. You spend times in your bible. You spend time praying. You spend time singing to the Lord. You can even connect with other believers and share testimonies for strength. So instead of giving your self natural strength through food, you make your natural self weak and strengthen your spiritual self. Absent the the spiritual components, fasting will have no spiritual value and you are just HUNGRY for no reason.
- Fasting helps fight the sinful Nature.
When we are having problems with our emotions and desires and having a hard time controlling ourselves, fasting is the solution. When a person is hungry, it goes against nature to want to fulfill other desires like lying, gossiping, fornication, etc. Food is what you really want and on the hierarchy of needs its the most basic need that we have as people.
- Fasting is about Conditioning & Training
Fasting is like spiritual conditioning. You are training your body to obey your Spirit. You are training yourself to control your desires. You are training yourself to hear from God without distraction.
- Fasting shows God our Devotion
Fasting is also a way that we show God that we are committed completely to our devotion and surrender to Him for whatever the cause. In scripture, we see that many people pray and fast to get God to intervene. Fasting allows us to hear from God with clarity because we have intentional time that we focus solely on Him.
- Fasting is a regular practice of Believers
We will soon begin our focus on fasting in The Quiver. Start thinking of things that you need to fast for. Start considering how you will incorporate fasting into your regular habits of worship.
Let us continue our dialogue on fasting...