3Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ “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)
There is a risk with all the Disciplines that we end up viewing them as brownie points earners so we can get what we want from God. We might be especially susceptible to this in the case of Fasting because we could be seduced into seeing this Discipline as a kind of magic wand to increase the odds of prayers being answered. Today’s passage provides a clear message on the Biblical mindset we should adopt with regards to fasting. We can forget about fasting if we aren’t committed to being who God wants us to be.
Please prayerfully reflect on the words of passage above.
Something to think about:
What is the attitude that God wants us to adopt when we practice Fasting?
March 2, 2018 at 11:06 am
Actually this can be applied to praying and going to church and whatever,charity etc.
We can fall into this trap .
Walk the walk with your actions and deeds.
March 2, 2018 at 11:33 am
For me fasting should be like praying: private and focused. If I don’t have the right motivation or full focus on drawing nearer to God then it’s simply an act of going without food. I find the best day for me to fast is usually Sunday. It’s a day already set aside for worship and my mind is focused on the Lord.
God wants me to repentant, intentional in seeking His will, submitted to His will with a countenance of grace as I fast.
March 2, 2018 at 3:02 pm
God has to be centre and the focus during the time of fasting. He desires to spend quality time with us, that is why He created us! We cannot desire Him wholly and sincerely if we are distracted with patting ourselves on the back and thinking we are earning brownie points. We have to come with humble and contrite hearts, intentionally putting aside the normal activites of the day to truly be able to commune with our whole hearts with Him in all His glory.
March 2, 2018 at 8:53 pm
Fasting whether it relates to food or other areas of our lives, allows us to develop a better relationship with God.
March 2, 2018 at 9:48 pm
God desires an attitude of obedience. 1 Samuels 15:22 – But Samuel replied:
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifice as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
This is no surprise because for the Believer, God associates obedience with love. We can conclude, therefore, that God doesn’t want our acts of Discipline divorced from love.
March 3, 2018 at 11:13 pm
God wants us to be humble, sincere, obedient and fair even in our socioeconomic activities.