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?

¹⁶ “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, 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 others 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. (Matthew 6:16-18)

Today we turn our attention to the Discipline of Fasting.  For a variety of reasons this Discipline is one of the least understood.  If you would like to read about the Discipline, I encourage you to visit the Disciplines tab on our www.40daysofdiscipline.com website.

The passage above assumes fasting is a part of our lives (“When you fast”).  It also clearly admonishes us to avoid practicing this Discipline as a self-righteous act.   In the context of our identity, an interesting dynamic potentially emerges as we consider Fasting: Self Denial ==> God Discovery ==> Self Discovery.

Please prayerfully reflect on the words of Jesus above.

Something to think about:

How might the practice of fasting sharpen your understanding of who God wants you to be?

¹⁶ “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, 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 others 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. (Matthew 6:16-18)

Thanks to those who shared verses of encouragement on prayer yesterday!  We are halfway through our journey and the comments we have received so far have made this a very rich experience.

Today we switch our focus to Fasting, and Libby has a question from Serena.  Remember, Libby is not expected to be an expert.  Rather, Libby simply shares from personal and practical experiences.   So, please feel free to chime in even if you have questions yourself.  Also, even if you don’t have the time to share, think about how you have addressed the challenge in your life or how you would address it in the life of a loved one.

Please review the Bible passage above and Serena’s challenge below and share your thoughts.

Dear Libby,

I have very little experience with fasting.  I hear so many views on this subject that sometimes the topic gets murky.  The one thing I have heard with consistency is that health considerations should be taken into account before attempting a food fast.  However, beyond that consistent message I hear a lot of theoretical debates.  I have decided that I want to go beyond the debates and see what I can learn from the practical experiences of other believers.  So, I am specifically looking for feedback on how fasting has helped you or other believers you know.

Anxious to learn,

Serena

Today’s Question:

What thoughts would you like to share with Serena?

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others 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. (Matthew 6:16-18)

As we have considered the Discipline of Prayer over the last four days, I hope you have been inspired to increase your commitment to pray for someone, some group, some institution or something because of your love for God and others.  Today we will put the Discipline of Fasting into practice by performing a food fast for at least a portion of the day.  If you are not able to perform a food fast, please consider some other kind of fast that will increase you focus on God (e.g., a TV fast).  If you can’t fast, please still participate by spending dedicated time in prayer.

The intent is for you to use the time of fasting for more intense focus on God and to spend additional time in prayer.   The items that you were inspired to pray for this week should be on your prayer list.

With participants across the globe (e.g., Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Brazil, the USA, Canada, the U.K., Africa, Japan and Indonesia), we will cover many hours in the day if we all participate.

If you need a refresher on the Discipline of Fasting, you can read about the Discipline by visiting www.40daysofdiscipline.com and clicking on the Disciplines tab.

Today’s Request:

We will not pose a question today. Instead, please use the comments feature on this blog site to leave prayer requests.   If you can’t be specific about your request, simply write, “Personal request”.   I am positive that there will be believers participating in this 40 Days of Discipline journey who will delight in remembering you and your request(s) in prayer.

I hope you learned something from considering and practicing fasting this week.  I certainly did.  On this final day I want to leave you with some points of emphasis.

• First, we have only scratched the surface of fasting and hope we have done enough to encourage you to study more deeply about this Discipline.  Because of our lack of understanding, we are robbing ourselves of blessings.
• Second, fasting is clearly associated with “breakthrough” or breaking strongholds.  There is so much need for that and therefore, there is a clear need for fasting.
• Third, there is something really special about fasting because of the emphasis on making it between you and God.  It is not for show.  This is not about an endurance exercise or bragging rights, it is about focusing our attention on the lover of our souls.
• Finally, let’s end by remembering Jesus’ words on fasting, from Matthew 6:16-18:

 When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, 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 others 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.   

 Please use the comments option to share your thoughts on fasting.

Whether you did a food fast or some other form of fast, I am confident that God will honor our additional focus on Him.

Today is about reviewing and reflecting.  Think about what you experienced yesterday and focus especially on what you learned about God and about yourself.  My big lesson was dependency.  I really do need Him every moment of every day.

 Fasting can bring spiritual things into sharp focus.  That is my personal experience.  What is yours?  I would love for you to share your thoughts by posting a comment.

So, did you try a fast from the computer?  How did it go?  I failed miserably.  On several occasions, out of a force of habit I checked up on news websites.  I am more addicted to the news than I thought.

We have considered a lot of theory over the last three days.  Today is a day for fasting.  This can be a food fast (consider fasting from sunrise to sunset).  Please remember our caution about medical conditions, and if you need to fast for a shorter period of time please do so.  Alternatively, if you can’t do a food fast, consider giving up something today that will allow you to focus more intensely on your dependency on God.

During the time of your fast try to spend quality time with God and pray as you feel led but here are some areas worth considering:

On Day 12 we reviewed areas in the Bible where fasting was appropriate. I’ll repeat those areas here for ease of reference:

• Great sorrow (1 Samuel 31:11-13, 1 Samuel 1:17-27).
• Great illness (2 Samuel 12:13-22).
• Serious trouble – when we desperately need Gods help (2 Chronicles 20:3-4).
• Time of testing (Matt 4:1-2).
• Major decision (Acts 13:1-3).

In addition you may want to think about:

• Areas in your life that you have struggled to get positive change.
• Loved ones in need – especially for salvation.
• Your church and country.
• The prayer requests that have been left on the blog site.

Share any thoughts you have by commenting on the blog.

So, did you try a fast from the television?  How did it go?  Are you praying about the food fast tomorrow (Thursday)?  Remember the caution with regards to medical condition.

 Before providing your action for today, here is a little more theory on fasting.

 If we fast, how should we?

• In Matthew 6:16-18 Christ explains that fasting is not to be a show of our supposed righteousness before men, but that it’s a personal affair between us and God and that by all outward appearance, no one should be aware of our fasting. Our dress and demeanour should not broadcast to others that we’re fasting, which is a matter between us and God and our service to him.
• In Isaiah 58:3-5 God explains that fasting is not to be for selfish pleasure or gain. God takes no pleasure with us going without food or drink to impress Him for selfish gain or at the expense of others. God will not take note of someone who is fasting with the wrong attitude.
• Fasting is an individual matter between Christians and God.  It should be done with humility as we draw closer to God.

For today, consider a computer fast for at least a part of the day.  Except for absolutely necessary work or school requirements use the computer only to pursue Bible study and prayer and your work on the Disciplines, of course.

 Share any thoughts you have by commenting on the blog.