Importance of Fasting.
What is fasting?
Fasting is the willful refrainment from eating and drinking either for spiritual edification or personal gains - health benefits.
Matthew 17:21 (AMP)
But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.
Fasting is important for us as believers. We are to emulate Jesus in all that He did and it was obvious according to the Bible that Jesus fasted. We have seen several examples in the Bible too about those who observed fasting.
God doesn't want us to be hypocritical about fasting. That was why the Pharisees were condemned because they made it obvious that they were fasting as they put on sack clothes and also allowed their countenance to show they are fasting. The Bible made us know that they have received their rewards because they were doing it for man and not God.
Temptations would increase when you fast as it was obvious when the devil tempted Jesus just on the back of His 40 days and night fasting. When you know the power of what you carry, you shouldn't throw it away anyhow or trivialize it.
You can experience greater possibilities if you will only assume a higher level of spirituality. The flesh is always weak but let your spirit be willing. Paul told us that, in understanding, we must be mature and also said concerning the spiritual we should not be ignorant.
1 Corinthians 14:20 (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
1 Corinthians 12:1 (NIV)
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.
The realm of the spirit is a real and parallel world to this material one we are presently in. The impact of that realm on our world cannot be discounted. The spiritual controls the physical and the early we realize this, the better because the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God to pull down strongholds.
One of the proven avenues of engagement is the practice of FASTING.
Fasting is a spiritual discipline whose thread runs through both the Old and New Testaments and we can find our patriarchs of faith to have undergone this same process. Apart from the health benefits of fasting, there are spiritual undertones to it as well.
From Moses to Mordecai and the early church, we see a consistent pattern of the practice of FASTING.
Ezra 8:23 (NIV)
So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
From the above Bible reference, we can see the writer confirming the importance of fasting with petitions to God and God answers. God listened and to date, He still Listens.
God always honours our faith. He sees the sacrifice we make without having to voice it out which was why He condemned those who do show offs to spiritual matters and why He rejected Cain's sacrifice and accepted Abel's own. When you deny yourself, it means so much to God as long as it means something to you.
...to be continued...
Thank you for your time.
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Some Christians have this perception that fasting will help you reduce weight; some think it's a punishment and all sorts of things.
This shouldn't be the case. It's true when taken from the physical perspective, fasting really helps the body a lot, our bowels get rested from the frequent work they do on our ingested foods. However, it should be known that as we are starving this physical body, we are feeding the spiritual body or our souls (which we don't usually do). Our souls get very sharp and that's the reason we usually have visions or see things spiritually after we have fasted or even during the fasting. Fasting helps in breaking many spiritual bondages. So if you're one who always wants to get full, I'm sorry but you're hurting your soul. Gluttony itself hurts us physically and spiritually.
It's better to set days for our fasting, like maybe the day you were born, I was born on a Saturday so I usually fast on Saturdays. We should also know that, fasting isn't to be taken for granted, it is solemn and must be observed as such. No unnecessary talks and such things like that if you're really serious about it.
Thanks for your words @olawalium
Another brilliant comment with so many details. Thanks a lot for this.
My pleasure @olawalium
😊😊
Greetings @olawalium must be done with faith and awareness of what you are asking for or for which you give thanks.
Exactly my point.
Hi @olawalium, Some associate fasting with suffering. But fasting is abstaining from pleasure, while dedicating that time to God.
This is brilliant and so true.
Fasting is the order of God. Everything is good for us what he order us to do.
I totally agree with you.
Fasting is good for our health. It's decrease our weight and help us to stay fit and healthy.
Yes, it has both the physical and the spiritual gains.
I have never fasted but if I have full faith in GOD I was taught since I was a child that you do not always have to ask GOD, it is also good to give to him, I offer him everything that I will do during the day and I feel good doing this.
That's a good approach and I stated it calls for understanding and determination depending on the urgency of your desires.
Fasting can help prevent health problems such as high cholesterol, heart disease and obesity, as well as improve mental health and wellbeing.
You know Muslim people need to fasting 30 days in a month ( Ramadan ) that obligatory for all Muslim people.
Yes, I know of the Ramadan. We fast for 40 days in honour of Jesus who did 40 days and 40 nights too.
fasting help our body decrease disease and increase patience. you feel poor hunger tolerance. it is gift from god.(Muslim)
Yes, it has health and spiritual benefits and Jesus modelled this for us. Thanks for this.