Pastor's Desk
September 10 , 2006
IN OUR TIME, particularly in our part of the world, the practice of fasting is not something many people know much about. Richard Foster, who has written several books on spiritual disciplines, defines fasting as “a voluntary denial of an otherwise normal desire for the sake of an intense spiritual activity.” The scriptures speak of fasting and assume that it is a part and parcel of our spiritual experience. Jesus gave instructions on fasting and introduces them with the phrase, “When you fast…,” (Matthew 6:16) not “If you fast…” It appears that while he was with his disciples, they did not fast as much as some of the people of that time might have expected them to fast. But Jesus answered them, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.” (Mark 2:19,20)
Biblical fasting includes the idea of humbling oneself before the Lord and abstaining from food and/or other otherwise legitimate activities. It enables the God-seeker to focus on a relationship with God and to hear him more clearly. Fasting also assumes that more time is given to pray. Sometimes one may set aside the whole time of fasting for prayer. Other times normal activities of life may be pursued with periodic times of prayer, perhaps replacing the time normally spent eating with prayer time.
The bible does not say that Christians have to fast but the Holy Spirit may lead you to do a personal fast from time to time. There may also be occasions when we are invited or called to participate in a corporate fast. For instance the Christians in Vancouver are being invited to participate in a 40 day fast for the city and the nation. In such a fast there may be a few who feel led to fast the full 40 days while others may fast one or several of the 40 days. The net result would be that somewhere during this season, at least several people would be fasting, actively demonstrating a unity and agreeing together for a common purpose. Consider these words of the Lord: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14) Here is an invitation in scripture for us to unite together as God’s people, to humble ourselves (with fasting), to pray, to seek God’s face and to repent of our corporate sins. And God promises to respond favorably with forgiveness and healing of the land.
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"So we fasted and petitioned our God about this,
and he answered our prayer."
(Ezra 8:23)
This page was last updated on Tuesday, September 12, 2006