“re-LENT-less”

Hi there all my brothers & sisters in Christ! Usually I have (or try to have) some sort of witty or thought provoking intro to whatever the blog is about…. but for the sake of this issue’s sensitivity, I’ll jump right into it! :-)  SN: It may be a little lengthier, but I love you, your purpose, your future, and God’s call on YOUR life so much that I couldn’t chance leaving something out!

Beginning in Mark 9:14 is the story of Jesus healing a demon-possessed boy … I mean that’s what Jesus did right, heal people…correct? So what makes this particular incident stand out? In this passage of scripture the disciples had tried unsuccessfully to cast the demon out (although they had been performing signs and wonders prior to this) and could not figure out why they couldn’t cast thisdemon out. Jesus proceeds to cast the demon out of the boy and go on about His way until He was questioned by His disciples:

“And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” ²⁹ So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” – Mark 9:28-29

                                     

You see my friend, there are some things that we will only have victory over when we fast and pray! Another thing about the above passage: the boy’s father took him to the disciples to be healed but only Jesus was able to heal his son. What I’m saying is that: sometimes people will do everything in theirpower to help you and to no fault of their own, they may fail; but there will be some things that will only be broken when you commune with God along with fasting and prayer.

Fasting is simply the sacrificing of something that your flesh (body) craves that is NOT sin to focus on spiritual growth. Biblically fasts are centered on food and/or liquids and have been constant in today’s society with the additions of other habits one may crave such as: social media, sodas, TV, etc. Whatcannot be sacrificed to God is sin…for example: If you’re having premarital sex (which is fornication) it cannot be sacrificed to God because we (the unmarried like me) should not be doing it anyway. Aside from food, a good thing to fast from may be the one thing that popped in your head that you think you CAN’T give up :-)

……how do we fast properly?

‘Why 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. 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

In this passage God is answering the questions of the Israelites who have been “fasting” without receiving the things they were seeking God for. God explains in verses 6-14 of this chapter that He wants pure hearts of love and service to each other so that he may answer their prayers not just a routine, going through the motions type of ritual but a true change in the condition of their heart as they grow closer to Him. David echoes this in Psalms 51:16-17:

“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”

…and in verses 18-19

“Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased withsacrifices offered in the right spirit— with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.” …. God will accept our sacrifice once our hearts are right and it will please Him to do so.

Once we’ve gotten the condition of our hearts right, how do we go about fasting in our daily lives?

“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

Unless you are taking part in a corporate fast (which are called by spiritual leaders and by the government in biblical times, Cc: Joel 2), your time of fasting should be between you, God and/or your spiritual accountability partner(s) who will help encourage you along the way.

So if you are planning to fast or are currently in the process of a fast, I encourage you to reevaluate your heart and make sure the motives are pleasing to God so that your fasting is not in vain. If you feel you may have started because of an impure motive, that’s okay for God says:

 “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God.” – Joel 2:12-14

I pray this has shed some light on such a vital part of our Christian walk for you and if you have any questions about fasting, hit me up on here, twitter (@LouBay225), Facebook (Lou Bay), or emailasmi248@lsu.edu. Yes, I am THAT serious about this, lol.

I leave you with these words:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” – Ephesians 6:10-12

I absolutely love you!

Allison

(originally posted February 22, 2012)