Celestial Diary

While scrolling through Instagram, I came across an interesting video discussing fasting. The preacher made a powerful point—some people unintentionally turn their fast into a hunger strike and wonder why their prayers don’t seem to reach the heavens. The question he raised made me pause and think because If we’re not fasting correctly, where do we expect miracles to come from?

It was quite an interesting topic and I found it a bit sad that churches don’t always teach the principles behind some of the things we do. When a fasting period is announced, is there an effort to ensure everyone understands the principles behind it, or is it assumed that the congregation already knows how to fast?

It’s concerning that many in the younger generation, and even some adults, participate in these traditions without fully grasping their meanings and purposes. As a church community, there might be a need to spend time on explaining things that seem like common knowledge.

Depending on the spiritual maturity one has they can fall into these categories:

1. Individuals who struggle with fasting and can’t fast even if their lives depends on it. While medical conditions might hinder a few, the majority face challenges due to laziness and gluttony.
2. Those who only engage in fasting when the church declares a fasting period. Even then, their fasting often involves simply abstaining from food while continuing their daily routines as usual.
3. Christians who engage in more frequent fasting because they anticipate something from God. For this group, fasting involves refraining from eating and persistently praying and repeating prayers for their desired outcomes.
4. This final group is the one that comprehends the true essence of fasting. They know the purpose behind Biblical fasting and what is expected from us during such periods

Is fasting a scriptural thing or is it something the church made up?

Matthew 4:4
Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Matthew 6:17-18
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

There are many more scriptures and bible stories that mention fasting. After examining them; these stories can be divided into two major groups:

1. Fasting because to get rid of the evil forces standing in the way of our progress: People fast because they want to spend time in the presence of God in their purest form. They do away with food, drinks, adornment and isolate themselves so they can fully focus on the presence of God and pray properly.
   Isaiah 58:6
   Is this not the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?
   This group has a burden they want to get rid of and they’re ready to fight for their breakthrough. It is a sign to the heavens that they’re ready for battle.
2. Fasting because it is the appointed time and season to fast: In life there is a time and a season for everything. There is a time to rejoice, a time to mourn, a time to fast and a time to give thanks. Recognizing these seasons is very crucial and the more connected one is with God, the easier it is to recognize the signs of the times.
   Joel 2:12
   “Now, therefore,” says the Lord,
   “Turn to Me with all your heart,
   With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
   God may instruct us to fast for various reasons: to protect us from harm, to grab our attention, to reveal something to us, and more.

Regardless of the purpose behind our fast, the core of fasting involves substituting worldly meals with prayer, worship, and scripture reading. Throughout our fasting period, we should dedicate extended periods to be in God’s presence (this doesn’t have to be in one continuous stretch, but it does require a few hours). However, the idea of spending time in God’s presence might still be unclear to some. So, what exactly are the do’s and don’ts when it comes to fasting?

DO’s

1. Pray: Fasting and prayer go hand in hand. Prayer serves as our means of communication with our Father, and fasting creates a dedicated period for focused and intimate communication without distractions. So fasting without prayer would basically be a hunger strike.
   Acts 14:23
   ²³ Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
2. Read your bible: Reading the Word of God is a means through which we receive messages from Him. The scriptures are not merely instructions; they also provide prayer points and comfort. Devoting time to reading His word brings us closer to God and offers us the chance to hear directly from Him. This means really examining the scriptures and not just reading through them to check it off our to-do list.
3. Meditate and reflect: Why are you fasting? Is it because you want something from God? Are you fasting and praying about something that you could change yourself?
4. Remain positive and give thanks: Trust that God has heard your prayers and desires. Be thankful for the miracles you have already experienced and those that are yet to come. Our God is not one to disappoint, so He will surely be there for us in our time of need. Do not doubt Him and His power, and keep pushing forward. The righteous will always triumph in the end.
   Matthew 6:25
   Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Don’ts

1. Listening/watching worldly content: Watching certain movies and listening to certain songs should generally be avoided. This is even more crucial during a fast. It would be absurd to break from fasting only to engage in activities that provoke our flesh to sin. Breaking from a fast should not serve as an excuse to resume a sinful lifestyle.
2. Sin: In a previous post I talked about the things that God finds despicable.
   1 Peter 3:12
   For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
   This doesn’t mean you should give up the moment you sin. We all sin in one way or another, but it implies that once we recognize our sin, we should pause our desires and turn to our Father for repentance. Only then can we continue with our fasting. Otherwise, we will be wasting our time.
3. Spreading negativity: The mouth has a tremendous amount of power, we use it to bind and to lose in the spiritual realm. So why use the same mouth you speak to God with to bring down another person. Are you gossiping about your colleague or insulting someone who annoyed you? We should avoid negativity in general but even more so during a fast. It’s a state wherein we’re intimately connected to the spiritual realm than an insult can even take the form of a curse. It’s a period where we need to be very careful and intentional with the things we do.
   Isaiah 58:3-4
   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.
   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.
4. Let the whole world know: Fasting and praying doesn’t make you a better Christian than another. There is no need to announce to the whole world that you’re fasting, neither should we walk around looking like we have no food at home.
   Matthew 6:6
   But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
   
   Matthew 6:17-18
   But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 
   ¹⁸ so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
5. Nag God: Repeating the same word to someone over and over again is the most annoying thing ever. So why do we think it is acceptable to do this to God?
   Matthew 6:7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. It is fine to have a list of things to pray about but we should think of different ways to present our case to God. Just reading out a list of prayer points shows a lack of understanding. Allow the Holy Spirit to take the lead, give room for sudden revelations and prayers rather than solely focusing on what you want to ask God for.

There are many more things that can be added to the lists above, but what applies to me might not apply to you. This is why self-awareness is important. We need to know the level of our Christianity, act with faith, but most importantly, listen to the voice of God. Some of us fast when it is time for us to act, while others are impatient and try to help themselves out when it is their time to wait on the Lord.

Whatever the case might be, I pray for divine guidance from the Holy Spirit so we don’t miss out on our destined blessings.

Stay Blessed x