FAST NOW TO FEAST LATTER

Not by Bread

'He that lives upon hope will die fasting'                     Benjamin Franklin-

Today when fasting is mentioned and included in any programme of our churches, the patronage is usually low compared to others like musical concerts, revival meeting, seminars and workshops etc.

            Stories abounds of people that died after a period of fasting and prayer. Some ended up developing stomach ulcer; while so many ran mad after fasting. The question here is how come Jesus Christ and Moses spend 40 days each with their health intact. Daniel and other apostles of faith even in our contemporary time all fasted and increased in grace and in the knowledge of our savior Lord Jesus Christ.

            I know of a servant of God who after 21 days of fasting died; some of this scaring happenings am sure are the reason people never want to venture into fasting. While the bible in Isaiah 40: 31 ‘they that wait upon the lord shall renew their strength’

My dear reader if par-chance you are among the huge majority of Christians who rarely or are scared to fast; this work is aimed at making you my esteemed reader understand what fasting is all about and appreciate the both Health and spiritual Advantages of fasting; thereafter expect that you will be making a decision that will favour fasting in your life.

What is Fasting?

Fasting is voluntarily going without food and drink. It may be for the sake of some spiritual purpose or for other reasons including medical.

Fasting is one of the major ways in this world, we stretch our hearts to get fresh air beyond the pain and trouble around us from God.

When Jesus returns, fasting will be done. It’s a temporary measure, for this life and age, to enrich our joy in Jesus and prepare our hearts for the next — for seeing him face to face. When he returns, he will not call a fast, but throw a feast; then all holy abstinence will have served its glorious purpose and be seen by all for the stunning gift it was. Until then, we will fast.

Fasting differs from starvation in one crucial way, which is ‘Control’. Starvation is the involuntary absence of food. It is neither deliberate nor controlled. Fasting, on the other hand, is the voluntary withholding of food for spiritual, health, or other reasons. You may begin a fast at anytime of your choice, and you may end a fast at will, too. You can also start or stop a fast for any reason or no reason at all.

Fasting has no standard duration, as it is merely the absence of eating. Anytime that you are not eating, you are fasting. For example, you may fast between dinner and breakfast the next day, a period of approximately 12-14 hours. In that sense, fasting should be considered a part of everyday life.

Then, the concern will not be whether we fast, but ‘when we fast’. Jesus assumes his followers will fast, he expected it will be part of our daily worship and even promises it will happen. Let us consider Matthew 6:16

Moreover, when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. ¹

Here the bible did not say “if,” but “when you fast”. And he doesn’t say his followers might fast, but “then shall they fast” (Matthew 9:15). This illustrates that fasting is everyday activity. For example, the term ‘breakfast’ refers to the meal that breaks your fast and in the morning everyday this term is used.

This simply means that life acknowledges that fasting should be performed daily, even if only for a short duration. It is perhaps the oldest and most powerful dietary intervention that you can think of. Yet somehow we have forgotten its awesome power and ignored its therapeutic potential.