Magnificent Prayer #15
Magnificent Prayer #15
But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
Luke 5:35 KJV
Give yourselves to fasting and prayer.
1 Corinthians 7:5 KJV
When we fast, let our fasting be done unto the Lord, with our eye singly fixed on Him. Let our intention be this and this alone: to glorify our Father in heaven; to express our sorrow and shame for our many transgressions of His holy law; to wait for an increase of purifying grace, drawing our affections to things above; to add seriousness and earnestness to our prayers; to avert the wrath of God; and to obtain all the great and precious promises which He hath made to us in Jesus Christ…
Let us beware of fancying we merit anything of God by our fasting. We cannot be too often warned of this; inasmuch as a desire to establish our own righteousness is so deeply rooted in all our hearts.
Fasting is only a way which God has ordained, wherein we wait for His undeserved mercy; and wherein, without any merit of ours, He has promised freely to give us His blessing.
JOHN WESLEY
Pray About It: Fasting is a legitimate part of the Christian’s prayer life. After checking with your doctor, you can begin to fast as God leads. Many believers adhere to the fast as practiced among the Jews of Jesus’ day; that is, they fast from evening to evening rather than from morning to morning.
Never fast to prove yourself to God or to gain His favor. All our righteousness is in Christ, not our works. God cannot love you more through your fasting than He does now. Still, we should fast as God directs because Christ admonished us to. During times of great trial or in making a hard decision, fasting can be of great value.
Although many fine books have been written on the subject of fasting, I’ve found God’s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis to be among the best
If fasting is new to you, perhaps today you could fast for one meal. Instead of eating, get away by yourself and spend the time with God. Open with praise, read Psalm 119 in its entirety, and then spend a few silent moments before Him. And by the way, don’t announce your plans to others. This is between you and God alone.
Prayer is reaching out after the unseen. Fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God.
ANDREW MURRAY
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, 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 men 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
From the book
