Why do we fast?
"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of Me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and Thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and Thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.
Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:
And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Isaiah 58:1-11
"In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled."
Daniel 10:2-3
Eat no...
Pleasant Bread
Flesh
Wine
Do Not...
Anoint yourself
Definitions
Pleasant = delight, delectable thing, desire, covet
Bread = food, bread, grain (for making it)
Flesh = any living thing
At fist when I saw that Daniel did not anoint himself, I though "Oh boy, should I not take a shower?" then I remembered these verses in Matthew:
"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. Bur thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."
Matthew 6:16-18
That cleared it up.
What am I fasting for?
.....
What will I abstain from?
1. Computer
2. Leavened Bread
3. Deserts
4. Meat
5. Books
6. No Fancy Drinks (like pop, tea, hot chocolate, coffee, etc.
What will I eat and do?
1. Unleavened Bread
2. Fruit
3. Legumes
4. Vegetables
5. Read my Bible
6. Pray
7. Serve
I believe this will be one of the most challenging fasts I have ever done. But with the Lord Jesus' help I will make it! I am going to be fasting for a week, so you won't hear from me during that time. :) No computer (my BIGGEST challenge)!!
Blessings,
Abigail
