Fasting?

Matthew 6
16“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. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so 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.

“For I desire loyalty and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” -Hosea 6:6

Fasting. This had always been perplexing to me, until I realized that fasting was meant to be used to focus on God. It isn't for losing weight or so we can say we did it or to show others how religious we are. It is supposed to be focused on God...for His glory...not ours.

I have tried fasting with the intention of focusing on God, and every time it has turned out to be about me. Fasting up to this point, even though I figured out it is supposed to be about God, is still about me. I can't seem to break that cycle. 

Today, though, my devotion was about fasting and yes, its purpose...to glorify God. One particular phrase in the shereadstruth.com devotional (by Raechel Myers) for Lent today really hammered the message home. Here it is:

"He who knit us together, sees and searches and knows every beat of our hearts (Psalm 139:1-2, 23; 1 Samuel 16:7). Imagine Him, our Creator and Father, being presented with gifts from our heart to His, knowing full well they were never really intended for Him. Our sacrifices are empty apart from our God. They are utterly meaningless outside of communing with Him."

Hmmmm...I intended the sacrifice of fasting to be for God at first, but God knows I did not intend the sacrifice of fasting to be for Him in the end. It was focused on not eating instead. That hurts just to think about. The God who made me, who knew me in my mother's womb, who wants only the best for me, who sent His son to die on a cross for all my mistakes/sins, He knows my so called sacrifice of fasting was, in the end, not intended for Him but for me. To please some desire I had. To show that I,
not God, could control my eating for a day.

Father, forgive me! I have been selfish and focused on myself rather than you. I love you and want to please you. Please help me to please you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

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Fasting is also intercession for others.
Acts 13
 Now there were in the church at Antiochnprophets and nteachers, oBarnabas, Simeon who was called Niger,1 Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of pHerod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, qthe Holy Spirit said, r“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul sfor the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and tpraying they laid their hands on them and usent them off.

Then I discovered that we can fast for more than just our focus on God. We can fast for the benefit of others. Of course, now that I know that, it makes sense. God is always thinking of everything, us and others!

I am contemplating who to fast for. I can't wait you see what happens. I must admit, however, that I don't know how long to fast or if we can eat or drink anything. I will have to find this information out. I am praying now.

Fasting is not about us.
Isaiah 58
5Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? 6“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 

Fasting is not about us. After reading the scripture above, it is about others. Just like keeping my focus on God should be my goal every minute if I want to know His will for my life, then focusing on others is also His will. That is the doing part of His will. The hands and feet. Amazing how everything comes full circle. I start reading about fasting to see what it is all about, and I end up realizing it is all about the two greatest commandments! Cool! It is just like God to do something like that.  Wrap everything up in a neat, tidy bow.

The first commandment, the greatest, is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and strength (Matthew 22:37-38). So, fasting is about God not me.

The second greatest commandment, according to Jesus Christ, is to love they neighbor as thyself (Matthew 22:39). That would be fasting for others! So even in fasting, God's plan is spelled out in the commandments Jesus gave us. God is always consistent, isn't he. He always has a plan to bring everything back to what it should be. Everything from beginning to end us under His control.

Father, I thank you that you are in control and that we are part of your plan. Please help us to understand what fasting for your glory and others should look like. In Christ's name I pray. Amen.