Fasting Labs by Jeff Foster

I had “fasting labs” last week. Doc’s words, not mine. In my words, it’s having to wait for breakfast four hours past my normal eating time so they can gouge a needle in my arm while my stomach is growling so they can get a few vials of blood. I guess they think the word “fasting” won’t scare me because after all, it’s a biblical thing. But I see through their little game.

Intermittent fasting diet. Another misleading phrase. Somehow using an old biblical word in a new fad diet is supposed to make it appealing? I don’t think so. Starving for a day or two to make the temptation of gluttony even greater. No, thank you.

Seriously though, true biblical fasting however if done according to God’s instructions can produce astounding results. What is fasting? How does it benefit me? Reasonable questions. But if we begin fasting with only expectations of benefitting ourselves, then we need not bother. Israel learned some hard lessons when they questioned why God wasn’t blessing them for their times of fasting. In Isaiah 58 verse 3 they ask, “Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?” But God was quick to answer in verse 4, “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.” (KJV)

Fasting requires a humble heart. A humble heart does not seek its own benefit but is searching out the true will of God, asking Him to intervene in a situation to bring glory to Himself. Fasting with a fully surrendered heart must also be content with whatever God chooses to do in the situation. King David fasted and begged God for seven days to let his sick child live. But when the child died on the seventh day he got up, washed, put on clean clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshipped. When asked about his actions he answered in 2 Samuel 12:22-23, “And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” (KJV) He accepted God’s will and by doing so his faith was stronger and God blessed him with another son, Solomon.

Is there a difference between Old Testament and New Testament fasting? Let’s compare the instructions from Isaiah chapter 58 to that from Jesus in Matthew chapter 6.

Isaiah 58:6-7 says, “Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, 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?” (KJV)

In other words, whatever we give up in fasting is by definition a sacrifice to God and belongs in His storehouse to be distributed as the Holy Spirit urges to whomever we find in need, Seeking to shelter the homeless and clothe those in need is our duty as Christians. Just because we are fasting does not affect our duties. Do not limit your generosity to loved ones close to you, but consider all men the same as you are with the same needs.

Compare that to what Jesus said in Mat 6:16-18:

“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. But 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.”(KJV)

There is no difference between Old Testament and New Testament fasting. Basically, “be not weary in well-doing.” Fasting is encouraged, but it is not an excuse to neglect our daily responsibilities or make a show of our fasting by putting on a sad face. That does nothing to bring glory to God but instead focuses attention on ourselves. Fasting is a private matter between you and God. By giving up something we need, (or think we need) to seek God’s face, we are saying to God that we are wholly relying on Him and we are serious about our need for His answer to our prayer. It is saying I trust you God to sustain me. It is saying that whatever answer He gives is sufficient.

I can attest to the fact that prayer with fasting will bring you closer to God and you will see results if done according to God’s word. It doesn’t need to be difficult. Set a time limit, seven days, forty days, or even one day. Give something up that you think is a necessity. It could be something as simple as your morning coffee. Spend the extra time praying and meditating over God’s word. Be specific with your prayer. Call out in prayer the name of that loved one who hasn’t surrendered to Christ. Call out in prayer that circumstance, that sickness, that mountain that seems impossible to cross over. Most importantly, pray believing that God will hear and answer. I promise you that God will give you a reason to praise Him.

Jeff and Lorena Foster

Jeff Foster and his wife Lorena live in Granite Falls, NC. As a mechanical engineer with many years of technical writing experience, he discovered his calling to devotional writing in 2018. He finds purpose in his writing by encouraging the saints and inspiring them to strive for a closer walk with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His website was launched in April of this year www.seedsowing.org.