Fasting That Pleases God

More over when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. - Matthew 6:16

Beloved child of the Lord, all your life, you have been eating at least two meals a day. Now is the time to fast. Fast before the Lord and let your life be blessed. Fast and let others around you be blessed too. Fasting does not mean that you get so busy, you do not find time to east. Fasting is not dieting and must not be mistaken as starvation. Fasting is the humbling of your soul before the Almighty God. It is denying ourselves in the body of getting involved with the things of God.

What does fasting do in the life of a believer?
- It humbles the soul before God.
- It chastens the soul before God. (Psalm 35:13)
- It crucifies the appetite and denies it so as to give that entire time to prayer (2 Samuel 12:16-23, Matthew 4:1-11)
- It manifests earnestness to the exclusion of all else (1 Corinthians 7:5)
- It shows obedience and gives rest to the digestive system. (Matthew 6:16-18, 9:15, Luke 5:33)
- It demonstrates the mastery of man over his appetite
- It aids in the resisting temptation.
- It helps us attain power over demons
- It develops faith
- It crucifies unbelief and aids in prayer (Matthew 7:14-21)

Fasting is not putting on a sorrowful countenance whereby we disfigure our face to show others we are fasting. The numerous blessings that comes from a true fasting restores good health and heals our body, soul and spirit.

Your righteousness and right relationship with God shall go before you, guiding you towards peace and prosperity. God's glory will be your rear guard. When you pray, God will hear your prayer. You will cry out to God and God will answer you. Your light will rise in darkness. Your obscurity and gloom will turn into brightness of the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually. He will satisfy you during drought and in dry places. He will make your bones strong. You will be like a watered garden. You will be like an unfailing spring of water. All your waste places will be come fertile. You will establish the foundation of many generations. You will be called the Repairer of the Breach and Restorer of Streets to Dwell in. The Lord will make you ride on the high places of the earth and feed you the heritage of Jacob your father.

Let us fast and come before the Lord.

- Daniel O.C