The ManicaPost
Pastor Ocean Hamandishe—
Fasting is observed among Christians, Jews, Muslims, Confucianists, Hindus, Daoists, Jainists, and adherents of other religious faiths.
| Although Buddhism stresses moderation in eating rather than fasting, Buddhists in some countries, notably Tibet, observe certain fasts. |
A simple definition of Fasting is abstention from food, and often also from drinking water or all fluids depending with the type of fasting one might choose. Some fast absenting from certain foods, this may be debatable. This subject is very broad as there are many approaches people can use during fasting.
In this article I am not going to discuss about types of fasting, where or how to fast but I am focusing on the attitude during fasting. Fasting has been practiced for centuries in connection with religious ceremonies and it is not a new practice in Christian faith. Old and New Testaments scriptures recorded incidences of fasting, even Jesus Christ taught about it. Therefore fasting is scriptural. I understand this period of the year-end into the first weeks or months of the New Year, many Christians go for fasting.
During my personal bible study my eyes were caught by this portion of scripture.
Luke 4:1-4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, (2) where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. (3) The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” (4) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’” NIV.
As I pondered on this scripture I realised that a good attitude is very important during fasting. It seems Jesus never hunger during his fasting but only after he finished his 40 days of fasting. I figured out why he did not feel hungry. This does not mean that there were no some stomach-hunger pains during his fasting. He was so absorbed in this separation of fasting that pain did not catch his attention. Jesus`s focus was not to perform a ritual of fasting but his focus was to submit to God. He was humbling himself before his father in preparation of his ministry.
I learnt that even your fasting should be led and guided by the Holy Spirit. Do not just make long fasting for the sake of it. I read somewhere on the social media that a certain Pastor died while fasting for more than forty days. His agenda was to break a record by beating Jesus ‘forty days of fasting’. I think this was a wrong motive on fasting. Fasting is not for spiritual competition.
Some people can struggle with a one day fasting, what more a week, ten days, twenty one and forty days, therefore one need to prepare his/her mind for fasting. If you fast to fulfil a religious duty you can face some challenges with your body. Constantly checking on breaking time of fasting may be a sign of lack of concentration and lack of purpose during your fasting. One should be so absorbed in fasting that time is not his focus. Jesus hungered the day he finished fasting because his focus was not on clocking the days. His was not a mere religious duty. Fasting should not be just a ritual or to fulfil a program. If you decide to go for fasting, then let your whole being be involved especially the discipline of the mind. If the mind is disciplined, the whole body will submit.
Fasting is beneficial if it is carried with the right motive and attitude. When fasting you need to ask yourself. Why are you fasting and for what purpose? During fasting you may encounter temptation but you need to remain focused. Actually the Holy Spirit was the one who ushered Jesus in an area where he was tempted, other versions says “He was led by Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil forty days and forty nights”. During fasting there are two forces that will be at work, The Spirit of God and the devil. There are temptations that come during fasting and after fasting. Apart from those recorded in Luke 4 vs 3 to 13, I assume Jesus also fought other temptation during his fasting.
Some people thought Jesus was tempted to eat during his fasting but the Bible did not say so. The Bible says “He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry”. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” (4) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’” This was soon after Jesus finished his fasting.
According the scriptures the temptations recorded were presented soon after his fasting. The devil wanted to test him on how he was going to use his power. Some people after fasting will do a deliberate check to see how much power invested in them during their fasting. After fasting how are you going to use your spiritual powers?
What is your attitude even after completing your days? Do you move around demonstrating that you were fasting by doing things that are not commanded by the Bible? Jesus refuted every temptation by using scriptures. He knew where to use his power. Jesus did not want to prove any point to the devil. Fasting was for his spiritual benefit not to prove a point.
Fasting is one of the spiritual exercise and part of worship that changes a believer. It is not about punishing your body to feel spiritual. It is a time to conquer all your fleshly desires and temptations as you draw closer to God. You make your will die and allow God`s will to be done. It is a time of humbling yourself before the Lord, submitting to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Of course there are many benefits of fasting which space can allow me to mention here.
May the Holy Spirit give you strength during your fasting? May he led you and have a right attitude during fasting.
Pastor Ocean Hamandishe is an Author, entrepreneur & Senior Pastor of Christian Walk Ministries. He oversees Churches in Zimbabwe & Mozambique. He holds a Diploma, B A in Theology and Master of Christian Counseling. He Can be contacted on +263 -772 602 471/ or [email protected] pastorocean@Apostolic Word Foundations (Knowledge Series)
