For those who fast

6“Here is the sort of fast I want —
releasing those unjustly bound,
untying the thongs of the yoke,
letting the oppressed go free,
breaking every yoke,
7 sharing your food with the hungry,
taking the homeless poor into your house,
clothing the naked when you see them,
fulfilling your duty to your kinsmen!”
8 Then your light will burst forth like the morning,
your new skin will quickly grow over your wound;
your righteousness will precede you,
and Adonai’s glory will follow you.
9 Then you will call, and Adonai will answer;
you will cry, and he will say, “Here I am.”

Isaiah 58.6-9a

I was looking for threads on fasting, but taking a while, so just started this.

Thanks for the Thread......

One Scripture concerning fasting that I have always found interesting is:

Matthew, Chapter 17:

21) Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

The disciples had tried to cast out an evil spirit, but failed, and asked Christ why.......... His full response was:

20) And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21) Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

It seems, from these Scriptures, that fasting combined with prayer has great power! If true, then shouldn't we both fast and pray when we are seeking some thing from Christ/God? Would this not increase our chances of His hearing our prayers AND answering them?

When we were growing up in a Catholic home, our elders usually fasted part of Holy Week, while the children did abstinence on Good Friday and some other Fridays. But other than that, even Christian churches i went to did not quite teach or emphasize fasting. It was later, when i had friends who had regular fasts at their church at the start of year, mid-year, etc. when i started to join and practice. It seems my old friend, a Muslim, knew more abt fasting than i did for a long time. But i decided i will learn more abt it and do it more, wc i finally did for many, many days during the pandemic. I am thankful for the grace, the strength and wisdom God gives. May more be nudged to practice this Christian teaching, and see the hand of God working as we offer our lives more and more to Him.

Isa. 58. 8 Then your light will burst forth like the morning,
your new skin will quickly grow over your wound;
your righteousness will precede you,
and Adonai’s glory will follow you.

Isnt that beautiful?

fasting is a big part of our lives, for differing reasons, like cleaning house,
as long as it's done sensibly and with a right heart...

That is details on how a real fast occurs its not just staying away from world things and food. Gods fast is a purified one. It does seem more like christian living rather then fasting though.