The Importance And Benefits Of Fasting

When we fast, we have to be in a posture of humbleness and spiritual ablution, meaning we come before God with ‘clean hands’ and a pure heart. In addition, we should go through the forgiveness process if needed because it is a command from God, and we are to obey God’s commandments. Also, forgiveness is part of that spiritual ablution, where you remove hurt, pain, anger, bitterness, and resentment from your heart (these emotions block you from drawing closer to God) – please read Ephesians 4:31-32

In this four-part episode, I will conclude this blog series by briefly discussing the importance and benefits of fasting. You may read parts one to three of this four-part episode here –

Episode one

Episode two

Episode three

What Is Fasting?

Fasting is when we stay away from food, water, or both for a specific period to consecrate ourselves to seek the face of God Almighty through prayers.

Mainly in the Bible, people fasted when they had to make crucial decisions or needed God to intervene for them. For example, Daniel fasted when he needed wisdom and understanding on a particular matter (Daniel 9). Also, Esther fasted when she needed favor to go before the king (Esther 4:16). In addition, Jesus fasted before He started His ministry (Matthew 4:1-11). So fasting is an essential spiritual act in our Christian walk.

The Importance and Benefits Of Fasting

Isaiah 58 lays it plain when it comes to fasting, and The Lord tells us what He expects us to do during a fast. Here is what Isaiah 58:1-11 NIV says –

Shout it aloud, do not hold back.

Raise your voice like a trumpet.

Declare to my people their rebellion

and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.

2 For day after day they seek me out;

they seem eager to know my ways,

as if they were a nation that does what is right

and has not forsaken the commands of its God.

They ask me for just decisions

and seem eager for God to come near them.

3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,

‘and you have not seen it?

Why have we humbled ourselves,

and you have not noticed?’

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please

and exploit all your workers.

4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,

and in striking each other with wicked fists.

You cannot fast as you do today

and expect your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is 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?

7 Is 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?

8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness[a] will go before you,

and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

11 The Lord will guide you always;

he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail.

In verse 6, The Lord talks about what He expects us to do when we fast

To help people who are facing injustice
To set the oppressed free
To break every yoke

Also, in verse 7, The Lord tells us as we are fasting, we should

Share our food with the hungry
Provide the poor homeless with shelter
Provide clothes for people who don’t have
Pay attention to our family

When we do all the things The Lord commands us to do as we are fasting, what benefits can we expect from our obedience?

Verse 8 says that –

Our healing will appear quickly

The good things we do will be seeds we sow, and we will reap those good things later.

Verses 9 and 10

When we call on The Lord, He will answer our prayers and petitions.

God will deliver us from every attack of the enemy.

Verse 11

The Lord will guide us always

He will always provide for us even in times of difficulty

We will be healthy physically and spiritually

God will give us strength

These are the benefits we receive from The Lord when we fast the right way. Also, when it comes to doing humanitarian duties, it should not only happen when we fast, but it should be part of your daily life – God greatly rewards those who care for the poor, orphans, and widows. Proverbs 19:17 says Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done.

I hope this post will give you a new perspective on fasting and how to do it correctly. Also, the importance and benefits when it comes to Fasting.

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