MOG Day 7 Fasting
Matthew 4
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”
Jesus fasted.
Throughout the Bible there are references to God’s people fasting as a spiritual discipline. As Christians it has historically been a way to express sorrow for sin. Fasting can also be a reminder through hunger to focus on our reliance on God. So why not continue the tradition? Here are a few reminders to get started.
- Fasting should not be done for show. Jesus got a bit wordy about people who did that.
- Fasting for health reasons is different that fasting for spiritual reasons. So don’t think that you can focus on God and lose weight too. Maybe you can but you are either focused on God or something else. This time lets focus on God.
- Fasting may take a bit of breaking in. You don’t start the spiritual practice of fasting by giving up food for 24 hours. Its not smart. Its not healthy. But you can start by giving up something. Perhaps coffee or chocolate (I never said it’d be easy people). Then work up to giving up one meal or pushing a meal out a few hours. After a few times of trying this, you could work up to a 12+ hour fast. Make sure that you are clear about what you want from this. It is a spiritual discipline and a means of grace so expect to rely on God during the fast as well as experience God through it.
So let’s get started.
Until Everyone Hears,
I knew this day would be the hardest – I wasnt sure how I would get through a few hours without eating – not to think about a day – I will have headache before noon. Sounds like I can acomplish the goal though with VERY a strict/healthy diet goal AND giving up something of significance which will be 'sweets' of any kind for one week – it's Jan why not get in the groove. Maybe by Friday I can work up to a full 12 hour fast.