Matthew 6:16-18
16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, 18 so that you don’t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Mark 2:18-22
18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. People came and asked Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
19 Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the time will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. 21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”
Related Text:
Esther 3-4
Isaiah 58
Jonah 3
Zechariah 7-8
Acts 14:21-23
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Take It Slow (ha, get it, take it slow . . . about fasting?)
Fasting is going without food or without drink for a period of time. During biblical times, fasting was done for a variety of reasons. Today, the most common description of fasting is related to a spiritual habit or discipline. The discipline is to spend extra time with God and give Him priority over food. People who fast may spend time in prayer during the times when they would normally eat.
Before you try to fast, discuss it with your parents and/or your pastor so that you will be better able to understand the spiritual benefit as well as the health precautions. Whether or not you fast, be reminded that Jesus cares deeply about your motives and the attitude of your mind and heart. He knows your heart, and He knows the real you.
