The reason for fasting should be a desire to draw closer to God. Through the proper practice of fasting, a person can clear the mind of selfish desires and seek to clarify the will of God. This is accomplished by concentrating on God in prayer, scripture reading and meditation on the Word.

At various points in life, denying self in an effort to draw closer to God is a good thing. Generally speaking, most people who fast do so at a time when something is needed in life. Sometimes it can be something tangible such as employment, financial assistance or relational issues. Sometimes the focus can be to clear up general feelings of being lost, confused or uncertain about the path of life. Whatever the issue is that brings a person to choose to fast, one of two results will most often happen. The first result will be nothing. This is usually because the focus was on the practice of fasting and not on God. If the purpose is to accomplish the fast as a goal of personal achievement, then that is most likely what it will remain. God may break through to gain one’s attention, but the focus will need to change midstream. If the focus changes to seeking God and His will, result number two has a chance to be accomplished. Result number two is that God will focus our attention on the things He wants us to deal with as He sees the need. We may have come to the decision to fast based on a life issue that we are dealing with, but as we draw closer to Him, He shows us the real issues of the day that He would like us to confront.

Fasting 02 - Examples