Day Two, Fasting Update: Here's a great comment from one of our fasting community on Facebook today —
“It's only Day 2 and already I noticed some changes in my husband today. He helped more with some of my/our chores and also was diligent in doing some of his chores.”
God changes people. He changes us when we seek Him, and He moves on people's hearts, too.
Yesterday, we mentioned about God using fasting for His purposes (and we always benefit, too!). Here are some more points to ponder and give praise!
1. As Part of our Christian Ministry. Fasting is not a dreary, sorrowful thing (it is to the flesh the first day or two, however!). Can we see the joyful side of this statement of the Apostle Paul?
“But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings” (2 Corinthians 6:4-5).
No? Frankly, I don't either — until further along in the chapter where Paul writes:
“As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Cor. 6:10). WOW! That's the believer's life in a nutshell. What a seeming dichotomy: always JOY, even in sadness; riches beyond what the world can offer, and yet any physical wealth we possess cannot possess us. Sharing the Gospel with others shares the wealth we possess.
2. Fasting Builds Patience. Fasting removes us from some of the “I've got to have it NOW!” mentality many of us have. We go inward and seek the Lord and can say, like Jesus, “I have food to eat of which you do not know” (John 4:32). We'll look at that more tomorrow!
Patience is POWERFUL! “Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12).
3. To be more Christlike. Jesus fasted. Moses fasted, as did Daniel, Paul and many leaders from the Old and New Testaments. A time of fasting was always followed by a time of victory through a time of testing or trial; revelation and guidance, breakthrough or outpouring of God's power.
QUESTION: Are you noticing God changing you — or others — while you fast?
