“And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.” (Mark 2:19)
I cannot recall more than twice in my life fasting, for me personally it seemed as a necessary thing to do when the request of the Lord I had made needed, in my mind, an immediate answer, and my memory is so poor that I cannot even recall why I fasted at those times.
Fasting is of course not only done for that reason, but for a way to reveal to ourselves our dependency upon the Almighty, but again, and I mean this with no conceit in my heart, if one who is born-again does not realize that truth without fasting, then, at least in that area fasting may be necessary.
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
That nothing implies works worthy of repentance, of lives filled with the desire to do all we do for the glory of God, to reach out to the Almighty each day, every day, all day for instructions from the Holy Spirit on how to obey in love for His glory.
The Romanist tradition of Lent, which sadly has been accepted and applied by many Evangelical churches, attempts to force the mandate, as it were, of a form of fasting, while spending those days in more contemplation about Spiritual things, things which should pass through our minds nearly constantly.
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2nd Cor. 10:5)
Fasting then, or any applied such format, becomes no more than a forced inconvenience upon oneself, and so does not truly glorify the Living God, but only places within the minds of those who perform that deed a sense of self-gratification for the deed done, and not one that truly teaches abject humility.
I pray it is not so with you if you participate in a time of a lack of food and water.
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1st Sam. 16:7)
If not, then you are simply going hungry to prove something to yourself that you should already be well aware of, that the Lord will supply all your needs.
For some, fasting is no more than another works-based deed done in hopes of gaining favor from the Lord, no different than the hypocrites did in their day.
“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”(Matt.6:16)
I do not remember what it was I wanted, nor do I even recall if my request was granted, I know only this, I was young in the faith, and I thought that if I did this, then God would do that. And my friends, I personally believe I made a mistake in doing so.
“Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (Matt. 4:7)
You may want to mention the verse in Malachi about tithing, of the times in the Psalms when David spoke about paying his vows, even when Jacob told the Almighty that if He would this this, then Jacob would do that, and, if you are so called in your heart to do so, then by all means, do so.
But I beg you, test yourself first, why we do what we do is many times more important than what we do.
Just because you are a cheerful giver does not necessarily mean that you will be blessed financially, a kept vow done solely for selfish purposes is a vow that should not have been made.
Fasting is a personal choice, the reason for doing so must be clear in your mind, as everything we do in faith for the glory of God should be.
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Col. 3:17)
If you are hoping for rewards, you are missing the point, if you believe what you do will make you loved more by the Lord, again, the point is missed.
If it is the Lord Jesus Christ you desire to lift up, then by all means, move forward in faith.
