LITWORD DAILY
Healing, transforming and renewing

Saturday Jan 25, 2025
Don’t suffer while fasting
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Isaiah 58:5 “When you fast, you make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think I will be pleased with that?”

Many people think that when God sees them suffering while fasting he is pleased with them and probably their prayers will be answered.
But unfortunately that is not the case, God does not love it when you are suffering in the name of fasting.

You see, the Israelites used to fast like that. And every time they fasted, God would not answer their prayers. And so they started complaining.

Isaiah 58:3 The people ask, “Why should we fast if the LORD never notices? Why should we go without food if he pays no attention?”……

And God sent a prophet to tell them that, you see, that is not the kind of fasting i want.

Isaiah 58:3……The LORD says to them, “The truth is that at the same time you fast, you pursue your own interests and oppress your workers.
4 Your fasting makes you violent, and you quarrel and fight. Do you think this kind of fasting will make me listen to your prayers?
5 When you fast, you make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think I will be pleased with that?”

God listed a number of things He didn’t like here, but today I want to focus on three. Number one, he said when you fast, you make yourself surfer. That means, God does not expect you to suffer during your time of fasting, in fact, it should be a time of fellowshipping with the Lord.

And number two, your attitude during that time of fasting is important, you can’t be complaining, bitter and violent during that time of fast and expect God to hear your prayers, no, it doesn’t work like that. God said, your fasting makes you violent.

That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 6:16-18 “And when you fast, do not put on a sad face as the hypocrites do. They neglect their appearance so that everyone will see that they are fasting. I assure you, they have already been paid in full.

17 But when you go without food, wash your face and comb your hair, 18 so that others cannot know that you are fasting—only your Father, who is unseen, will know. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.” Glory be to God!

I know of a fellow, he used to look very miserable while fasting, everyone would know that the fellow is fasting. He would order people to keep his food for breakfast and lunch. So then after breaking his fast at around 6pm, he would eat his breakfast, lunch and supper all combined. And after he has eaten and is now satisfied, then he starts talking with people happily. His fasting would make him so violent and rude.

But you see, such kinds of fasting takes people no where. That’s why he was always the same. Not until he got a revelation and things started turning around for him, hallelujah.
Your attitude during that time of fasting is so important, a bad attitude can cancel all the blessings you would have archived during the time of fasting.

Then finally, perhaps the most important thing during fasting is what you do during that time.

Some people find a way of making themselves busy so that they don’t realize when they get hungry or don’t get time to think about food. Others go and continue doing their businesses while others buy something they can chew which can make their mouth busy so that they don’t get hungry.
But you see, you need to understand why you are supposed to fast at first, so that you can know what to do during that time of fasting.

The time of fasting is a time of building up in the spirit. It’s not just a matter of going hungry, no!

During that time, you are trying to subdue the flesh, so that the spirit can have more control.
That means, when you fast, you subdue the flesh, but the spirit needs to be powerful enough to take charge over the body.

That means, during that time, you will not just subdue the flesh by not giving it food, you also have to empower your spirit. That means, you need to feed your spirit during that time. And the only way we can feed the spirit is by the word. The word of God is the only food for the spirit. It will empower you and fill you with joy, Jeremiah 15:16.

So during that time, you need to spend more time studying the word of God by reading it thoroughly. Hallelujah

That means, you will have to discipline yourself during that time to sit down and study the word. And then your spirit will become empowered, and you will start seeing things turning around. If you used to pray and get no answers, you will start receiving it within that very week. Hallelujah.

Admonition
Daniel 10:12
Then the Angel said, “Daniel, don’t be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in order to gain understanding. I have come in answer to your prayer.

You see, most people think that Daniel would only deny himself food during the time of fasting. No, he used to sit down and read scriptures and study the word of God during that time. And that is what made him who he was, hallelujah.

You too, if you improve on your fasting style, you will archive greater things in Christ. God bless you.

PRAYER
When men are hungry, they search for food, when they are thirsty, they search for water. But your word, oh Lord is to me food and water. When we eat your word, hunger vanish, the thirst disappear, and it disappears with all how problems, with all our poverty. Your word is so powerful, i will live to glorify your name all the days of my life, for you have shown me great things. Amen.

Further studies: Matthew 4:4, Proverbs 4:20-22

Still remain your friend
Pr. Otim Brian Sundison
http://www.heavenlyatmosphere.org
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