Back March 1st, when I started to fast, I had no idea it would be for a year.
He told me on to make a video every day.
So, I thought…okay 40 days. Here we go.
Then that turned into a year.
I know that Jesus says “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.” Matthew 6:16
But also, how do we know people fasted in the Bible both corporately and individually?
They recorded it.
We have individuals:
Moses wrote about himself fasting 40 days with no food or water. Deuteronomy 9:9
Whoever wrote Kings, wrote about Elijah fasting 40 days on the way to Mount Horeb. 1 Kings 19:8
Matthew wrote about Jesus fasting 40 days. Matthew 4: 1-2
Luke wrote about Paul fasting 3 days. Acts 9:9
Daniel wrote about himself fasting for 21 days. Daniel 10: 2-3
Nehemiah wrote about himself fasting. Nehemiah 1:4
Luke wrote about Anna fasting all the time. Luke 2:37
David talks about himself fasting. Psalm 69:10
We have leaders:
Luke records about Paul and Barnabas fasting to pick elders. Acts 14:23
Luke records about the church at Antioch fasting and praying when they commissioned Paul and Barnabas. Acts 13:1-3
Corporate fasts were also recorded:
Ezra called a fast in Ezra 8:21-23
Esther called a fast for three days in Esther 4:16
Samuel wrote about all the people fasting evening in Judges. Judges 20:26
Joel records God calling for fasting. Joel 2:12
Jonah wrote about the fast they called on the humans and animals! Jonah 3:5-9
Back then, they didn’t have Facebook or blogs.
They had scrolls. Just a different kind of scrolling now:)
I believe the Lord wanted me to document this #jesusfast.
And since the Bible did it, so will I.
So why did Jesus say “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward?”
I believe Jesus cares about the heart motive.
Yes, the Bible talks about fasting. Yes, people knew others were fasting. That’s how they could record it. Yes, people could record about themselves fasting. But, in the fasting, make sure your heart is to seek God….not for the praise of others.
Maybe these posts/blogs will be read later for others to be encouraged, like I was when God called me to fast 40 days on water. I needed to see and read about others who went before me. It catapulted me into obedience.
