Fasting

Fasting
Accompanied by:

• Confession (1 Samuel 7:6; Ne. 9:1-2): Rid yourself from whatever steers you in the wrong direction. Confess your sins. Let it out!
• Humiliation (Dt. 9:18; Ne.9:1).
• Mourning (Joel 2:12): God told Joel that he wanted a kind of sorrow over sin that moved a person to want to change.
• Prayer (Ezra 8:23; Dan. 9:3): Persistence/Prayer- The Christian life is like a marathon; if you don't prepare yourself, you'll never finish the race. Ezra and the exiles prepared themselves for a long and dangerous journey by praying and fasting to God.

For the chastening of the soul (Ps. 69:10).

For the humbling of the soul (Ps. 35:13).

Not to be made a subject of display (Mt. 6:16-18): Are you fasting for God, or for people? If it's for Him, then keep it between you and him.

Observed on occasion of:

• Afflictions (Ps. 35:13; Dan. 6:18): God is capable of getting you through anything.
• Afflictions of the church (Luke5:33-35).
• Approaching danger (Esther 4:16).
• Judgements of God (Joel 1:14; 2:12).
• Ordination of Ministers (Acts 13:3; 14:23).
• Private Afflictions (2 Sam. 12:16).
• Public calamities (2 Sam. 1:12).

Of Hypocrites:

• Boasted of, before God (Luke 18:12).
• Described (Is. 58:4-5).
• Ostentatious (Mt. 6:16).
• Rejected (Is. 58:3; Jeremiah 14:12): Hypocrites will be rejected.

Promises connected with (Is. 58:8-12; Mt. 6:18).

Should be unto God (Zc.7:5; Mt. 6:18): Are you really fasting for God?

Spirit of, explained (Is. 58:6-7).

I have so many verses to re-read. I haven't quite gotten the most out of all of them. Some, I'll read, and think to myself, "Okay.. I got nothing." Some, I'm gonna probably change my mind on. That's pretty much it. So, until next time . . .