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| "And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the Lord God, and made my confession... " Daniel 9:34 So hey, is fasting for today? Was it limited to those living in Bible times? Did it pass away with our great grandparents? Without anymore attempt of sounding melodramatic, the answer is "NO... It is for today too." What are the uses for fasting? 1) Fasting deepens are walk with Christ. It is similar to prayer and reading the Bible. When we fast, we are literally denying our own will and desires and yielding ourselves to God. Think of the time when Christ was praying before He was arrested and He said, "Father, if it be Thy will, let this come pass from Me. Nevertheless, not My will but Thine be done." This is what fasting encompasses. 2) Fasting makes us better able to resist Satan, sin, and negative influences. 3) Fasting makes us better able to deal with evil spirits, those demonically possessed, and those bound by various sins. (Matthew 17) 4) Fasting makes us tune into God. This can enable us to better hear His voice and direction. 5) Fasting can also be used as praise to God. Also when you do fast, keep quiet about it. It's between you and God. Words of Jesus: 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. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:16-18 Assembly of God perspective: http://ag.org/top/beliefs/christian_doctrines/gendoct_04_fasting.cfm http://ag.org/top/empower/pergrw_sptlf_fasting.cfm http://www.worldprayercenter.org/prefast.htm http://ag.org/top/empower/pergrw_sptlf_prayer.cfm http://www.worldprayercenter.org/fastingtips.htm |
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