40 Days of Life | Day 20 | Fasting From Selfish Desires

Fasting is a common practice during the season of Lent. Many people give up specific foods for Lent; and during allotted times, abstain from eating meat or entire meals. Food is often the first thing that comes to mind with fasting. Some may also fast from other distractions such as television or social media.

Fasting gives the opportunity to reflect on desires. It reminds you where your help comes from.

The Bible also gives warnings about fasting. It can become a source of pride and self-dependence leading to hypocrisy.

In Isaiah 58, God’s people are complaining because despite fasting, they didn’t get the response they felt entitled to. They are rebuked because rather than humble themselves; they continued in their old ways of pride and wickedness. Fasting had not changed their hearts.

“‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not?
Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’

Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.
Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist.
Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.
Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself?
Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?”

God describes another type of fasting: fasting from selfish desires, seeking the good of others.

“Is not this the fast that I choose:
    to loose the bonds of wickedness, [do justly]
    to undo the straps of the yoke, [love mercy]
to let the oppressed go free,
    and to break every yoke? [walk humbly]
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.”

The fasting God chose was to set aside pride. He desires a posture that leads to love for one another. Fasting that is self-seeking bears no fruit, it results in old habits. He invites us to do justly, to love mercy and walk humbly. In services and advocacy of others, we find rest and wholeness in Him.

“And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places
and make your bones strong and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”

40 Days of Life: Day 18 - Integrity

40 Days of Life: Day 16 - Sight for the Blind

40 Days of Life: Day 15 - Listen

40 Days of Life: Day 13 - Testimony

40 Days of Life: Day 12 - Value of Life

40 Days of Life: Day 10 - Real Belief

40 Days of Life: Day 9 - Love or Truth

40 Days of Life: Day 8 - Let Your Light Shine

40 Days of Life: Day 7 - Jan the Van

40 Days of Life: Day 6 - The More You Know

40 Days of Life: Day 5 - Hope

40 Days of Life: Day 4 - What choice?