The below is also what I learnt from the book on fasting called “Fasting”.
Overall, I believe fasting is a way of sanctifying ourselves and purifying ourselves and allowing us to be more like Jesus in our thinking, doing and desire and it is also for spring cleaning the body and fasting to break the yokes of women/ men who we are studying with. E.g their stronghold/struggle could be years of stealing, lying, taking drugs and fasting for them is a way of helping them!
Shows that we should enter a fast seriously, having repented of any known sins.
When we fast, our appearance should be normal and we should not draw attention to our “affliction” of fasting through our actions, our treatment of others, or our temperament.
Though our focus should be on our own needs, the needs of others should be on our heart as well. God said...
The Israelites questioned why they fasted with no answer from God. The Lord called Isaiah to “cry aloud, spare not” (Isaiah 58:1), telling the people to repent of their transgressions, to fast the way God ordained, and to tell them what would happen when they do: Isaiah 58:8-9.
Matthew 5:14 - what does “your light shall break forth like the morning” mean? Illumination. God intended Israel to be a “light” in darkness to other nations, glorifying the God of creation by their actions and by the blessings of God apparent on their lives, thus drawing others to God. Likewise, in our lives as children of God, our light will break forth and be apparent to others. I imagine much like the glow on the face of Moses when he descended the mountain after spending time with God.
The Lord says that when you fast, “your righteousness shall go before you” (Isaiah 58:8). Your faith, your right standing with God, will cause you to move into areas where you would not have moved if you has not fasted. Doors will open to you that were not opened before, and your influence will go out like ripples in a pond.
When the Israelites left Egypt, God provided manna for them daily, as well as clothing and shows that did not wear out. Idolatry and unfaithfulness entered the hearts of the older generation, and they were left to wander in the wilderness for forty years. There was an entire generation that has grown up in the wilderness, listening to stories of the wonders that God has done to deliver Israel from Egyptian slavery - the plagues, the miracles, the plundering, the parting of the Red Sea, the drowning of Pharoah’s army, the fire by night and cloud by day, and the Ten Commandments written in stone. For nearly forty years, they ate manna in the morning and manna in the evening while wandering about a land flowing with milk and honey (Joshua 5:6).
Moses had been laid to rest. Joshua was now in charge, and things were changing. The command came from Joshua. (Joshua 3:5). There must have been an extreme excitement spreading throughout the camp, but the Lord would do wonders only if the children of Israel would sanctify themselves.
The Hebrew root for sanctify is godhash, which is also the root for holy. God said (Leviticus 11:44). Sanctification is the process of becoming holy in daily life; it is practising purity and being set apart from the world and from sin.
Sanctification is allowing the Holy Spirit to make us more like Jesus in what we do, in what we think, and in what we desire.
Fasting is an excellent means of sanctifying yourself.
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