Fasting Correctly


In Isaiah 58:1-5 God admonishes the people for how they have approached fasting. They were crying out to Him and acted like a nation that did righteousness and followed the laws of God. ⠀

They wanted to get credit for their fasting, however, God saw that while they fasted, they sought after their own pleasures, exploited their workers, involved themselves in conflicts and debates and got into fights. They bowed their heads in sackcloth and ash, but they had not humbled their hearts. This type of fasting does not please God, for He knows our motives and our hearts.⠀

In Mathew 6:16-18, Jesus admonishes us saying, “when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites with a sad countenance”…however you should “anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly”. ⠀

We should go into a fast with a pure heart and put away behavior that displeases God. We should also have a happy countenance. Put on something you love to wear and top it off with a smile! The Bible gives us amazing insight into how we should appear during our fast and we would be wise to take it.⠀

Read: Isaiah 58:1-5, Mathew 6:16-18⠀