2024 Daniel Fast - Flipbook - Page 5
Why Do We Fast?
II. Physical Preparation
Although fasting is primarily a spiritual discipline, it begins in the physical realm. We should
not fast without specific physical preparation, and those on medication should consult their
physician. It is recommended that we eat lighter meals before fasting and reduce our intake of
caffeinated beverages to ease our initial hunger or discomfort during the early stages of our
fasting.
III. Schedule Adjustments
We should readjust our schedules for two reasons:
A. The first is physical.
Throughout our fast, we may feel somewhat weaker than usual. During the first few days, we
may feel tired and irritable. Lightening our workload and cutting down on strenuous exercise
would be good to maintain our health and morale.
B. The second reason is spiritual, Isaiah 58:6-14 (NKJV).
6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy
burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your
bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you
see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light
shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your
righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 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, 10 If you
extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the
darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday 11 The Lord will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered
garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. 12 Those from among you Shall
build the old waste places; You shall raise the foundations of many generations; And you shall
be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. 13 “If you turn away
your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a
delight, The holy day of the Lord honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, 14 Then you shall delight
yourself in the Lord, And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you
with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Fasting is not just denying ourselves food. It is exchanging the physical body's
needs for those of the spiritual. Longer prayer times and reading God’s Word will be
essential as we enter a more intimate communion with God to maintain our fast to its
completion. While fasting, if we squander our energy on busy work to the neglect of
spending memorable time with God, we will starve physically and spiritually. We will
become discouraged and frustrated with our fast instead of being benefited and uplifted and
blessed. The more time we spend with God in fellowship with Him, worship of Him,
obedience to Him, revealing our love for Him, God will empower us to do His work, in His
will, and in His way. So, let us read, study, and meditate upon His Word; the greater our
effectiveness in prayer, the more meaningful our fast will be.
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