Isa.58v3-5: “Why have we fasted; they say, and you have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and you take no notice? In fact, in the day of your fast, you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers. Indeed, you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high. Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?”
As you can see from our text in (Isa.58v3-5), there are good reasons and wrong reasons to fast and God is keenly interested in your motive for fasting. This is why it’s imperative for you to fast with the right motives. However, before I start sharing with you the right motives for fasting, we need to look at the wrong motives for fasting. One way to understand the right motives for a thing is to look at the wrong motives for doing such a thing. So, what are the wrong reasons for fasting?
WRONG MOTIVES FOR FASTING:
- To prove a point or show something to others. This is definitely not a good reason to fast and you need to avoid this all together (Isa.58 v 4).
- Because everybody seems to be fasting. The fact that everybody is doing something is not enough reasons for you to do it also. But instead, you should have stronger reasons than this (2Cor.10v12).
- To be seen by men i.e. so that they can think of you as a “spiritual person”. Your motive for fasting should never be because of this (Matt.6v16-18).
- To atone for your sins or wrongdoings or to be more righteous. There is nowhere in the scriptures where fasting cleanses you from your sins; it’s the blood of Jesus that can do this (1Jn.1v7).
- To force God to change his mind about you or certain things. Understand this truth, precious child of God, that fasting does not change God but it changes you (Jonah 3v1-10).
- To suppress or expel diabolic powers or influence. It’s not fasting that casts demons out; it’s exercising our authority and dominion mandate that drives out devils (Lk.10v19).
- To seek pleasure. Fasting was never meant to be a means of pleasing ourselves but of pleasing our heavenly Father (Isa.58v3).
Precious child of God, I hope you can now see some of the wrong motives for fasting. Can you think of any other wrong motive(s) for fasting? I pray for you today that your seeking God would never be in vain.
Other Scriptural References: (Joel 2 v 12-13; Lk. 18 v 11-12; Matt. 6 v 16-18)
Prayer for Today: Father God, help me never to labor in vain nor bring forth into trouble in my fasting endeavors. Help me to always fast with the right motives.
CONFESSION: I declare today that I will not fast with the wrong motive for I am a God-pleaser and not a man-pleaser. I seek God’s approval over man’s approval. I seek to be seen of God and not to be seen of men. I seek to do His will and not mine. I put God first and not man or myself. Therefore, as I fast with the right motive(s), I shall not labor in vain neither shall I labor with nothing to show for it. My spiritual labors are blessed and highly successful in Jesus name, amen.
Yemi Adeoti is a pastor, teacher, life coach and mentor & also a prolific writer.
Halleluyah!!!