Fasting

Fasting is something many people hear spoken when you are trying to bring awareness and pray deeply about something. It is a discipline that is deeply spiritual and difficult. Over the next few days, I am going to talk about fasting and what it means to a Christian. Tomorrow is Fast Sunday for Latter-Day Saints, and my stepson is participating in the 30-Hour Famine with his youth group in southeast Kansas. I felt it was a fitting time to bring up this discussion. :)

The first thing about fasting is to know that it must be done with a repentant and contrite spirit, our prayers will be heard. He will bring forth a change and heal the needs that are being prayed about. This can be on an individual level or much larger.

The power of the Heavenly Spirit is remarkable and unequaled. It is a promise that God gave to us if we keep the correct frame of mind when we are fasting.

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. - Matthew 6:16-18

When was the last time you have fasted? What was it for? Did you feel the spirit through the fast?