The Kind of Fasting that Pleases God

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” Isaiah 58:6 NIV

To fast is to abstain from anything including food, drink and other things we enjoy so as to concentrate on a special spiritual or physical purpose. Christian fasting helps us to grow in dependence on God for our sustenance as opposed to our own strength and ideas. It has to be exercised with a pure heart and the right motive in mind and should not be thought of as a part of goodness and holiness. Of its own it cannot bribe God to listen more to us. We must be free from our sins that include injustice, oppression, cruelty, hypocrisy and dishonesty, and be full of kindness, charity and generosity towards others to please God.  The word of the Lord tells us that if practice this kind of fasting, “Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I…"

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“Suggestions for Fasting and Feasting: Fast from discontent; feast on thankfulness. Fast from worry; feast on trust. Fast from anger; feast on patience. Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others. Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayers . Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness. Fast from discouragement, feast on hope. Fast from media hype, feast on the honesty of the Bible. Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence. Fast from problems that overwhelm; feast on prayer that under girds” - Anonymous

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