Fasting To Repent Day-Seven Devotional Series

Every Jew was commanded to keep the Yom Kippur Fast which was the Day of Atonement Fast, “On the tenth day of the seventh month of each year, you must go without eating to show sorrow for your sins” (Lev. 16:29, CEV). What new modern versions call “go without eating,” other versions call it “affliction.” The King James says, “Ye shall afflict your souls.” The New Living Translation says, “You must deny yourselves.” The Holman Christian Standard Bible says, “You are to practice self-denial.”

Therefore, fasting is not something to be enjoyed, but rather a time of self-denial, abstinence, or affliction.

Therefore, in fasting you give up pleasure, and perhaps even necessities, to bring distress so you will pray with earnest or with more intensity.

Why do we do this? We don’t love pain, and pain itself does not please the heart of God. We fast or deprive ourselves for spiritual reasons. You are saying “no” to the old sinful nature. Isn’t this another way of showing repentance?

Afflicting yourself shows you want to get rid of sinful things in your life. Why? So you can get closer to God. Really, fasting gets answers to our prayer-asking. So in this 10-day fast are you saying “no” to something that is pleasurable? Perhaps you are not eating meat or dairy products; and especially you’ve turned down sweets and your favorite snack. But really, aren’t you saying “yes” to God and His will for your life?

Sometimes we’re blinded to sin in our lives; maybe we’re controlled by a wrong attitude. Maybe we’ve gotten lax in our Christian commitment, or we’ve become hardened to the needs of other people. It’s the way termites get into our house—unnoticed. As we fast we recognize problems in our life and we pray to get rid of them.

Around twenty years ago a friend of mine discovered snakes had crawled inside the walls of his house and into his attic. He killed some with traps, but each time he soon discovered another. So he had to deal severely with the problem. He and his family had to live in a motel for almost a week, and a large tent was placed over his house and the snakes were gassed (and every other insect). Sometimes it takes severe actions to deal with a severe problem. Perhaps hidden sins have secretly slipped into your life. The Psalmist prayed, “Don’t let me sin ignorantly, and don’t let sin control my life” (Psalm 19:13, ELT).

But perhaps in our fast we also give up good things. Maybe you have vowed to only eat vegetables as Daniel did, and you’re giving up dairy products such as milk, cheese, and ice cream which are good and enjoyable. You haven’t given them up because they are sinful but your fast says, “I will not let anything control my life.”

So why do we give up good things? We “afflict” ourselves to put God first in our life. We say “no” to good things, so we can say “yes” to the best things.

Remember, continual prayer-begging for an answer is not enough. Sometimes you must establish an inward credible basis for an answer. We do that by examining our hearts for sin and wrong attitudes, then repenting; and asking for God’s forgiveness.

When you say “no” to good things in your life, i.e., some food, it reminds you who’s the boss in your life. Perhaps you’ve gone through life thinking, “I’ve got a right to three square meals a day, delicious desserts, and entertainment.” You might even rationalize, “All of the other Christians are enjoying themselves, why can’t I?”

The issue is not whether these things are good, nor is the issue whether you enjoy them or whether you want them. The issue is who’s running your life? That’s another way of asking who’s sitting on the throne of your heart?

Rather than letting snack foods and treats control your life, we say “no” to our selfish desires when we make Christ first. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33, NKJV).

There are two strengths you gain by saying “no” to some good things. First, you are strengthening your self-control; you are disciplining your life for the glory of God. Second, you put yourself on praying ground so that God can answer the request of your heart.

One last thing: if you tell yourself you can’t give up good food, you’re letting your passions control your life. So ask, “Am I really saying I don’t want to give up good food?” So the question is not about your ability to fast, but the question is about your desire.

Let’s bring our desires to the foot of the cross and say, “Lord I surrender my desires to You. I will follow the Daniel Fast and pray for 10 days to make a difference in our nation.” – Elmer Towns©