DOMINION MANDATE DAILY DEVOTIONAL
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020
THE ACCEPTABLE FAST (2)
BIBLE READING: ISAIAH 58:1-14
“Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”Joel 2:12 (NKJV).
Yesterday, we talked about some elements of an acceptable fast. Today, we will look at other elements that disqualify your fast before God.
1. The presence of rebellion and sin in your life: You cannot be involved in a fast while harbouring sin or rebellion in your life. The point of a fast is to seek God’s face and get closer to Him. If you harbour sin in your life, you push God away from you which defeats the purpose. To enjoy the benefits of the fast, repent of every known sin and ask God for the grace to live above sin. Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Isaiah 58:1(KJV).
2. Living a life of strife; quarrelling while fasting: You cannot be involved in a fast and also be involved in strife. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness... Isaiah 58:4a (KJV). God is a God of love and He expects us to dwell together in love and unity. As you seek His face, you must strive to walk in love towards others and avoid offence. Turn the other cheek, do good to those who despitefully use you and show them God’s love. (Matt. 5:44; 1 Peter 3:9).
3. Making a show of your fast: Your fast is a private affair between you and God. You don’t have to wear a pious face to show people that you are fasting. If you do that, the recognition they give you is the only reward you will get for the fast and the spiritual benefits that should come to you will be lost. “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matt. 6:16-18 (NKJV). "... ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high." Isaiah 58:4b (KJV). Be private about your fast. Do not have a sad countenance to make a show of your fast. Once you have impressed people you cannot impress God.
PRAYER POINT:
Heavenly Father, as I seek Your face in this season, please help me to do it in a way that is acceptable to You. Help me to come closer to You, to know You more and fulfill Your plans for my life this year, in Jesus name. Amen.
#mydominioncity #thedominionmandate
DOMINION MANDATE DAILY DEVOTIONAL
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020
THE ACCEPTABLE FAST
BIBLE READING: ISAIAH 58:1-14
“Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” Joel 2:12 (NKJV).
As we start this season of seeking God’s face in fasting and prayer, it is important that we take note of certain very important things regarding fasting.
To fast means to afflict the flesh and deny it pleasure while consciously feeding our spirits. This weakens the flesh and makes the spirit come alive and become more sensitive to God. A fast also plays the role of showing God that we choose to humble ourselves before His presence and deny our flesh, so that we can seek His face. “Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.”Daniel 9:3 (NKJV). Fasting has also been recognised to have health benefits, like the detoxifying of the body, the breaking of wrong habits, and others.
However, as we fast and seek God’s face, there is a proper way to fast so that we will reap the benefits of fasting and not water down the experience:
1. FAST PLEASURES: A fast is a period when we subdue our flesh and deny it pleasures so that we will become more alive to God. This means that food is not the only thing we fast. For some people who hardly eat, abstaining from food might not necessarily be the right thing to fast. The question is, what is that thing that you do or take regularly which brings your flesh pleasure? That is what you need to give up to approach God in this season. For some, it might be food, but for some others it might include movies, or novels, or social media, T.V or anything that gratifies the flesh. For couples, they may have to mutually agree to abstain from sex in order to subdue the flesh and draw closer to God in this season. (1 Cor.7:5).
2. SEEK GOD: A lot of people spend their fasting season sleeping or watching movies and counting the hours till they will break the fast. That’s not fasting but a hunger strike. To truly benefit from this season of fasting and prayer, spend time on your knees in the place of prayer, spend time studying the word of God to know Him more and deepen your relationship with Him. "Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”Joel 2:12 (NKJV). As we fast and deny the flesh, it becomes weaker, but we must replace it with spiritual strength and that comes from fellowship with the Holy Spirit and study of the word. As we fast, let's make sure not to miss times of prayer in our local church so that we will be strengthened for the journey ahead.
ACTION POINT:
Take time to be a part of this fasting experience, join in the prayers and see things fall into place for you this year.