The spiritual discipline of
fasting is an art interpreted in different ways by man. When one suggests
fasting is an art, it is man perfecting himself through the
spiritual discipline of fasting, in order to receive divine revelation from
God.
“I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1
“And be not conformed to this
world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2 (King James version of the Bible)
Understanding fasting as a
noble form of spiritual discipline from a Christian perspective requires the
leading of God’s Holy Spirit.
Fasting requires
the strength and discipline that only God can bestow upon His own. It is
not natural for man to fast or even desire to fast spiritually, as his physical
nature leads him to satisfy his human desires. Only God can awaken man's
spiritual desires and recreate him as a spiritual vessel, receptive to
revelation.
With His Holy Spirit, God
bestows the spiritual desire to fast upon man and leads, guides and directs him
into the kind of spiritual state that results in the renewing of his
mind.
Love is the fiery passion that
triggers the desire for a person to fast, but it is pure, spiritual love that
emanates from God and ultimately, gives Him the glory.
Comparing a true fast to a
pseudo-fast or one that is not a true fast, the orientation or focus of the
fast is different. The focus of the true fast is God, while the focus of a
pseudo-fast is man.
There are ritualistic
fasts involving different kinds of prayer, abstinence, meditation, worship,
quiet times and frugality, but they are not necessarily spiritual fasts that
result in a renewal of the mind. They may do the opposite and darken the
mind, obliterating man’s ability to reason.
True fasting enhances
man’s ability to reason from a Godly perspective and in accordance with His
divine will.
Jesus fasted. If there was ever
a true fast, focused on the love of God and fellow man, it was His fasting. The
glory was God’s, not accorded to man.
During their spiritual walk,
Christians begin to recognize and acknowledge many different aspects of
fasting and come to know the power of God. As God and man become one in spirit,
revelation occurs.
Man acknowledges truth when it
comes to him while fasting. God bestows upon man gifts of revelation and
awareness, as well as understanding, so that he can share the revelation he has
received with others.
Using the word art, in
conjunction with fasting suggests that there is a desire to create a perfect
offering for God. That means offering Him one’s self, untainted by sin.
Whatever is against God’s will has to go. Why would God who is perfect, bestow
revelation or other gifts upon someone tainted by sin? Man must first reach out
to Jesus for cleansing from sin.
Seeking this perfection, man
fasts as led by God’s Holy Spirit. He becomes the vessel of His choosing.
The perfect fast leads man to die to everything that represents self and
worship the divine Self or God. Such is the nature of the spiritual discipline
of fasting.
Fasting is an art.
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