Fasting (Matthew 6:16-18)

Fasting is popular in America today. Many people fast for weight loss, better brain function, lower blood pressure, and health benefits in general. And though there is nothing in-and-of-itself wrong with fasting for these reasons, this kind of fasting is not biblical fasting. Biblical fasting is not fasting only for health benefits, but for spiritual need. There are many examples of fasting in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Normally, fasting happens when some difficulty or trouble occurs, whether outward or inward, and one is so concerned that he gives up food for a time to focus on God, prayer, and possibly repentance. Legalism is to be avoided when fasting. When we fast our hearts and motives need to be right. We are not fasting to let other men know about it. We are to fast in secret and only God is suppose to know what we are doing. He will reward us.