Fasting should not be used as a show-off. It is part of a private relationship between God and a person. Religious fasting has its roots in the Old Testament where people would go without eating for a number of days in order to plead with God. Most people would go without eating to plead with God to save them from the upcoming disaster, to save them from the oppression, or to request God to give them a special breakthrough. It would be done by the whole nation or a few individuals in case of a national disaster or individuals would use it for their special encounters with God. In all the genuine cases, fasting was a form of showing people’s brokenness of heart to God.
True fasting should be rooted in the heart. Hypocrites use fasting to show that they are more religious and are close to God. Fasting without the heart yielded to God is useless. You should not use fasting to impress people as such action will not help you in getting results from God. In fasting you should totally surrender your heart, soul, and body to God, then you will have great rewards. It is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart that God will never despise (Psalms 51:17). Don’t waste your time on useless show-off type of fasting. Instead, use fasting to give to God your broken and contrite heart.
Mat 6:16-18 ESV “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. (17) But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, (18) that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
*True fasting has great rewards*.
From Simtandile Dlepuma.
Stay blessed.