Blog 46: Fasting
Hey GYB Fam! Happy WORD WEDNESDAY! How are you today? I can’t believe that the first Word Wednesday post of February is on February 1st!!! Crazy, right!? Today’s topic is “Fasting”. Do you know what fasting is? Have you heard of it? I will explain what fasting is, why people fast, and the importance of fasting in today’s post, so no worries 🤗. Shall we begin?
What is fasting? Fasting means, “abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink”. Why do people fast? People normally fast when they want to hear from God, when people want to spend more time with Him, get closer to God, etc. I know what you might be thinking, because I thought this before. Fasting is only food ,but guys, no!!! It doesn’t have to be. When I had a conversation with my parents, I learned fasting can be anything you spend more time on than time with God or anything you like or enjoy. I have fasted desserts with my family for a week. Once, I fasted desserts 2 weeks by myself, boy was it hard, BY MYSELF. I did notice something though in me and a lesson I learned during my 2 week fast. One, even if your friends and family won’t fast with you, fast for yourself. Two, I can do anything I set my mind to. You might be wondering what does my “one” mean. Have you ever experienced having to do something on your own? Maybe a project because your parents were at work, or maybe learning how to fix the dishwasher because your mom didn’t have the money to get it fixed. Fasting alone is hard because you don’t have someone to talk to who would understand because they aren’t fasting or fasting that same thing. Fast for yourself? What I meant by that was, fast for you. What? Fast for your relationship with God. No one can choose how great or how bad your relationship with God is but you. You want to get closer to Him? Hear from Him? Spend more time with Him? FAST. Fast for YOU. Lastly, I fasted TV for one week. I’m not a big TV person anyway, I rather read ,but I noticed me wanting to watch more and more TV over that period of time. I started to see that I spent more time watching TV than reading my Bible or spending time with God. Which is not a good thing. Matthew 4:4 says, “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God“ Yes, food will help us psychically but spiritually time with God helps us have the fruits of the spirit, have the armor of God on, etc.
Today’s Bible story is going to be about when Jesus was on the mountain fasting for 40 days. At the time, He was fasting food. The Devil, who is always up to some mischief, was trying to tempt him to end His fast.
Bible Story 🥖
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Bible Story 🥖 〰️
Matthew 4:2-4, “After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Did that last part sounds familiar? As the Devil always do, every time we are trying to do something right he tries to make us do wrong. Jesus is our example you guys. A very good one too. The next time we are tempted let’s do like Jesus and respond with the Word of God. Think about it like a video game. You are in the boxing ring and you are fighting your opponent. Every time you punch them they lose a little bit of the power or something, right? Every time you respond with the Word of God, the Devil will be more shaken and etc. Next, the Devil takes him to a city, and they are on the church’s roof. This time the Devil gets smart and uses Bible verses against Jesus. The Devil basically says, Jesus fall. Jump off the rood and lets see if your God helps you now. Matthew 4:6-7, “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test”. Don’t we do that sometimes? Put the Lord to the test? Your grandparent is sick so you put your hand on them and say “Jesus please heal them.” and then when they are not healed and no longer on this earth ,probably, we are the ones upset with God? It says, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Maybe it wasn’t meant for them to still be on this earth. We don’t know all the plans God has, but we do know that they are all for our good. The last temptation, Matthew 4: 8-10, Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” The Bible says the Devil left and Angels came and served Jesus, giving him food, drink, etc.
I know this story can be used for a lot of other topics, Not listening to the Devil, Tips and Tricks to help yourself when being tempted, etc. I feel like this story ties into fasting because when you are fasting, that very thing you are fasting from tries to over take. Whether it’s a dessert you are fasting, you start craving it. Whether you are not watching TV for a week or so, you feel like evey time you past by it, it’s calling to you almost, etc. When you fast, there are going to be temptations but they are not for forever. It says in the Bible, God will not give you more than what you can handle, friends.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING FRIENDS!!! ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND AND SEE YOU ALL IN TWO WEEKS! NEXT WEEK WE HAVE AN AWESOME GUEST SPEAKER!!!! ✌🏽❤️✌🏽