Fasting as Worship (1 of 3)
Open Your Bible
Matthew 6:16-18, Hosea 6:6, 1 Samuel 16:7
BY Raechel Myers
Text: Matthew 6:16-18, Hosea 6:6, 1 Samuel 16:7
“For I desire loyalty and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
-Hosea 6:6
Here’s the thing I’ve learned about fasting: it’s really only ever for one thing.
Fasting is for God’s glory.
It is for our drawing near to Him, yes.
It is for mourning our sin, yes.
It is for interceding and returning and repenting. All of those things.
But all those things are for His glory.
We can fast from food while feasting on our own pride. We can withhold indulgences while noting them as accomplishments. It may not be easy to fast, but it is quite easy to make our fasting about us, isn’t it?
We don’t set out for it to be this way, but we are sinners and thoughts of self come so naturally. Even our most selfless deeds—our efforts to deny ourselves and take up our cross—require God’s grace.
Jesus tells us in Matthew, “Whenever you fast, don’t be sad-faced . . . put oil on your head and wash your face, so that you don’t show your fasting to people but to your Father” (Matthew 6:16). And in 1 Corinthians, Paul tells us, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Before knowing ourselves or training behaviors or even petitioning Him—the first reason we fast is to give glory to our Maker. It’s why we’re here. It’s why we have breath in our lungs. It’s what is asked of us in anything that we do.
“You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it;
You are not pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit.
God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.”
-Psalm 51:16-17
He who knit us together, sees and searches and knows every beat of our hearts (Psalm 139:1-2, 23; 1 Samuel 16:7). Imagine Him, our Creator and Father, being presented with gifts from our heart to His, knowing full well they were never really intended for Him. Our sacrifices are empty apart from our God. They are utterly meaningless outside of communing with Him.
And so, we fast to know Him. Because that gives Him glory.
We fast to become like Christ. Because this glorifies the Father.
We fast—whatever it is we’re fasting from—because He is God and we are not.
We fast for Him.
Tomorrow we will read accounts from God’s Word about fasting as intercession, and on Friday, Scripture will help us understand fasting as humility. But today, let’s hold the mystery of biblical fasting in front of us and understand it simply as a means and opportunity to bring glory and honor to the One who desires, deserves, and demands our worship.
Whatever we eat or drink, whatever we don’t eat or don’t drink—whatever we do—let’s do it all for the glory of our God. Because our fasting and feasting, our prayer and confession, our meditation and our study—it’s all about so much more than us. It is about His Kingdom. It is about Him.
“I do not know You God because I am in the way.
Please help me to push myself aside.”
-Flannery O’Connor, A Prayer Journal
99 thoughts on "Fasting as Worship (1 of 3)"
-
This reading plan is really putting in to perspective for me the importance of fasting and the true definition. I used to fast because of my own selfish motives . Now I know what God says about fasting and why he wants us to do it ❤️Thanks for the teaching . God bless
-
“Help me to push myself aside” amen
-
In a week and a half or so I am checking into an Eating Disorder Center to seek treatment for something I have long needed to deal with. I have many thoughts swirling around in my head about how I “should” prove I am ill to the center, but the truth is, I am just scared they won’t believe me. I have not been whole hearted in reading this devotion, but I did read this one and the thought occurred to me that I should try to fast my pride while I am there. It will be painful, it will be hard, and honestly I don’t want to, but I think the Lord is asking me to try. 1 Samuel 16:7 and Psalm 51:16-17 are impressive reminders to me as well. And I think I am going to write them out somewhere that I might see them each and every day as a reminder to focus on what matters most to God.
-
Writing scripture out is one of the only things that helps me with my anxiety. I have a notebook and a index card flip book of my favorite scriptures. I’ll be praying that you find the help you need and that the peace of Christ would fill your heart and soul.
-
❤️ thank you for your words and prayers! Writing helps me too. I get discouraged or distracted and fall off the wagon for a mile or two and then get back on again. I am hopefully that one day I will no longer need to run around the mountains of my own creation, but take a lesson from them and move on. That is something I am hoping to accomplish with the help I receive. God bless you!
-
-
As someone who has been to many ED treatment centers and has finally found recovery, I send you so much encouragement and love for continuing to seek God in the midst of such hard times. No one can really understand how hard it can be unless they’ve been there…except Jesus. It’s been extremely hard for me to continue seeking Him through recovery, but so worth it. I would love to walk through this with you through SRT! Sending lots of love ❤️
-
I really needed to hear this right now! YoThank you!
-
-
I haven’t been in a treatment center, but I’ve been in therapy and recovering from an eating disorder for almost four years now. It’s an incredibly hard step to take, but infinitely worth it. I’m so proud of you for seeking out help, and I’ll be praying for you as you begin your journey of recovery. The topic of fasting has always been hard for me, but you’re right in knowing there are ways to do it without involving food and drink. Wishing you all the best, my friend!
-
-
I came into this Lent season just to see what God can do if I give him my time, heart, and thoughts. Those simple things He asks for but I so rarely give them up; thinking I have control. It’s been special so far. I’ve noticed my thoughts, reactions, emotions are tuned into God before my flesh. That’s something I’ve prayed to conquer-my flesh. I can’t wait for God to stretch me more.
-
I’m right there with you! The Lord made it very clear to me earlier this week how selfish and self-centered I have become, and how it shows itself through how I respond to my three boys. It’s humbling, convicting and challenging to fee the Spirit convict, yet so freeing to admit and repent. Now comes the hard part…follow through of seeking HIS face and not my own.
-
-
Every year when Lent approaches, I give up something different each week. Sleep, caffeine, sugar, social media, Internet, etc. doing something different each week helps me identify idols in my life, things that distract from God.
-
How honest. And heartbreaking. A gift not intended for him. A fathers disappointment cuts to the core.
-
This is my first year doing lent. I gave up secular music. I was raised in a home where Christian music was heard. I had always been one to have earphones in my ears all the time. As I started driving I loved to have my music blaring to this catchy music. I have tried the k- love challenge more than once but ALWAYS stop after a few days . I’ve been praying to have more patience, slow to anger, and just overall become a better person. I feel like with this challenge it has deviated my thoughts to more positive thoughts. I go into work saying “I will make a difference today even if it may be small.” I am super excited to see where this takes me! All for the glory of God. To humble myself and to remind myself why I am here and for who I am here! (:
-
Growing up, BC, I hated when my mom would try to make me listen to her Christian music. Little did I know, God was preparing me because now it’s all I want to jam to. It really helps throughout the day with the little mishaps and the stories of encouragement you hear on the Klove station is a major plus. Good luck with this! ☺️
-
That was what I gave up the first year I observed Lent… it is incredible how my relationship with God deepened once the worldly music was out of my head and songs of praise and worship were there instead! I pray your relationship with God grows deeper and stronger this season!
-
-
I really liked this devotional – especially because it was pointed out to me that today was Random Acts of Kindness day. I know some people who wanted others to share in a thread what they did for their random act of kindness, but then I thought to myself “Doesn’t that kind of defeat the purpose? To perform a random act of kindness only to then brag about it?” I find it funny that is somewhat related to what the passage was about today.
Post Comments (99)