August 26                                       1 Cor 10 - 12

FRUITLESS FAST

MEMORISE: 'If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.' (Gen 4:7a)
READ: Isaiah 58:3-5

Fasting can be very beneficial for any believer, but then it must be done according to Scripture. In today's passage, the Israelites in Isaiah's days were asking God why their fasting yielded no result. They were quite convinced that the problem lay with God, but God told them that it was the other way round.

Are you fasting and praying for long periods without experiencing any breakthroughs? Examine your ways sincerely, and you are sure to find out why. Some Christians start fasting and soon they get touchy and pick fights with everyone in the house. They do not refrain from sexual contact with their spouses. Instead of praying and studying God's word, they sit in front of the television and watch one programmer after another.

Fasting is supposed to be a time of self- denial; a time of abstinence from food to weaken your flesh and empower your spirit. It is no use to miss breakfast and lunch if you are going to eat an enormous supper. It defeats the whole purpose of the fast, because the flesh remains empowered.

A very important aspect of fasting is that time should be set aside for praise, worship and prayer. Any believer who fasts from 6 am to 6pm should be able to set aside 30 minutes for prayer, otherwise it could hardly be called a fast. If you become mean and wicked during you're fast and give in to sin, your fast will likely produce no fruit.

How have you been fasting? Have you been able to practice self- control, love and forgiveness? Your attitude to fasting will determine whether it is a true fast or a hunger strike.

ACTION POINT
Identify the elements, which make your fasts fruitless.
Avoid them next time you fast, and wait on the Lord patiently.