Mark 2:19-20 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.
“Fasting is like spring cleaning for your body.” — Jentezen Franklin
Before hanging our Christmas decorations we would spring clean our homes in preparation for the festive season. Decluttering and cleaning the cobwebs precedes bringing the Christmas decoration out of the storage. Likewise, fasting spring cleans the body and the mind. Fasting is a physical disciple for a spiritual feast.
The people asked Jesus a poignant question: “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?” (vs 18b). Jesus gave them a very intriguing answer that His disciples will ‘feast’ while He is on earth but will ‘fast’ and seek Him after His departure. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast (Luke 5:34). One of the main reasons we fast is to seek His tangible presence and draw close to Him. When Jesus walked on earth the disciples could see Him, touch Him, talk to Him and enjoy His gentle embrace. After His ascension, about 120 disciples and followers of Jesus gathered and prayed in one accord for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Church traditions believe that they fasted and prayed as they did not leave the Upper Room until all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them (Acts 2:4). After ten days of fasting, praying and waiting the Spirit of Jesus came upon them and clothed them with power. While Jesus was physically present on earth He was with them but when He anointed them, He came upon them and clothed them with power and His presence.
Fasting clothes us with power:
1. Detox: Fasting detoxes the soul and body. The physical benefit of fasting is that it detoxes the body and flushes out the toxins that have been accumulated overtime but spiritually, fasting detoxes our mind from fears, doubts and forebodings.
2. Declutter: Fasting helps us to declutter our mind of worthless memories, painful recollections or shameful encounters. Just as the body flushes out the pollutants when we refuse food and drink water, the soul also declutters our memory folder from unwholesome thoughts and reminiscences. Fasting helps us to forgive those who have hurt, defamed and harmed us.
3. Decorate: Fasting prepares our hearts to receive the blessings. After spring cleaning when the house is bright and beautiful, the Christmas decorations go up. Similarly, God will be able to trust both spiritual gifts and responsibilities when we spring clean our soul by fasting.
Fasting is the process of detoxing and decluttering our soul and heart to be decorated with anointing, spiritual gifts and blessings.
Jeremiah 29:13a You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, help me to get into the discipline of fasting regularly to draw close to you. Amen.
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