FASTING

Jesus taught:

"And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do,
for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men.
Truly, I say to you, they have their reward in full.
But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;
so that you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your Father who is in secret;
and your Father who sees in secret will repay you." (Matthew 6:16-18)

God told his people through the mouth of the Prophet Isaiah:

"Is this not the fast which I have chosen,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free,
And break every yoke?
Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry,
And bring the homeless poor into the house.
When you see the naked, to cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own family?

Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth,
And your righteousness will go before you,
The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you remove the yoke from among you,
The Pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
And if you give yourself to the hungry,
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

Then your light will rise in darkness,
And your gloom will become like midday.
And the LORD will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones,
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins,
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called The Repairer Of The Break,
The Restorer Of The Streets In Which To Live."

(Isaiah 58:5-12)

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