Jesus taught His disciples what to do when they fasted, not if they fasted.

(NASB) Matthew 6:16-18 “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face

18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, He was led into the wilderness by the Spirit of God for the purpose of being tempted by the devil. Before the temptations onslaught, Jesus fasted.

(NASB) Matthew 4:2 “And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.”

From the above Scripture, we can know that Jesus fasted from food. Some people cannot fast from food due to their health, but still desire to fast. For example: fasting from TV, playing computer games, perhaps dessert. Fasting is denying something that is frequent. When fasting is observed, to replace whatever it is we are fasting from, we can pray. Fasting is practicing denial of something”¦and we can replace that time with praying to God. Prayer and reading His word is a wonderful way to observe the fasting period.

During Lent, many Christians practice fasting from something. For those who observe Lent I would encourage you to pray and seek God during this time of your fast.

What is another purpose for fasting besides self-denial? Isn”™t it to turn to God and keep our attention on Him? And it is to be a “˜secret”™ fast”¦so only God the Father will know. It can be a time of getting to know Him at a deeper level. Conscious time spent in the presence of the Lord is always a blessing.

When you fast”¦”¦worship the Lord

and draw closer to Him”¦