JESUS PRAYS AND FASTS 40 DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS
BACKGROUND
The Bible has a great deal to say about both fasting and praying, including commands to fast and pray. Prayer and fasting are combined in the Old Testament in times of mourning, repentance, and deep spiritual need
The followers of John the Baptist fasted and prayed. Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness. Jesus’ disciples fasted and prayed after the Resurrection.
Biblical fasting is the voluntary abstinence from food. The literal Hebrew translation would be “not to eat.” The literal Greek nesteia means “no food.”.
David prayed and fasted over his sick child 2 Samuel 12:16. Queen Esther used her position as queen to urge Mordecai and the Jews to fast for her as she planned to appear before her husband the king to rescue the Jewish people from destruction. Esther 4:16
Prayer goes hand in glove with fasting. You may recall the disciples who were given power over demons came back to Jesus and admitted they could not cast out this one malicious stubborn demon. They asked Jesus why they couldn’t do this because He had sent them out earlier to do that very thing. Jesus said this kind can only be cast out with prayer. Mark 9:9
REFLECTIONS
Fasting may include other things than food and drink. There are other things you may refrain from, for example, talking bad about someone, not watching your favorite TV shows, not dwelling on your real or perceived wounds….
Fasting may lead to generosity. For example, selfless acts of charity, Food banks, clothing drives, visit the sick, talk or call someone you haven’t contacted in a while, work on reconciling family disputes,…
Fasting to focus on God matters greatly. I was created by God to know, love, and serve Him in this world and be happy for all eternity with Him in the next. Well, I better stop being a stranger. I certainly don’t want to have to introduce myself to God when I pass on from this life….or hear Him say,
AMEN, I DON’T KNOW YOU. MATTHEW 25:12
In today’s self-centered, self-indulgent, all-about-me world, the concept of fasting is very foreign and many Christians resist it. But according to Scripture fasting is supposed to be a normal part of our spiritual life here on earth.
Fasting gives strength against sin, represses evil desires, repels temptation, humbles pride, cools anger, and fosters all the inclinations of a good will Pope St. Leo the Great …..”
It was food the devil used to entice Adam and Eve to sin. Food, appetite of the flesh, got us into this mess, Adam and Eve, although given dominion over every other animal and vegetation, chose their will, to eat of the fruit of the Tree of Life, over God’s will. Like Adam and Eve, we too try all kinds of attractive goods that will fill our emptiness.
“MY HEART IS RESTLESS UNTIL IT RESTS IN THEE.”
ST AUGUSTINE
Jesus’ 40 day retreat in the wilderness, facing temptation shows His human side. Jesus was tempted by Satan with the usual temptations that we all face, to choose riches, power, our self over God and others. Jesus rejected Satan on all counts and sent him fleeing back to where he came from!
Fasting brings spiritual strength to combat temptations that will arise. Fasting enables a person to refocus their attention back to the things of God. Jesus, himself, said that man does not live by bread alone but every word that comes from the mouth of God” Matthew 4:4.
Prayer must always accompany fasting. Pray for the grace to fast. Pray that your fast will move mountains in your life and the lives of others. Pray the Scriptures! PRAY!PRAY!PRAY!
Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
MATTHEW 26:41
Thanks be to God for these encouraging words about fasting and prayer.
Also is helpful to know that fasting can include going out of our way to do virtuous actions or eliminate ordinary innocent activities.