Thought for Today: “A Consecrated Fast”

God’s chosen fast is a fast that God choses for us, not a fast we chose for ourselves. Fasting is a discipline instituted by God, and therefore needs to be initiated and ordained by God, not by man for his selfish purposes.

The prophet Joel called for the people to “consecrate a fast.” (Joel 1:14)

The word, “consecrate,” means to set the fast apart for God and from everything else. This means God’s chosen fast is one that God appoints in order for us to minister and serve Him, accomplishing His will and way for His kingdom. The fast is not something that we undertake to make ourselves holy before God and man, nor to lose the pesky pounds and inches.

God isn’t moved so much by what we do, as He is moved by the reason we are doing it. Therefore, fasting loses its power when it is done for oneself, the wrong motive, or religiosity.