Neil McIver, asking us if we wonder why we are fasting, focuses on Isaiah 58:1-5 to give us insight as to how God intends that we fast. God instructs Isaiah that His people were fasting for the wrong motives like strife and selfish materialistic purposes. God delights in those who know Him and emulate His ways. One must prepare to fast by repenting and asking God to cleanse us of secret faults, asking for a humble heart and for God to reveal His will for us. This fast should enable us to become a repairer of breaches. God's chosen fast is a sin-buster. Fasting is a type of suffering that will soften us to respond to God's will, bringing about a contrite spirit, setting us free from the yoke of our carnality, including lusting after food and drink. Our food should be similar to Christ's, namely a desire to finish the spiritual harvest. Fasting enabled Jesus to quote the Holy Scriptures with authority and effectiveness. Fasting can have a quickening effect on the mind and can heighten our sense of identity and purpose. Prayer, with fasting, can enable us to unlock the mysteries of the Bible. Fasting enhances our consciousness of God's presence within us, strengthening our faith.

Afflicting our souls * Belly as a god * Breaking every yoke * Chosen fast * Eating to excess * Fasting for debate * Fasting for strife * I John 2:16 * I Peter 4:1-2 * Food * God-centered fast * Hiding the word of God in our hearts * House divided * Isaiah 43:10; 58:1-14 * It is written * Jeremiah 9:23-24 * John 4:3-43; 6:28-29; 15:5; 17:3 * Laodiceans * Lift up voice like trumpet * Living sacrifices * Luke 4:1-32; 5:33-39 * Matthew 6:31-33 * Malachi 6:8 * Materialism * New wine into old wineskins * Ordinance of justice * Philippians 3:18-19 * Plow up our hearts * Preoccupation with food * Proverbs 21:2 * Psalms 35:13; 106:13-15 * Questioning our spiritual sonship * Revelation 3:17 * Romans 12:1-2 * Spiritual blindness * Suffering * Transparency * Why are we fasting?