Fasting When We Fast We

👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾 About Fasting (Part 5) When we fast, we should not do it to show others, but rather to please God. However, even if we don't talk about our fast during the proclamation of the fast, it is still known that we are fasting because the church has proclaimed it and we are part of the church. Even if it is known to others, our praise will not be in vain unless we seek it or do it intentionally. During fasting, we should seek guidance from the fathers who teach us about the heavenly realm and the Gospel. We should also avoid spending time with friends who encourage us to indulge in the desires of the flesh, as well as foods, drinks, situations, and places that arouse the desires of the flesh. Our God, who is the creator of all laws and blessings, told the people of Israel the proper way to fast, "Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?" (Isaiah 58:7) In addition to this, the phrase "to cut your bread for the hungry" indicates that fasting should be accompanied by giving to those in need. When God reprimanded the Israelites who fasted without keeping the fast, He said, "Behold, on the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high." (Isaiah 58:3-6) When we fast, we should avoid wrongdoing and seek spiritual blessings. Some contemporaries, who are more concerned with their physical bodies than their souls, claim to know that since the Lord has commanded us to fast, He has not specified the time and place for us to fast. However, we listen to the apostles and teachers based on what our Lord Jesus Christ said to the apostles, "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20) We are guided by the Holy Spirit and accept the guidelines for fasting, eating, praying, and following the church's decision. "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4) We follow the system that the apostles and righteous fathers have written for us. May the Holy God's name be praised forever and ever in every language that He has created, today and always. May the blessings of the Holy Mother of God, the Virgin, and the Cross be upon us. Amen. © John's Repentance Reach out to us on our social media platforms and share it with your friends: https://linktr.ee/johnsrepentance