Fasting and Prayer

So many things are better with fasting and prayer…

Some may not be able to do this because of age or health but those that can – should fast and pray – meditate and pray – privately and publicly with out any fan fare – with out any sad faces or actions but with joy and rejoicing..

As we see in Doctrine and Covenants section 59:11-16

11 Nevertheless thy ^avows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;

For those who have went through the temples – we know that there are promises and vows we have made with God and they can not be broken – we must do everything to keep them and honor those vows..

12 But remember that on this, the ^aLord’s day, thou shalt offer thine ^boblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, ^cconfessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.

We partake of the sacrament – confess and forsake our sins – work on repenting and loving ourselves and others more – this inner work – is key to our outer success – many times it’s hard to confess to our leaders with sins we have committed – but that will help of repent and work with them and others to overcome that sin…

13 And on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy ^afasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy ^bjoy may be full.

On a fast day – breaking our fast after prayer – our food should be simple and light meal – still focusing on the fast of the day, children need to eat and often must wait till they are older to fast 24 hours but should be encouraged to do so with the family – some with illnesses can not do this – but they should still be praying and meditating with others…

14 Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.

Notice here – Rejoicing and Prayer – do you rejoice and give thanks to God – do you thank GOD? Do you have a spirit of Rejoicing with the Lord when you fast – think about that for a moment – what should you be rejoicing about? This attitude is entirely – different than the world – generally speaking – and it should be – do we not have a great deal to rejoice about?

The Redemption – the Atonement – the resurrection – the repentance – the forgiveness – the freedom of hell and bondage of Sin – you could go on and on – thankfulness of so many blessings we are not worthy of – because of the Grace and Blood of Jesus Christ – his mercy to a wicked world and sinful men ( People ) – his brothers and sisters – our heavenly family…

15 And inasmuch as ye do these things with ^athanksgiving, with ^bcheerful ^chearts and countenances, not with ^dmuch ^elaughter, for this is sin, but with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance—

Again – how or with what attitude do we fast? A glad heart and cheerfulness? What mindfulness – what spirit attends us when we fast?

16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the ^afulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;

God promises that the fullness of the earth is ours – if we fast properly!

The following two – videos are about young people being challenged to fast and the last one about a more mature look at fasting in a much better way!

This last video – Reminds us we can do better – I

In Isaiah 58 –

5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?

6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the ^abands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go ^bfree, and that ye break every yoke?

How do we loose the bands of wickedness? Repentance – Love and Service –

7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the ^ahungry, and that thou bring the ^bpoor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from ^cthine own flesh?

Fast offerings help with the needy – the hungry and the homeless etc.

8 ¶ Then shall thy ^alight break forth as the morning, and thine ^bhealth shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy ^crearward.

What a blessing – you light break forth – health spring forth in speed – God shall be in your rearward – or even around about you and with you?

9 Then shalt thou ^acall, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the ^bputting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

How would you like more more your prayers answered?

10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the ^ahungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light ^brise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

11 And the Lord shall ^aguide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in ^bdrought, and ^cmake fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a ^dspring of water, whose waters fail not.

More Blessings – Lord to guide the continually – wow!

To really satisfy your soul! A spring of water that fails not – if you have ever been really hungry or thirsty – you know how welcome cold clear pure water is – how it really satisfies the bodies needs for that water…

12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

13 ¶ If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the ^asabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the ^ahigh places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Let us learn to fast and delight in the Lord and not doing our own Pleasures! In Jesus Christ’s name – Amen!