Good Thursday morning! Well, there it is; the final Bible study meeting for this school year happened last night. We enjoyed the final exam, I got one wrong as usual, and we had some delicious peanut butter pie. There comes a time to feast together, and there is also a time to fast together... or is there. We feast together, but Jesus told us to fast in the closet and not to look for public acclaim or sympathy when we fast and pray. Our brothers and sisters in Christ shouldn't know that we have been fasting. The temptation is strong to toot our own horn in this area. We get together, ask each other how we have been doing, and there it is... we want to put on that persecuted and pious face, and then tell how we have been suffering for Jesus by fasting. "Look how holy I am!" is what we are trying to say.
Jesus had a different method of fasting and prayer that didn't involve shouting out prayers to the people in the streets or seeking public sympathy for our fasting. Jesus told us to go into the closet and shut the door where our prayers and fasting should be done in secret. Many things in our Christian walk are done quietly or in secret. We don't serve to gain the cheers of the masses. However, don't mistake secret for sneaking about. If a friend comes to the door while you are praying and fasting, we are to wash our face and greet them cheerfully. That friend could be God's answer to a prayer you have just spoken to Him.
Praise the Lord for prayer and life in Him!
Bucky
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