Fasting for Purpose

Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. People came and asked Him, "Why do John's disciples fast and the Pharisee's disciples fast, but Your disciples do not fast. Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. But the time will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day." Mark 2:18-20

There was only one day that fasting was required, the Day of Atonement. However, the Pharisee's fasted on Mondays and Thursdays. Why on earth the disciples of John fasted on the same day as those John called hypocrites is beyond me. Perhaps hey fasted on different days for different reasons.

Why do we fast? We fast when we believe it is time to seek the Lord for a particular purpose, a breakthrough or a desire for more of God.

The times when the 'groom,' is all over us is usually not the time we feel compelled to fast. Usually we frolicking in the grace and blessing of those times.

It is the 'dry spirt' times when we seek the Lord and fasting is our way of dedicating ourselves to this task.

It is sad that John's disciples did not recognise the groom had come. How sad indeed! We must recognise Him when He appears. Amen!

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