23rd January 2021
FASTING AND TRANSFIGURATION
David Abankwah
READ: Ruth 3:3
But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
-Matthew 6:17 | NKJV
During fasting period, Jesus Christ entreated us to anoint our heads and wash our faces so others will not know we are fasting. Depending on the kind of fasting you are doing, you have to constantly treat the body’s appearance in such a way that it will not be evident that you are fasting. But why does God not want others to know that we are fasting? Well, anytime we let people know hypocritically that we are fasting, instead of God rewarding us, we receive our reward from men. This reward is the congratulation we receive. The impression for the long distance of fasting and the sacrifice of it all come to nought when God has nothing to do with our fasting. The focus of fasting is not men.
The focus of fasting is not vaunting or bragging. The focus of fasting is not getting rewards from men. The focus of fasting is not doing to help others and getting something in return. It will shock you that, before certain Ministers will fast for their certain members of their congregation, they have to get money and kind after the fasting so they can break it well. There is no where in the Bible that Jesus Christ requested money and kind from the disciples before fasting for them. It must even be a privilege for you to serve them and not a right. When you even fast for them, it is not them who will be transfigured spiritually but you. It is you who will benefit more than them.
Anytime you use a broom to scrub a cemented bathhouse, your intention is to tidy the place but at the end of it all, the broom gets tidied up. That is what happens when you fast with the intention of helping others in the Lord. The body will go through pain, but the soul is what gets transfigured. Anytime you fast and pray as part of the spiritual exercises of Christianity, you move from one level of grace to another. Anytime you fast and pray as part of the spiritual exercises of Christianity, you become spiritually matured. Anytime you fast and pray as part of the spiritual exercises of Christianity, you overcome mountainous issues in your life that is difficult to be overcome.
Anointing our heads and washing our faces, is putting the body under subjection during fasting. Anointing our heads and washing our faces, is putting up a nice bodily appearance so others will not know we are fasting. Anointing our heads and washing our faces, is not announcing to others who have not even asked us whether we are fasting or not. Anointing our heads and washing our faces is being in good mood during fasting. Many believers become angry when they are fasting because the experience they go through is a painful one. Yet, we should be happy when we fast. Anointing our heads and washing our faces is living in ‘normal mode’ like someone who has eaten.
•| Prayer Diary |•
Lift up prayers for strength to overcome the temptations and carnal cravings before and during fasting, so your soul can be transfigured in the name of Jesus Christ.
Quote
As the body retrogresses physically, the soul undergoes spiritual progression during fasting.
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© 2021 David Abankwah
David Abankwah 