Written by Michael J. Martinez
Guiding Light Praying Ministry.
www.glprayingministry.com

Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, ?O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments?( Daniel 9:3, 4 ).

Daniel put himself and gave himself before the presence of the Lord in prayer, making his request known to the Lord Jesus. He came to the Lord in fasting, and in sackcloth, as he was mourning for the people and himself for sinning against the Lord. For not obeying the Lord concerning His precepts and judgments and listening to the Lords servants and prophets as Daniel spoke in verses 5 and 6. The verse shows how Daniel came to the Lord in humility and worthlessness. He approached God first by acknowledging His mightiness then by confessing to God, then by making his requests.
Jesus tells us in Joel chapter 2 verses 12 and 13 ?Now, therefore,? says the Lord, turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. So rend (rend Heb. Qara ? to tear away or out, rent, rend away) your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm? or as the KJV says ?repent him of the evil.? The Lord is slow to anger, He waits for you to come back to Him and come to Him with a repentive heart, confessing your sins. He is gracious and kind to allow you to come as you are and tells you what you need to do. I believe the Lord is talking to the believer and non-believer because we all need to repent either for the first time or continually as believers when we make mistakes and sin, which seems we will do from time to time as we grow.

But it?s very important for us as Christians to know what the Lord wants us to do. We can mess up big time and know if we repent to the Lord in the right way we can be forgiven. An arrogant repentance will not please the Lord, or never taking the time to purge sin by fasting and cleansing the soul in prayer. ?But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble? ( James 4:6 ). ?And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted? ( Matt.23:12 ).

Fasting, praying and giving are good things to do before the Lord, yet it?s not good to announce it when you are doing the three as the hypocrites do. When you give of your first fruits or your offerings, The Lord says in Matthew 6 verse 2 "Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.? When you pray the Lord says in Matthew 6 verse 5 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.? When you fast the Lord says in Matthew 6 verse 16 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.? In these three instances you make yourself into hypocrites before the Lord for what you do to gain prestige here on earth in front of men to be seen, you get rewarded by the pride that you seek, pride is your reward and your downfall. This will keep you from ever seeking repentance from the Lord. It will keep the un-believer from wanting that relationship with Jesus Christ.

Yes, there are many pastors, priests, and so called Christians that are not saved and are not representatives of Jesus Christ, but represent themselves only. There pride and arrogance in professing Christ by religion but denying the power of Jesus Christ and His deity will be there judgment. From such be careful and test, there are many.
The end of Daniel chapter 9 verse 4 says ?those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments.? We need to love Jesus Christ and we need to keep the ways of His word. We need to believe Jesus and obey the teachings that He is so gracious upon giving us to read. We need not to sacrifice to Him, but have the same mercies He has for us towards others. ?Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do? ( Colossians 3:12, 13 ).
Jesus says in Matthew 9 verse 13 ?But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.?

Much more can be said for fasting from within the bible but for now go in peace and be encouraged to give to the Lord in fasting and prayer, for it brings to your soul goodness, purity, and favor in the eyes of the lord.

Read Nehemiah 9:1-3

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Published on: 2005-06-03 (1889 reads)