QKAG: Issue # 97

PAST ISSUE # 97
Questions Kids Ask About God

Question: What is fasting and why do Christians fast?

Answer: Fasting is going without food or drink for a period of time. Jesus fasted for 40 days while He was in the desert (Luke 4:1-2). The Christians in the Book of Acts also fasted as they prayed (Acts 13:2, 14:23). Christian generally fast in conjunction with prayer. When Christians fast and pray, they demonstrate the humility, sincerity and seriousness of their prayers (2 Samuel 12:16; Daniel 9:3). When they fast, they withhold their earthly desires of hunger and thirst for heaven's sake. Fasting is also an act of self-denial and humility. Christians deny satisfying their hunger or thirst as a way to control their fleshly desires (1 Corinthians 9:7), and acknowledge their dependence on God for their physical and spiritual strength (Deuteronomy 8:3; Psalm 23:1). Children should ask their parents or pastors for guidance if they would like to fast and pray. There are different types of fasting (e.g. total fast, 1-meal fast, Daniel fast, etc) to meet the different spiritual levels of believers. You may like to check with Campus Crusade for Christ for advice on fasting. Overall, it is important to remember that fasting is meaningless if we do it only for show rather than for God (Matthew 6:17-18). If you are planning to fast and pray for the first time, invite a mature Christian to fast and pray with you as your prayer partner.

Key Bible verses:
Exodus 34:28; Ezra 8:21; Esther 4:16; Psalm 35:13; Matthew 4:2, 9:15, 17:21; Acts 10:30; 1 Corinthians 7:5

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You that You are the Bread of Life who fills the hungry and quenches the thirsty (John 6:35). As I humble myself to fast and pray, please give me Your strength and power to persevere. Please give me the gift of intercession and a heart of compassion to pray for the lost so that a revival may birth in my life, family, community and nation. Amen.

Last words...
" 'Even now,' declares the Lord, 'return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.' " (Joel 2:12)
Next