Isaiah 58

3 'Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?' Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.
4 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?
6 "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:3-7)

In most Christian traditions, fasting is done. Exactly how will vary from denomination to denomination. Now days, many churches fasting to be of things other than food – entertainment is a big one.

All these fasting can be true fasting, and they can be false fasting. False fasting is seeking to make God do what you want Him to, usually for yourself. It is selfish fasting, a fasting that ignores, even hurts, those around them during the fast – perhaps more in the fast than before.

How are you fasting? Is your fasting seeking to loose the bonds of wickedness? Is it seeking to do good to those around you, both with your prayer and your actions? Or is it all about you? Because God only acknowledges one as true fasting. Then when we call on Him He will answer, and He will guide us continually and satisfy our desire.

That’s what I want.