40|50 Project: 40 Days To Heal A Nation’s Racial DivideSample

Day 6: Right Versus Wrong Way to Fast

"Is there a right or wrong way to fast?” 

I’m asked this question a lot, mainly because I fast and pray a lot. And my answer is always the same: 

“Yes.”

Isaiah 58:3-12 makes it clear that God says there is a right and a wrong way to fast.

Wrong Way to Fast:

• Fasting to be seen and noticed
• Being filled with pride
• Operating in selfishness
• Abusing workers
• Creating contention
• Conjuring strife
• Practicing violence
• Being judgmental and
• Speaking wickedness.

Right Way to Fast:

• Practicing humility
• Breaking yokes
• Demolishing oppression
• Feeding the hungry
• Housing the homeless
• Clothing the naked
• Taking care of family
• Operating in truth, righteousness,  
• Healing bodies
• Repairing breaches and 
• Restoring cities.

Whether we operate from the first list or the second is largely determined by our motivation. Are we fasting to be applauded by others? Or are we fasting to help free others? Take a look at the two lists again. The main difference between them is self-focus versus other-focus. 

PRAYER

Father, I pray to be other-focused throughout this 40-day fast, practicing humility and breaking yokes instead of adding oppression. Please show me today how my actions can help others, in Jesus’s Name, Amen.