Christian Attitude to Fasting

Hello Readers & Followers,

It's a new week! I hope you had a lovely weekend. In relation to this topic, last year January (2021), I taught extensively on Christian fasting. Head over to January 2021 to read the articles. 

It's another January where most Christians are engaging in prayer and fasting. So, I thought to equip you with this topic. Actually, the Holy Spirit asked me to share today's article with you. I hope you will gain new insights as you read.

Do you know that people fast for different reasons? Some fast as part of their religion, some fast because they want to lose weight, some fast for medical or experimental reasons. As Christians, we also fast for several reasons. When we are fasting as Christians, Christ expects us to have the right attitude towards fasting. We need to fast in line with God's desires and purpose.

Matthew 6:16 (NKV version) says: “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." 

The CEV version of Matthew 6:16 says "When you go without eating, don’t try to look gloomy as those show-offs do when they go without eating. I can assure you that they already have their reward."

The GNT version says "And when you fast, do not put on a sad face as the hypocrites do. They neglect their appearance so that everyone will see that they are fasting. I assure you, they have already been paid in full."

In summary, Christ is saying:

1) Be cheerful when you are fasting.

2) Do not neglect your appearance when you are fasting.

3) Do not fast out of reluctance or grudgingly. Christ said, whatever you are sacrificing or giving to Him needs to be done from a place of love and not grudgingly or reluctantly 2 Corinthians 9:7. 

4) Do not announce to everyone that you are fasting as it is between you and God (There might be a genuine reason for you to inform someone or a group that you are fasting, the most important thing is for your motive to be pure).

5) Note down what you will be praying for or trusting God for during your fast. However, it is important to ask God to show you how you should pray during your fast.  You need to create time to pray and meditate on His Word. Let me share some tips with you. You could set reminders or set an alarm on your phone to remind you to pray or read your Bible. Remember, you will need to block out distractions when you are praying or reading your Bible as this will help you focus on God. 

6) Be sensitive to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to you. As well as being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, you need to be sensitive to the strategies that the devil may want to employ during and after your fast. He will want you to displease God during or after your fast. Remember how he tempted Jesus Christ after He had finished fasting. Satan tempted Jesus at the time He was probably vulnerable, when He may have been hungry. You can read more about this in Matthew 4:1-11.

7)  Rely on God to strengthen you as your body may feel weak when you are fasting from food. Please note that feeling weak is not a sign that God is not with you. It is human for your body to feel tired or weak when you are abstaining from food. In fact, David acknowledged in Psalm 109:24-25 that his knees were weak during fasting. 

8) Fast and pray in line with the right application of the Word of God. Don't fast because you want something contrary to the Word of God or evil to occur. An example is found in Acts 23:12 when a group of people made a promise that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul. God will not honour such a fast. God also said in Isaiah 58:4 that when you keep fighting and quarrelling, such fasting will not get anywhere with Him. 

If this article has blessed you — would you like to share it with someone? Send it to a friend, on your social media platforms, family members, and many more.

I ask that the Holy Spirit will give you more insights into this topic in Jesus' name. 

Have a lovely week!

Yours in Christ,

Mysses Lafunky

It's the Year 2022! Happy New Year!

I would like you to know that God owns the Year and He has gone ahead of you. His presence is in the Year 2022. Therefore, relax and walk with God in this new year.

Have a fantastic Year!

Yours in Christ,

Mysses Lafunky

I have a free e-book for you. The book (15 Women of the Bible: How they lived a Purpose Driven Life). This e-book was written by my Bible Study Group. To download on Google Drive for free, click here.

5 Bible Passages to read on Christmas Day

Hello Readers & Followers,

It's Christmas!

Here are 5 Bible Passages that you can read on Christmas Day with your family

1. Isaiah 9:6–7 says

 "For to us a child is born, to us, a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace, there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this."

2. 2 Corinthians 5:17–21 says

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake, He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

3. Micah 5:1–5 says

"Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod, they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. 

Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labour has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 

And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now, he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace."

4. Luke 2:29–32 says

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

5. Titus 3:4–7 says 

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace during this season in Jesus' name.

Have a lovely Christmas! 

Yours in Christ,

Mysses Lafunky

I have a free e-book for you. The book (15 Women of the Bible: How they lived a Purpose Driven Life). This e-book was written by my Bible Study Group. To download on Google Drive for free, click here.

The True Meaning of Biblical Repentance (Part 2)

Hello Readers & Followers,

It's December! The Christmas season! I can officially say "Season's Greetings" to you all.

Also, today my Christian writing website turned 9! Praise be to God!! Thank God for the journey so far and thank God for fulfilling His purpose through this website.  I would also like to thank you for being a part of Mysses Lafunky's readers. I appreciate each and every one of you. 

I am continuing the series on Repentance. This is the last article on Repentance. Did you miss the previous article? Please click here to read it. 

2 Corinthians 7:10 says "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death (NIV version)." This Scripture is teaching us that the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience is the sorrow that makes us change our hearts and lives, leading to salvation as the world way of grieving produces death.

The People of Nineveh

Do you remember the story of the people of Nineveh? The people of Nineveh had sinned against God and God wanted to give them a chance to change their hearts and lives (Jonah 1- 4). The Lord spoke his word to Jonah and sent him to Nineveh to inform them that their city will be destroyed in 40 days if they do not repent. Jonah actually wanted God to destroy them due to the various atrocities that the people of Nineveh had committed and he knew about God being rich in mercy. To cut the long story short, Jonah delivered the word of the Lord to the people of Nineveh. Did the people practise godly sorrow? Let's see what the Bible says in the book of Jonah 3:5 -10, the Scriptures say:

The True Meaning of Biblical Repentance (Part 1)

Hello Readers & Followers,

How was your weekend? I hope you had a lovely weekend. I have been asked by the Holy Spirit to complete a series on Repentance with Mysses Lafunky's followers including my Bible Study group members.  

The very first thing Jesus preached was Repentance. In Matthew 4:17, Jesus said, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a time for us to pause and praise God for all the blessings in our lives. Psalm 9:1 says "I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds."

Have a lovely holiday!

Yours in Christ,

Mysses Lafunky

I have a free e-book for you. The book (15 Women of the Bible: How they lived a Purpose Driven Life). This e-book was written by my Bible Study Group. To download on Google Drive for free, click here.

Never Forget to Say Thank You

Hello Everyone,

How are you doing? Hope you had a lovely weekend. It's a New Week! Glory be to God in the Highest! 

In 2014, I received a "Thank You" card in the post. The card was sent by a friend to whom I gave a wedding gift. I was surprised to have received a Thank You card. That was my first experience of receiving a thank you card from someone.

Ask yourself...

Have I ever done something for someone and I expected the individual to say thank you but they never did? Are you someone that says thank you or do you feel too pompous to say thank you to those who have helped you? Do you know that Jesus expects us to give thanks at all times? 

A man once said after he went food shopping for his household and came back home, his wife said "thank you darling for taking your time to provide food for our family by going food shopping." The husband did not expect his wife to have said thank you as he felt it was his duty and role to not only provide the basic care needs of the family but to assist in purchasing the food items. Nevertheless, the husband felt appreciated by the act of gratitude that his wife had shown to him. 

When last did you thank your spouse for their role at home? Create time today and thank your spouse, be specific about what you are thanking your spouse for. Last week, one of my Bible Study group members encouraged us to be specific in giving thanks to our spouses for the support they have been offering us. As my husband was at work, I sent a text message to him and I specified all the things that I was thanking him for. My husband felt appreciated, he later asked me if I would like Chinese food or pizza for dinner. 

You may be thinking that you do not mind if people do not show you gratitude after you have helped them. However, it does not negate the fact that you should say thank you to others when they have helped you. 

WHO SHOULD YOU EXPRESS THANKS TO?

Express your thanksgiving to everyone whether the person is younger than you, older than you or whether they are your junior or senior at work or school. Saying thank you should also not be based on age, social status and title.

Like many of us that appreciate thanksgiving whether we expect it or not, Jesus Christ expects us to give thanks to God through Him (1 Thess 5:18). 

WHEN LAST DID YOU THANK GOD?

When last did you thank God for your job? For the breath of life? For the fact that you can eat, drink, see, spend money and buy things? When last did you thank God for the beautiful flowers, trees and animals that you see? For your house? Parents? Children? For peace, for joy? For safety? All these things are not our entitlements, it is because God has chosen to shower us with these blessings.

Whether you are a believer in Jesus Christ or a person who does not even believe in Jesus Christ, the fact that you are alive is only possible because of Jesus Christ. It is only God through Jesus Christ that can bless you with wonderful blessings; we must therefore not be oblivious to His blessings.