As you begin on your spiritual journey of fasting and praying, it’s vital to be mindful of certain pitfalls that can hinder your progress and diminish the effectiveness of your prayers. In this article, we’ll explore the top things to avoid when fasting and praying, ensuring that you can maximize your spiritual growth and deepen your connection with God. By being aware of these common mistakes, you can focus on pouring your heart to God, humbling yourself before Him, and receiving His blessings and guidance. So, let’s dive in and discover the things to avoid when fasting and praying, and how you can cultivate a more intimate and meaningful relationship with your Heavenly Father.
Key Takeaways:
- Avoid Looking Gloomy: When fasting and praying, avoid looking gloomy or trying to appear spiritual to impress others. Instead, focus on humbling yourself before God and receiving from Him.
- Avoid Poor Bible Study Habits: Develop a habit of studying the Bible in-depth, memorizing scriptures, and taking notes to avoid sinning against God and to boost your faith and spiritual growth.
- Avoid Listening/Watching Secular Media: Be cautious of the content you expose your heart to, avoiding movies or music with sensual content, violence, nudity, and other strong themes that may distract you from your focus on God.
- Avoid Repetitive Babbling When Praying: Avoid praying with vain repetitions or chanting-like prayers. Instead, pray with understanding, believing that God hears you and will answer you.
- Avoid Fasting Without Praying: Fasting without praying is not a biblical fast. Prayer is a vital part of fasting, and it’s imperative to pray multiple times, backing up your prayers with the word of God.
Things to Avoid When Fasting and Praying
Avoid Looking Gloomy
Avoid looking gloomy or disfiguring your face to show others that you’re fasting. As Matthew 6:16 says, “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others.” Instead, anoint your head and wash your face to look radiant and beautiful, just as God created you to be.
Avoid Seeking Public Attention
Any attempt to seek public attention or praise while fasting and praying is counterproductive. Jesus warns us in Matthew 6:5-6 not to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.
The purpose of fasting and prayer is to humble yourself before God, not to impress others. When you fast and pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Keep in mind, your reward comes from God, not from human praise or recognition.
Avoid Poor Bible Study Habits
Shun shallow Bible reading and instead, research deeper into the scriptures. Study the word of God with intention, taking notes, and memorizing verses to store them in your heart.
Avoid Listening/Watching Secular Media
Shun secular media that can pollute your mind and heart during your fasting period. Be cautious of movies or music with sensual content, violence, or strong themes that can distract you from your spiritual focus.
Bible teaches us to renew our minds and focus on things that are pure, lovely, and of good report. Exposing yourself to secular media can lead to mental and spiritual pollution, making it challenging to maintain a deep connection with God. Instead, fill your heart and mind with spiritual nourishment through Christian literature, devotionals, and worship music.
Avoid Repetitive Babbling When Praying
Practices like repetitive babbling when praying can hinder your connection with God. Instead, focus on speaking to God from your heart, using your own words, and believing that He hears you.
Avoid Fasting Without Praying
Without prayer, fasting is just a physical exercise. When you fast, make sure to pray and pray often, using prayer points from the Bible or other resources to guide you.
When you combine fasting with prayer, you open yourself up to spiritual growth, guidance, and answers to your prayers. Keep in mind, prayer is a spiritual responsibility for every Christian, and it’s important to pray without ceasing.
Avoid Praying Without Thanksgiving
Any prayer without thanksgiving is incomplete. When you pray, make sure to give thanks to God for who He is and what He has done in your life.
Praying with thanksgiving is a powerful tool that can bring deliverance, breakthroughs, and blessings into your life. It’s a way to show God that you appreciate His love and care for you, and it’s a vital part of effective prayer practices.
Avoid Committing Sin
For when you fast and pray, it’s crucial to avoid committing sin. The Bible says that the prayer of a sinner is an abomination before God, and in 1 Peter 3:12, we are informed that the Lord is attentive to the prayer of the RIGHTEOUS, not the unrighteous but the righteous.
If you are engaging in sin while fasting, you are wasting your time; your prayer will not reach God. However, the good news is that salvation is free, and it is for all. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Avoid Doubting God
Committing to faith is crucial when fasting and praying. Avoid doubting God, for James 1:6-8 says, “but he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”
Before you start your fast, make sure you settle any doubts you may have about God’s power and ability to save you. Keep in mind, if you doubt God, you doubt His power and His ability to save you; you make the God that created the whole universe smaller than your problem.
So, according to the Bible, you will not receive anything from God. However, if you have faith with prayer and fasting; if you say to a mountain move, that mountain will move.
Avoid Sensual Activity
On this journey of fasting and praying, it’s crucial to avoid sensual activity. Of course, this goes without saying; intercourse is for married couples alone.
Heart purity is crucial during this time. You should dedicate time and energy to prayer and being in the presence of God. After the fast has been broken, married couples can go back to satisfy their desires. Paul emphasizes that this should be for a limited time to avoid temptation and sin.
Final Words
Hence, as you launch on your fasting and praying journey, remember to avoid these common pitfalls that can hinder your spiritual growth and effectiveness in prayer. By being mindful of these things to avoid, you can focus on pouring your heart to God, humbling yourself before Him, and receiving from Him. May your fasting and praying experience be a transformative and rewarding one, bringing you closer to God and fulfilling your spiritual needs.
FAQ
Q: What is the first thing to avoid when fasting and praying?
A: One of the first things to avoid when fasting and praying is looking gloomy. According to Matthew 6:16, we should not disfigure our faces to show others that we are fasting, but instead, anoint our heads and wash our faces to look radiant. This is because we are not fasting to impress others, but to humble ourselves before God and receive from Him.
Q: What is another important thing to avoid when fasting and praying?
A: Another important thing to avoid when fasting and praying is poor Bible study habits. We should not only read the Bible, but also study it in-depth and meditate on it. We should memorize scriptures and take notes, just like we would when preparing for an important test. This helps us to store God’s word in our hearts and avoid sinning against Him.
Q: What kind of media should I avoid during fasting and praying?
A: During fasting and praying, it’s important to avoid secular media that can distract us from our focus on God. This includes movies or music with sensual content, violence, nudity, and other strong themes that can pollute our minds and hearts. Instead, we should focus on spiritual books, devotionals, and worship music that can help us grow spiritually and stay connected with God.
