"Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer."
This might seem a bit confusing awkward or counterintuitive at first, di ba? After all, skipping meals and dealing with hunger isn't typically associated with joy. Sino ba namang masaya nyan kung walang laman ang tiyan? But in Latter-day Saint practice, fasting is a spiritual discipline that is deeply connected to worship and closeness with God. We Normally Practice it every First Sunday of each Month. But actually before, fasting was practiced every first Thursday during the early days of the restored Church.
Question: Do you Rejoice when you Fast?
So heres what it is meant. When we fast with prayer, we're not just abstaining from food. We're focusing our minds and hearts on spiritual matters, seeking divine guidance, and striving to elevate ourselves spiritually. This can lead to profound spiritual experiences and joy—a rejoicing in the closeness we feel to our Heavenly Father.
So heres what it is meant. When we fast with prayer, we're not just abstaining from food. We're focusing our minds and hearts on spiritual matters, seeking divine guidance, and striving to elevate ourselves spiritually. This can lead to profound spiritual experiences and joy—a rejoicing in the closeness we feel to our Heavenly Father.
Christ in his Sermon said this -
16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. - Matthew 6:16-18
Christ did never said anything on rejoicing, yes I would agree, but obviously he meant to never show it in a sad countenance. The Gospel Christ taught along with the principles of sacrifice were simply the sweetest fruit that Lehi felt rejoicing after eating. The Law of Sacrifice is not actually a burden or perhaps the opposite of Joy, rather it was meant to help us understand the Joy of Love and Care for others and for our spiritual welfare. It is a matter of Perspective to those who understood its importance.
Some time ago during a talk that I made in a ward that I currently served in Bulawen. I made this little statement about sacrifice and perspective. I said, that to some "Going on Church on Sunday is a big Sacrifice. Yes it may, to some who travelled a long ride in an empty pocket, or maybe to some who had works on Sundays rather spending an hour for a sacrament meeting. It may be a sacrifice for them, but to those who understand the gospel and their covenants, it is a blessings filled with Joy and Happiness. Those sacrifices where just it seems like a normal routines, and it's a matter of one's personal perspective." Same goes that applies to each principles such as Fasting and Prayer, so it's your personal choices in viewing it as a burden or a blessing.
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, in his talk “The Law of the Fast,” emphasized that fasting, coupled with prayer, is powerful enough to fill our minds with revelations, strengthen us against temptation, and fill our homes with peace and joy. He also highlighted that fasting helps us develop courage and discipline and brings sanctification to our souls.
We observe that in the scriptures, fasting almost always is linked with prayer. Without prayer, fasting is not complete fasting; it’s simply going hungry. If we want our fasting to be more than just going without eating, we must lift our hearts, our minds, and our voices in communion with our Heavenly Father. Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful. It can fill our minds with the revelations of the Spirit. It can strengthen us against times of temptation.
By focusing more on spiritual nourishment and less on physical, fasting allows us to rejoice in the blessings of spiritual growth and service to others. The joy in fasting comes from the blessings it brings and the opportunity to assist those in need through fast offerings, weaving the practice intimately with love and service—core components of rejoicing in the gospel.
Thank you for taking a little time on my personal study that I share. And if you want to dive more about topic out of it, here's the link from conference messages on the same topic. I recommend reading Howard W. Hunters talk about the Fast day which focused on historical background and Joseph Wirthlin for more Doctrinal. Thank you once again and see you on my next post.
Some trivia, the Word "Fast or Fasting" was mentioned about 11 times in Doctrine and Covenants excluding section heading. So far that's the best that I had counted. If you think I'm wrong contact me ASAP and point me where I missed it. 😁
Author -
Jerry Bustillo
Notes -