Day 23 - Zechariah 7:5

A Fasted Journey for Spiritual Renewal

Day 23

“Say to all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted?” -Zechariah 7:5

What is the point of religiousness? It seems that for many it is to check a box so they can say, “See! I’m good. I do the things required of me, and sometimes more! So I must be good enough to get into heaven.” They fail to realize that even one sin is enough for our eternal damnation.

We’ve talked about the Pharisees before and how they would look gloomy and put ash on their faces when they would fast. The days of the week that they chose to fast were also the busiest days in and around the city because they were the market days. Therefore the city would have an influx of people. They were doing it to be seen by others, not because they had a pure heart for the Lord.

This was no different in Zechariah’s day, hundreds of years before Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for how they conducted themselves. Zechariah rebukes the people here because they were engaging in fasting without the proper motivation and spiritual attitude. Zechariah is rebuking the robotic religiosity of the people both when they fasted and when the feasted. Their hearts were not in it or at least were not properly situated. They engaged in fasting because it was a religious work, not a true spiritual calling for them.

As I said in the beginning of this fast with the opening post. I do not recommend that you fast. I do, however, hope that these short daily entries are encouraging to you and have at least made you more curious towards fasting. But, it is something that you truly have to be led to do. I really don’t think I would have made it even past a few days if it wasn’t for the Holy Spirit.

I am not a medical professional. This journal is about my spiritual path and about that which the Lord has placed on me. This is not medical advice, nor was this fast done for any medical purpose. If you have a medical interest, seek medical advice. If you have particular health concerns, seek medical advice and/or conduct your own research. Any fasting advice, effects, realizations or anything else related to my fast come from my personal reflection and experience. If you are considering fasting, consulting with a healthcare provider may be appropriate for you.