A hunger for God!

I just got done reading a great book by John piper called A Hunger for God. Piper really had an awesome way of describing the importance of fasting and how it creates a need and desire to love and seek God more when you decrease your physical needs and increase your spiritual needs. Sometimes it is easy to forget how much we need to desire God and how little things like food can even get in the way of that. I often times just think that good is a necessity and not optional but really God is not optional and He wants our whole hearts. Fasting is a great way to show that you need God more than you need food. God wants to be our all in all and us to be fulfilled by Him alone! God calls us to fast “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18 NIV). Fasting can be an issue like it says in Matthew when we are doing it to please others or so that others will think we are great Christians. It's not to say if you fast and tell others God will be angry if is when you are being fulfilled by knowing others are think you are great. Fasting is meant to humble and break us and for God to fill us with Him instead of getting prideful about what others will think. Fasting opens up the doors for God to speak to us and for us to focus on Him! Our greatest joy should be to love Him and serve Him! I have been studying through Isaiah and trying to read a chapter a day and it has been very fruitful and exciting for my soul! In Pipers book he used these great verses ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord ? “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? (Isaiah 58:3-7 NIV). Fasting should not be a routine by something we do out of joy and wanting to know God more! We want to fast due to wanting to know Him more and hear Him! In a sin sick world we need to be closer to Him and not separated by any idol! There are so many things we can fast from just not God! God loves us every single day more than we ever can! Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ!