[Manna - January 26]
When ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. Matthew 6:16
FASTING is specially commendable to the Lord's
people at times when they find themselves lacking in
spirituality and exposed to severe temptations from
the world, the flesh and the devil; for by impoverishing
the physical force and vitality, it may assist the
full-blooded and impulsive to self-control in every direction.
We believe that a majority of Christians
would be helped by occasional fasting—a very plain
diet for a season, if not total abstinence.
But fastings,
to be seen and known of men or to be conjured up
in our own minds as marks of piety on our part,
would be injurious indeed, and lead to spiritual pride
and hypocrisy, which would far outweigh their advantages
to us in the way of self-restraint. Z.'98-45 R2260:5