If you were born and raised in evangelical churches like me, it is very possible that you have never really fasted before. If you are even more like me, your church might have had a sort of (and I mean “sort of”) Lent tradition where you chose, each year, something to go without for that time of Lent. In past years I fasted from various things like social media and even music (yes, all music, it sucked). But if you are a little more aware of fasting traditions around the world, you may know of Islam’s holy month, Ramadan.
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Muslim calendar. It is a special month for them because they fast for the entire month. Their particular kind of fast is that they don’t eat when the sun is visible. They celebrate the breaking of the fast when the sun goes down each day with worship and meals together. At the end of the month, they wear new clothes–often bought especially for that day–and celebrate for three days. It is a time of joy and increased community among Muslims.
But beyond all the festivities involved, Muslims see Ramadan as a time to be closer to God. Some believe that, during Ramadan, the gates of Hell are closed and God listens to more prayers. The third to last night of the fast is called the “Night of Power” and is considered the most holy night–the night when God first revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad. On this night, prayers are believed to be thousands of times more effective, and God answers many more prayers. Muslims stay up the whole night fasting (after fasting all day) so that God may hear them.
There is certainly value in fasting for our own spiritual edification, and Muslims should be respected for fasting for an entire month in their pursuit of God–how many of us can say that we have done that? Yet for all of the fervor with which they pray, it is profoundly sad to me that they seek answers and supplication from the wrong place. I believe that God does hear and that He works in amazing ways, but all these people are looking in the wrong place. They believe that the holier and better they are, the more blessed they will be–that fasting longer and praying more intensely will maybe please God enough so that He will look favorably upon them.
Praise be to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Praise that we do not have to pray with great fervor and intensity to know that we have a high priest in heaven who intercedes on our behalf! Praise that on the Night of Power, Jesus rose from the dead and has since been spreading new life all over the Earth! Praise God that when He looks upon us, He does not see our guilt but instead Christ! Praise God that though fasting is a tool for our sanctification and is pleasing to God, it is not a necessity! Praise God that we are free to eat our second breakfast and not fret over whether He is pleased with us.
Please pray that Muslims all over the world will find hope, not in fasting, almsgiving, and prayer, but in our Lord Jesus Christ who makes all things new. Pray that God will answer their prayers to know Him more by showing them Jesus Christ and opening the door to salvation.