22 Waayo, waxaan ka xishooday inaan boqorka weyddiisto koox askar iyo fardooley ah inay naga caawiyaan cadowga jidka noo jooga, maxaa yeelay, boqorka baannu la hadallay oo ku nidhi, Gacanta Ilaahayagu waxay saaran tahay intii isaga doondoonta oo dhan, wayna u wanaagsan tahay; laakiinse xooggiisa iyo cadhadiisu waxay ka gees yihiin in alla intii isaga ka tagta oo dhan.
23 Sidaas daraaddeed waannu soonnay, oo waxaannu ka barinnay Ilaahayo wax taas ku saabsan, wuuna naga aqbalay.
Is it desirable for us to fast when we pray?
Many people fasted in Bible times and many still do so today. Fasting is good if it helps us focus our hearts and minds on God and if it is a genuine sign of reverence, sincerity and humility before God. We should not fast, however, in order to try to earn favor with God. God may "reward” our prayer and fasting, but he grants us his blessing because of his own mercy and grace and not on the basis of our merits.
Scripture References
"'I [Ezra] proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. . . . So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.'” Ezra 8:21-23
"'For some days I [Nehemiah] mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.'” Nehemiah 1:4
"'I [Daniel] turned to the LORD God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.'” Daniel 9:3
"She [Anna] never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Luke 2:37
"Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord.” Acts 14:23
22 لأَنِّي خَجِلْتُ مِنْ أَنْ أَطْلُبَ مِنَ الْمَلِكِ جَيْشاً وَفُرْسَاناً لِيُنْجِدُونَا عَلَى الْعَدُوِّ فِي الطَّرِيقِ لأَنَّنَا قُلْنَا لِلْمَلِكَ: [إِنَّ يَدَ إِلَهِنَا عَلَى كُلِّ طَالِبِيهِ لِلْخَيْرِ وَصَوْلَتَهُ وَغَضَبَهُ عَلَى كُلِّ مَنْ يَتْرُكُهُ].
23 فَصُمْنَا وَطَلَبْنَا ذَلِكَ مِنْ إِلَهِنَا فَاسْتَجَابَ لَنَا.