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Fast from Judging

By | July 9, 2010

JUDGEMENT

“JUDGE NOT, THAT YOU BE NOT JUDGED”

(Matthew 7 verse 1)

Be encouraged by this article written by Francis Fragipane.

The most changing fast is the one I urge intercessors to employ. I ask them to take a month and fast from judging. It is interesting to watch their reactions. “What will we think about?” they query. I am only saying do not let your concluding thought end judging a person, rather, let it end in a prayer for mercy.

The instinct to judge, to criticize, is a curse upon the Church, and brings death upon us as individuals. A curse? Death? Yes, every time we judge we are simultaneously judged by God, and each time we condemn another, we ourselves are condemned (Matt. 7).

Many Christians will pray, engage in spiritual warfare and rebuke the devil, yet often the enemy we are fighting is not demonic. It is consequential. Life is being measured back to them according to their attitudes towards others! They are under judgement because they are always judging others (Matt. 7:2).

When I say ‘fast from judging’, I do not mean we should abandon discernment. Fault-finding is not a gift of the Spirit. When we see something wrong, instead of only turning critical, we must learn to pray for mercy for that situation. We will see what is wrong, but we are harnessing our anger and seeking to redeem what is wrong by the power of Christ’s love.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Matt. 5:7). When we resist the impulse to judge or condemn and instead, pray for mercy, an amazing thing happens; a door of fresh mercy opens before us. You see, in every moment of every day there are two doors before us. One is a door that brings waves of mercy into our lives, the other door opens to a life full of obstacles and difficulties. How do we enter the mercy door? The key to a life blessed by God’s mercy is to give mercy to those around us (Matt. 18).

There are Christians I know who have not made spiritual progress for years. They attend Church, they tithe, yet they maintain a judgemental attitude. They always have something negative to say about others. As such, they position themselves under God’s judgement. Their capacity to receive Divine mercy is closed because they do not show mercy toward others.

James wrote: “Judgement will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgement” (James 2:13). It is a sobering verse!

Are you pondering why your version of Christianity doesn’t quite feel like the abundant life Jesus promised? (John 10). Perhaps it is because you are too judgemental. The good news however, is this: mercy triumphs over judgement. If you know you are a sinner and there are areas wrong in your life, yet you strive to be merciful, God promises He will respond to you as you have responded to others. The areas in your heart that need mercy will find healing in the life God grants to the merciful.

Beloved ponder the next season of change in your life, perhaps it is time to embrace the ‘mercy fast’. Yes, for thirty days, see what changes occur when you fast from judging.

“WOW”

This is also a challenge to me and I want to do this, and if YOU would like to also accept the challenge of NO judgement, that way we can help each others.

Let us for 30 days FAST from judgement, and we should be over it by the end of 30 days. If you keen to join me, send me a message so that we can finalise a starting date (i.e. 1st August).

Let us be a blessing of encouragement, and be more CHRIST LIKE and LOVE.