全国40天禁食：第一天 National 40-day fast: Day 1
今天是一年一度全国教会一起为国家禁食四十天的第一天，这一次我们没有“全禁”，我们教会选择每天只吃一餐，而那一餐也不吃我们通常爱吃的肉类与淀粉类食物。神没有强迫我们一定要禁食，禁食也跟个人救恩无关，所以尽管你今生从未禁食过一次，只要是真实悔改信主，你依然是得救的。
然而，圣经却也让我们清楚看到禁食的属灵原则，它仿佛是上帝预备给基督徒的其中一个特别福份与神迹，不强迫你一定要拿的额外好处，其属灵效果是无法否认的，耶稣也从没否决禁食的重要。所以，我们虽不强迫弟兄姊妹禁食，但会兴奋鼓励大家参与，它是一个特别的学习经历，当中可以有很多体会和领受。其中一个就是学习顺服神，以及拒绝自己的一些渴望和享受，这样遇到一些试探和考验时，也能靠上帝的恩典站得稳，当然对身体健康也很有帮助。。。
“于是，耶稣对门徒说：“若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我。”
～太16：24～
Today is the first day of our annual national 40-day fast when we fast together with all the other churches in the country to pray for our nation. We are not on a “total fast” this time, our church has chosen to eat just a meal a day, and for that meal, we do not eat meat and starchy food which are normally our favourites. God does not compel us to go on a mandatory fast, fasting has nothing to do with your personal salvation as well. So even if you have not fasted once in your entire life, you are still saved as long as you have truly repented and believed in the Lord.
However, the Bible does show us clearly the spiritual principle too. It is as though one of the special blessings and miracles God has prepared for Christians, a bonus reserved for you though you are not forced to take. You cannot deny its spiritual impact, Jesus never disregarded the importance of fasting too. So, even though we do not compel brothers and sisters to fast, we excitedly encourage them to participate. It is a very special learning experience, we can have many realizations and revelations in the midst of it. One of which is to learn obedience to God, and to reject some of our own desires and enjoyment, so that by God’s grace we may be able to stand firm when trials and temptations come, and of course it is a great help to our health as well…
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
~Matt 16:24~