Isaiah 58: 7.   "Is it not lawful for me to share thy bread with the hungry, and to gather the afflicted little ones into the house, and to clothe the naked, and to clothe him, and to hide thyself from the flesh?" 

 It is good to be fasting to pray fervently.  But it should not be a ritual.  Some people will fast when the pastor tell them to fast but there will be no purpose in them. 

 Disciples could not heal a boy: When they asked Jesus, "why?", He said, "Because of your unbelief." The Lord said, "This kind of evil spirit will not leave by any means except by prayer and fasting."  There is a purpose to fasting. 

The fast that the Lord desires is told in this verse. Fasting for the Lord is like giving food to the hungry and accepting the needy, and clothing to the naked.  It is in the life of the one who observes this that God's light will rise, the life of bliss will blossom, and justice will go before, and His glory will protect from behind. Those who have a desire to fast and pray let us first observe the fast that the Lord desires.  Amen.