“You turned my lament into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness”-Psalm 30:11. 

You’ve heard of extreme sports, well, fasting is extreme prayer.  People would put on sackcloth and enter a period of fasting and prayer when in crisis.  Sackcloth wasn’t comfortable (nor attractive).  Sometimes they would sit in ashes or throw dirt on top of their heads.  Discomfort was extended, as well, to the inside of the body through fasting.  There was no joy on the inward or outward body of the individual; then they prayed until God answered.  Do people still go into periods of fasting?  Yes; Jesus didn’t say “if you fast,” he said “when you fast” (Matthew 6:16).  But Jesus also said we weren’t to make a spectacle of our period of fasting and prayer.  Jesus promised that God sees your fasting in secret and “will reward you” (v. 18).  Then, put on those dancing shoes and sing songs of gladness!