“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Fasting. Now here's the topic on everyone's mind...NOT! Wow, when I saw that word this morning I thought to myself, I'm not sure I have ever heard a single sermon preached on this topic. It's as if our society thinks that fasting is not necessary anymore. Yet, we'll fast from desserts in order to lose those last five pounds, or we'll fast from greasy foods in order to lower our cholesterol. We know how to deny ourselves certain things...but we do it for ourselves, our health, our appearance.
Fasting in the Bible according to the Message is, "when you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God."
I remember when I was a teenager, my dad did a 40 day fast. Remember, Jesus did that once (at least), too, so my dad wasn't being completely nuts...or so I thought. All I can remember about it was that he juiced vegetables all day long, and he would sit with us as a family at the table while we ate roasted meats and just watch. We knew what he was doing, but we weren't supposed to really tell people because he didn't want that attention. Then, toward the end of the 40 days, people started asking my mom and me if he was feeling well...he was wasting away! That's all that comes to mind. But when I think about my dad and his faithfulness in getting up to meet with God at 4:30am most mornings, being an example and a leader in our family all those years, I can't help but think of that season of life when he denied himself all pleasure that comes from food and drink, with the intention to be filled with the Lord instead. What an example.
And it is a season. I know that about fasting. It's not meant as a life-style, but whether or not we will do it is not necessarily a question in Jesus' mind. He says, "When you fast..." Okay, well, when should I fast?
In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat orders the people to observe a fast when an enemy army was upon them. He told the people to seek the Lord for guidance. My Bible note below says, "by separating themselves from the daily routine of food preparation and eating, they could devote more time to prayer and considering their own sin." And isn't that what hunger pangs do to us? They remind us that we are in need. We need food, and we need God! Do you have any enemies upon you today? Do you need to be still before the Lord, like we talked about yesterday, and devote extra time to prayer, humbling yourself before your God who loves you?
In Ezra 8, Ezra leads the people on a 900 mile journey on foot. Before the journey, Ezra told the people to fast and humble themselves before their God. "We prayed that He would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled...so we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and He heard our prayer" (vs. 21, 23). We may not be walking 900 miles, but I know my life has been full of many journeys and adventures. Ezra and the people knew that they were going to begin a journey, but before they did, they fasted and prayed. I can't imagine they just fasted and prayed only for an afternoon. How wise of them to slow down (for maybe a few days) and be still before this crazy new season in their lives. I can imagine that they gained some fresh perspective from the Lord! Are you about to begin a new season in life? A new job, new relationship, new priorities? Perhaps it would be wise to slow down for a couple days and deny yourself some of life's physical pleasures in order to be even more full of Him before you begin?
With the crazy fall schedule I told you I have yesterday, I'm wondering if it might be time for me to not speed up to try to get everything done, but to slow down and focus on Jesus so that I can really soak in what He wants to teach me and to know the priorities He has for me in this season. I invite you to join me in this. There are no rules -- it's just you and Him. Do you hear Him calling you away to focus on Him right now? Don't be too busy that you let this stirring in your soul go unnoticed.
Fasting is a discipline. It may not feel good at first, but stick with it because "your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
No comments:
Post a Comment