Try Fasting This Lent

Giving things up for Lent, or fasting, is not just a spiritual practice for Roman Catholics.  Fasting has occurred since the beginning of time and can be seen and studied in both the Old and New Testaments.  However, fasting and praying is something that has grown foreign to many Christians today.  It was not something strange in the early Christian Church and it was also not something strange in the time of the Reformation and in the centuries thereafter.  Moses, Elijah, Ezekiel and Daniel fasted and prayed.  Jesus fasted for 40 days. Paul and the early Christians fasted.  In the early Christian Church they fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays.  Martin Luther was criticized because he fasted too much.  John Calvin fasted and prayed until most of Geneva turned to God.  John Knox fasted and prayed and the wicked Queen Mary said she feared no weapon like she feared John Knox’s prayers.  Jonathan Edwards who was God’s instrument in the revival in New England, fasted and prayed.  John Wesley fasted twice a week.  Charles Finney one of the greatest spiritual leaders in history was a man who fasted and prayed.  D L Moody was not unfamiliar with fasting and praying.
 

There are many kinds of fasts one can undertake: a complete fast, partial one or even spiritual one.  Perhaps these 40 days of our Lenten journey we can consider a spiritual or soul fast where we work on those things which deter us from growing in our relationship with Christ. What or who do you need to turn away from?  What vices or sinful behavior causes you to grow full of contempt instead of Christ?  When we fast, we are invited to seek out the Christ in our lives for strength, perseverance and courage.  Fasting moves us away from selfish behaviors and motives.   Try it.  You won’t be disappointed.  The following is a spiritual or soul fast for you think about and try anytime.  How many of these things do all of us need to work on fasting from? 

Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and trust in God.
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.

Go feast on God’s goodness and love for you and fast from all the things that only in the end drain and leave us empty.  Try fasting.  You won’t be disappointed.  “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”  Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” (Joel 2:12-13)
 
It was not Christ’s intention to reject or despise fasting… it was His intention to restore proper fasting”
-Martin Luther
 
~PJ

 


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