Intense Denial
Spiritual Disciplines 9
Today we will be looking at the discipline of fasting. Some churches today allow you to "fast" anything from TV to Facebook but the Bible teaches us that true fasting is the voluntary denial of food only.
The Old Testament shows us that fasting is usually accompanied by mourning or grieving. The ripping of clothes, the wearing of sackcloth and the application of ashes on the head signified someone who is setting aside time for intense prayer without stopping to eat.
When Jonah finally made it to Nineveh and he proclaimed the message from God for them to repent, every person in the city felt such remorse for their sin that they entered into a period of fasting.
So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.
Jonah 3:5
Jonah didn't want to offer God's mercy to the people of Nineveh because he knew they would repent when they realized the peril they were in. And just as he expected, the people were overcome with remorse for their sin and every single one of them entered the fast with intense mourning for their wrong choices.
Fasting does not earn God's mercy.
Fasting is, however, a spiritual discipline that can increase our understanding of God.
In reading the book of Genesis the other day, I was struck by the fact that Eve never considered eating the fruit from the forbidden tree until she allowed her perspective of the fruit to be swayed by the serpents words.
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
Genesis 3:6
Eve looked at the fruit differently after listening to the serpent. So she ate it. So did her husband. After eating the fruit, though, everything around them looked different. In the same way, fasting makes everything around us look different too.
Fasting is the exact opposite of the first sin.
The way you perceive and interpret the world around you is altered when you fast. Priorities are readjusted and complex issues become simple when we press in to God instead of tucking in to a meal.
Personally, I find fasting a very powerful experience. Jesus fasted for forty days when He was in the wilderness being tempted and the devil showed Him no mercy. But Jesus also came out of that time stronger than when He went in (the Bible does tell us that He was hungry though when He came out). I have gained strength for things to come by fasting and praying in preparation.
Fasting is a time to abstain from food and press in to God. The time spent preparing, eating, and cleaning up is spent in prayer. Answers you couldn't see before become clear. Tough decisions become easy and the cares of the world get lighter. Fasting changes your perspective so that you can step beyond yourself - your opinions and wants and thoughts - and you see things differently.
As a nurse, I understand when people struggle with fasting because of health issues. Always talk to your doctor before starting any kind of extended fast. Most people though, can skip one meal here and there without any problems.
What issue or concern are you struggling with right now? Are you willing to press in to God and devote some specific time in prayer to help you through? If you are, pick two meals this week that you will abstain from eating and spend that time praying instead.
I would love to hear from you regarding your experience with fasting.
Heidirn
Today we will be looking at the discipline of fasting. Some churches today allow you to "fast" anything from TV to Facebook but the Bible teaches us that true fasting is the voluntary denial of food only.
The Old Testament shows us that fasting is usually accompanied by mourning or grieving. The ripping of clothes, the wearing of sackcloth and the application of ashes on the head signified someone who is setting aside time for intense prayer without stopping to eat.
When Jonah finally made it to Nineveh and he proclaimed the message from God for them to repent, every person in the city felt such remorse for their sin that they entered into a period of fasting.
So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.
Jonah 3:5
Jonah didn't want to offer God's mercy to the people of Nineveh because he knew they would repent when they realized the peril they were in. And just as he expected, the people were overcome with remorse for their sin and every single one of them entered the fast with intense mourning for their wrong choices.
Fasting does not earn God's mercy.
Fasting is, however, a spiritual discipline that can increase our understanding of God.
In reading the book of Genesis the other day, I was struck by the fact that Eve never considered eating the fruit from the forbidden tree until she allowed her perspective of the fruit to be swayed by the serpents words.
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
Genesis 3:6
Eve looked at the fruit differently after listening to the serpent. So she ate it. So did her husband. After eating the fruit, though, everything around them looked different. In the same way, fasting makes everything around us look different too.
Fasting is the exact opposite of the first sin.
The way you perceive and interpret the world around you is altered when you fast. Priorities are readjusted and complex issues become simple when we press in to God instead of tucking in to a meal.
Personally, I find fasting a very powerful experience. Jesus fasted for forty days when He was in the wilderness being tempted and the devil showed Him no mercy. But Jesus also came out of that time stronger than when He went in (the Bible does tell us that He was hungry though when He came out). I have gained strength for things to come by fasting and praying in preparation. Fasting is a time to abstain from food and press in to God. The time spent preparing, eating, and cleaning up is spent in prayer. Answers you couldn't see before become clear. Tough decisions become easy and the cares of the world get lighter. Fasting changes your perspective so that you can step beyond yourself - your opinions and wants and thoughts - and you see things differently.
As a nurse, I understand when people struggle with fasting because of health issues. Always talk to your doctor before starting any kind of extended fast. Most people though, can skip one meal here and there without any problems.
What issue or concern are you struggling with right now? Are you willing to press in to God and devote some specific time in prayer to help you through? If you are, pick two meals this week that you will abstain from eating and spend that time praying instead.
I would love to hear from you regarding your experience with fasting.
Heidirn
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