Food for Thought!
This Sunday was a simple service at both of our Equipping gatherings, with the focus once again on the spiritual practice of fasting. In Dronfield we started with breaking our fast and feasting together whilst sharing what God had been doing in our lives, or saying to us. A lovely time of worship led into a time of sharing our needs and some corporate prayer. It was wonderful to hear on Monday that a prayer for healing had been answered. God is good!
So, what have we learned about fasting?
The previous Equipping session, along with the JM Comer & Renovaré teaching videos, and other resources we’ve shared so far have pointed out that:
- There are different types of fasting: Normal/Absolute/Partial/Corporate/Private & Supernatural.
- There are different reasons for fasting: In the Bible examples of fasting are often in response to a serious event such as a sacred moment, a sinful event or a tragic event.
- Jesus practiced fasting: Both as an observant Jew (e.g. corporate fasts such as Yom Kippur/the Day of Atonement), but also by the leading of the Holy Spirit (e.g. 40 days following his baptism – a sacred moment!). However, he gave no explicit command to fast. Jesus taught us that fasting is a valuable personal spiritual practice that should be undertaken with the right motives and attitude. Fasting is an opportunity to draw closer to God; to gladly give over our whole body without distraction to Him. It can be uncomfortable and it is a sacrifice but it is not a rule! Sometimes there are good reasons for someone not to fast! If that is the case, there are plenty of other practices to help us draw closer to God. While fasting is not a way of bending God’s arm to answer our prayers (surely not!) nor is it a way of showing how serious we are (ditto!) we do sometimes experience a much needed response from him. Faithful God!
- Standing with the poor: This is an aspect of fasting that we’ve not really touched on, but could be considered an ‘ongoing tragic event’. (The 4th JM Comer video covers this in detail). Mother Teresa often fasted, or ate simple meals of rice, or just skipped meals to ensure there was enough food for the poor that she served. If fasting to stand with the poor is something that resonates with you, then choosing to occasionally eat a simple meal (e.g. rice and beans), or donating the cost of a fasted meal to charity could be an option. What is God saying to you?
Some years ago at the funeral of an elderly aunt, I learned that she had made a decision as a teenager to only eat 2 meals per day, as a mark of respect for people in the world who experienced poverty and famine. Nobody ever knew apart from her husband. I wasn’t aware of her being a practicing Christian and she was a very timid lady, but what convictions!
