Are you fasting for lent? When I was growing up we always observed lent by fasting meat on Fridays. That meant a lot of McDonald’s Filet O’ Fish for lunch and fish sticks for dinner. That fits well into the dictionary definition; abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink, especially as a religious observance. For many years my excuse for not fasting, which I truly thought logical, was that I am diabetic, and it can be dangerous for me not to eat.
Google went on to describe what it called the true meaning of fast; deliberate abstinence from physical gratification to achieve a greater spiritual good. I’m embarrassed to say how old I was when I learned those two things; you can fast anything near and dear to your heart and there is a greater spiritual purpose. Something was supposed to happen as a result.
The third definition is described as biblical. Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life. There it was again, something was supposed to happen. But what?
I found the best answer in a Book written long before Google ever existed. Isaiah 58:6-7 spells it out. “Here is the sort of fast I want–releasing those unjustly bound, untying the thongs of the yoke, letting the oppressed go free, breaking every yoke, sharing your food with the hungry, taking the homeless poor into your house, clothing the naked when you see them, fulfilling your duty to your kinsmen!” Is that how you define a fast?
I’m praying to be better at it because I read on through verse 8 and learned what the result would be: “Then your light will burst forth like the morning, your new skin will quickly grow over your wound; your righteousness will precede you, and ADONAI’s glory will follow you.” It doesn’t end there either. “ADONAI will always guide you; he will satisfy your needs in the desert, he will renew the strength in your limbs.” (Isaiah 58:11)
Does this challenge your idea of fasting?
I have fasted before but I did not know about lent. Thank You!!!!
In the Lutheran Church that I grew up in, we didn’t give up food but we have up something that we like for Lent to remind us of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. For instance, I gave up mountain dew one year, chocolate another year…etc…