One who has not eaten...


I've been thinking about this idea today of not eating and of fasting in general. Fasting is something Jackie and I do regularly. That may sound weird to you, but it is a discipline that has benefited us physically, spiritually, and even mentally (do you realize how much we think and deal with food?).

In Scripture, fasting was part of the normal spiritual lives of people. It was often connected to prayer.  With both of these tools, people set aside the normal rhythm of life and had space for God to speak and direct. Other times, people fast in mourning or times of reflection and repentance of sin.

Today, on my extended fast to kick off the work week, I found myself thanking God for the blessing of being able to voluntarily fast in a world where many don't have access to food.  As I drank cold, filtered water from my refrigerator, I thanked God for clean water. I also thanked God today for being living water and for the cleansing of all our sins in Messiah Jesus' death and resurrection.

If you've never challenged yourself to fasting and are able to, I'd encourage you to take little steps of fasting and add that to your spiritual life. If you've got a big decision ahead or are going through difficulty, join together some fasting and prayer and see what God might do!

16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 
 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Mt 6:16–18). (2016). Crossway Bibles.


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