A Time of Fasting

Matthew 6:1-18

Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice.Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

Today is the second week of Lent. How are you doing!  Often during Lent you hear the question, "What have you given up?” It makes you wonder, what is the purpose of this season? Is it to stop eating your favorite food to show obedience to God? Is Lent important today and, if so, could there be a right or wrong way to fast?

Fasting is only one part of the journey that we experience this holy season.  We look forward to Easter morning as we celebrate the resurrection.  A time where families gather at favorite places often dressed in newly purchased spring clothing.  It’s a happy time.  As Christians, we not only celebrate Easter morning, but many of us continue the ritual of observing Lent and holy week.  

Lent is the observance of the forty days leading up to Easter.  A time set apart time to exam our hearts and relationship with God.  A time to look inward and reflect not only on this previous year but set in motion behaviors for the future.  It is not a time of announcing our piety but a time of silent reflection.   I have heard it said, for some, the ashes left on the forehead from Ash Wednesday is a “showing off” due to the visually mark it leaves behind.  However, I encourage people to research a little deeper to find that it reminds us of the reality of our mortality.  

Note, not all people who fast are Christians, and not all Christians fast. Similarly, not everyone who puts on yoga pants does yoga.  (Not to pick on people who wear yoga pants).  Lent is a season of preparation, reflection, and penance.  During Lent, some Christians engage in practices like fasting, praying, scripture reading and almsgiving with the intent to deepen their connection with God.  

When we fast, we often refrain from things like sugar, caffeine, carbs, etc.  But fasting is not about dieting to lose those 10 extra pounds before summer so we can fit better in our summer bathing suits.  It's about denying self to better focus on our faith.  It’s about God.

In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus warns about the religious hypocrites. One point Jesus makes is that physical practices are meaningless if done without the intentions of worshiping God.  

Is fasting an old ritual without meaning in today’s world?  I believe Fasting is very important today.  In today’s chaos, it gives us the opportunity to put God on the forefront.  Fasting is a very real and physical way to remember the ultimate sacrifice Jesus suffered on the cross for us.  In Jesus’ time people anointing with oil as a symbol of joy.  They place ashes on their heads in times of mourning and would tear their clothing wailing out in distress.   Jesus said, don’t do that.  When you are fasting, put oil on your head and wash your face.   People had lost the spirit and the purpose of God’s original desired.  Without spirit and purpose of worship what remained was only physical movement and the need to get worldly attention.  Authentic worship is accomplished through spirit and truth.  In Matthew, Jesus makes the point that fasting is between you and God, no one else. It’s a personal and private.  

Fasting can be a beautiful transformative spiritual discipline for many people. It is not about what we give up or even how well we stick to what we are fasting with. Worshiping, fasting, and reading scripture etc. is a tangible way of practicing self-sacrifice for God’s sake. It can help us focus on God just as Jesus fasted for forty days during His temptation in the wilderness. 

So how might fasting be pleasing to God?  I don’t have an answer to that question, because it’s between you and God.  I can only offer these ideas.  If you choose something that is only a mild inconvenience with a quick return as soon as Easter morning hits. Well, it might not be the spiritual sacrifice you intend.  If you are fasting in a way which is detrimental to your health, know that God never ask you to self-harm to prove your obedience.  God already knows your faithfulness.  Fasting is a time to sharpen your spiritual discipline. 

And we can choose to fast or renew our spiritual faith at any time in our walk with Christ.   If you would like to fast this season you might want to consider an innovative way from the list below:

• Fast from hurting words and say kind words.

• Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

• Fast from worries and trust in God.

• Fast from grudges and be reconciled.  

So, fast with a purpose to deepen your faith with God.  It is right and important to take time to place God as the number one priority.    

I think I’m not alone when I find myself in spiritual darkness bending my knee and crying out for mercy.  In Psalms 130, I hear Daniel’s cry for mercy to a loving God.  Lent offers us the time to examine our inequities.  But there is good news.  We find mercy at the foot of the cross.  God forgives our sins to be cast into the abyss and never remembered.  Our wrong doings are eternally gone and eternally forgiven, and we are eternally loved.  A time to shed and ponder the scriptures message to: “Be still and know that I am God”, and to “find healing in His sacrifice.”