Fasting and the Spiritual Life

"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.  But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 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."

Matthew 6: 16-18

I love how Matthew records this teaching of Jesus.  "When you fast..."  Jesus assumes that His people will engage in fasting.  He assumes that they know how to do it.  He assumes it will be part of their spiritual life and journey.

If He were teaching today, He could be assured of none of these assumptions!  Many within the Christian tradition do not practice fasting, we do not know how to do it, and we assume it is an OT practice that has nothing to offer our spiritual journey.

My prayer is that this will change this next week at First CRC of Seattle!

Why is fasting important?  It focuses our minds on our need for God.  When done correctly, it draws us into greater dependence upon the Spirit and the gospel.

So what is fasting?  Fasting is a spiritual discipline that involves renouncing some good thing for a short period of time to focus our heart and mind upon the gospel and prayer.  The best things to fast from are those that tie us so closely to the world.  

Food is a good example and the one we think of most often when we discuss fasting.  If we do not eat often, we get hungry.  In fasting from food, we give up for a short time the pleasure and substance of meeting one of our most basic human needs.  Each time we feel hungry, we come before the living God in prayer asking for His mercy and help.  We remember those in need.  We reflect upon the gospel and how it is to be our spiritual food.  We pray for the witness and ministry of the Church.  We also come to realize through the experience how much we need the living Lord.

Yet, food is not all we can fast from.  In fact, many with health issues cannot fast from food without physical harm.  Thankfully, we can fast from anything.  I would recommend fasting from TV or some sort of media for the week.  Instead of reaching for the remote, reach for the Bible and meet with the living God.

The key to fasting is to chose something that you do out of habit.  For a time of fasting, every time you feel the need for it, come before the Lord and ask for mercy and grace.  Ask the Lord to show you how tied to the world you are.  Ask Him to reveal more of Himself to you.

Fasting is also a means of great power in advancing the Kingdom.  Why?  Is it somehow like magic?  No.  Power comes when the people of God pray specifically with dependency.  Fasting promotes both of these traits when it is done correctly.

Please join me in praying for the ministry at First Seattle CRC.  

1.) Pray for the growth of the Kingdom through our church.  Pray the gates of hell will be knocked down.  Pray for lost souls to come to know the Lord.  Pray for your friends and family.
  
2.) Pray for our decisions concerning leadership that the Lord will raise up leaders dependent upon the gospel for all things.  Pray for unity, peace, and trust within our body.

3.) Also pray for our projected budget short-fall.  Pray the Lord will help us to meet and exceed our budget so we can do ministry effectively.

May the Lord bless next week's time of fasting and prayer!  May each of us learn to fast so we may grow deeper in grace.