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As I begin this week’s studies, I focus on the meaning of fasting. I consider what other unspoken thoughts might Jesus have had during His desert experience? In reflection, how might your relationship with God in your desert seasons be affecting your prayer life, your tendency to fast or not fast (not talking about intermittent fasting for weight loss). As we read about Jesus’ account in the desert, we can only imagine how difficult it must have been. In all honesty, I guarantee His challenging experience exceeds ours as we struggle with our modern-day “deserts”.
The lesson opens by asking the question, “What is the best journey you have ever taken? Why? In retrospect, the best journey I have ever taken was the trip I took to see my daughter after she went on her own discovery journey for a few years. She was now living in a new city, working her way into a new way of living on her own. Mostly, I was afraid for her safety. Mind you, she turned out fine and her life is on track, but I was fearful, nonetheless.
What does fasting have to do with this experience you may wonder. Well, a Google search said this - “Fasting, in its deepest truth, is a voluntary, intentional abstention from physical nourishment to cultivate intense spiritual focus, humbling the self to rely entirely on God. It acts as a profound 'spiritual reset,' detaching from worldly comforts to deepen divine connection…” Yep, that sounds about what I was thinking (S-M-I-L-E).
While my daughter certainly is not a representation of physical nourishment, she could very well represent the analogy of it. Many of us as parents have a difficult time letting go when our children begin to venture into directions we didn’t expect. But to be without them, either by choice or sadly by force, similar feelings can be experienced. A longing inside for what was, a bit of hunger for the familiarities of times spent together, and even a sadness deep within as you learn to do without the presence of that loved one who is now on their personal journey of discovery, with Jesus, a distance from you.
As we practice this hidden discipline, it is heart-motivated, not demanded by some external force. When we fast, we learn that we are weak and we need Jesus desperately for nourishment. It certainly isn’t all about food, but more about hungering for God so much that we pursue Him with every ounce of our being. From this pursuit, the soul is realigned and is able to “press the flesh” into submission. There are so many things happening at once while we pray and fast; we repent, reflect and relearn in the presence of our Lord!
Fasting is a journey, a journey away from an old place, to a renewed place with God! Like with my daughter, while I learned to be okay with her not being at home or at least nearby, I learned to lean more on my heavenly Father. I learned that I could trust Him with her safety and well-being, because after all, she belongs to Him and is only loaned to me for a while.
Why do you think fasting is encouraged as a quiet venture? In Mark 2:18-22, you will find a discourse between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus is once again being questioned about why He does certain things / performs various miraculous acts that are clearly against the old, rigid legalistic system of the Pharisees. While the naysayers were focusing on the outside (the external show of righteousness), Jesus’ focus was on teaching disciples about relationship with Himself. In doing so, He shifted their concentration to transform faith from duty to joy. True fasting in its simplest form brings about a change of heart. That is the heart of fasting. That is the depth of being ok to release what / who you love or enjoy (my only daughter) into the hands of God so that He can renew your vision to see life on this earth in an entirely different view!
To release my favorite dark chocolate or any other kind of favorite food for the sake of my relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ – is so worth it! In this life, only God can satisfy my deepest needs and fill my cup until it runs over! Even my relationship with my daughter, pales in comparison to my relationship with God. He is the source of my relationship with her, therefore, to make it more meaningful, I need to keep business in order with Him. Fasting gets us back to the source! Come, experience the reason for life more abundantly!
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