There are many things I can do around the house to help. I do much of the work in the yard and assist with other domestic chores as needed. But one thing I am not very gifted in is meal preparation. Last week, my wife went to Michigan to visit her sister for three days. If it weren’t for some leftovers in the freezer I could microwave and the availability of a bowl of cereal, I might have been in trouble. But I managed to eat every meal and survive.
But what if I couldn’t eat. As we discussed in a recent sermon, our bodies are made with appetites or desires for those things we need to survive. If we hold our breath for too long, the carbon dioxide in our lungs begins to cause discomfort and we need to get it out and take in fresh air. If we don’t get enough sleep, our bodies slow down and function less effectively. A lack of exercise makes us lethargic. When we don’t eat, we have hunger pangs that gnaw at us until we take care of that need. These triggers are all meant to keep us alive and healthy. Giving heed to them and filling that appetite produces positive results.
Unfortunately, our hunger for righteousness isn’t always as easily recognized and therefore will go unfilled. This is one of the reasons God has given us the discipline of fasting. By denying something natural in our life to focus on something supernatural is a means of meeting the need to pursue righteousness.
Before we begin the discipline of fasting, we need to be sure we clearly understand what it is as well as what it is not. Fasting is NOT simply a form of self-denial for its own sake. Many cults and false religions practice some form of self-harm to show their level of piety and devotion. Our love and dedication to God is a heart issue that our Lord can easily discern.
Fasting is basically a means of changing our focus. If we take time away from a natural function of our life, it must be replaced with a spiritual pursuit. If I choose to skip a meal, I need to spend that time in study of the Word, reflection, worship, or prayer. Fasting is a discipline which always points our attention toward our Lord.
Over time, this discipline will supply consistent reminders of our hunger for righteousness. If I choose to forgo eating for one meal week to have extra time with God, I am going to feel physical hunger during that day. If this is a regular practice, I will begin to associate physical hunger with the practice of study and/or prayer. So each time I am hungry, God can use that time to redirect my focus to him.
One other thought before I close. Fasting does not have to involve food. You could choose to occasionally deny yourself your favorite TV show to spend time with God. You might choose to not play golf or go to the shop for woodworking and replace that time with spiritual pursuit. The opportunities for fasting are many when we understand its purpose.
If God challenges you in this area, start with something manageable. Consider replacing one meal or an hour of TV or computer time a month with time alone with God. As your hunger increases, your willingness to change your focus will increase as well.