Happy Tuesday Marion!
This week we will be looking at the Spiritual Practice of Fasting. This is our third week of looking at the Spiritual Practices. These practices build on each other. Meditation is closely linked to prayer, and it is hard to look at fasting without including prayer.
This week as we look at fasting, let’s start about what fasting isn’t.
Some might think we fast because we assume that “depriving” ourselves somehow makes us and our prayers more acceptable to God. Fasting shows God how badly we want and deserve whatever we are asking for. God is moved by our sacrifice, we believe, by our depravity and he grudgingly grants us what we ask for, since we’ve suffered so much in our fast.
Without a purpose and plan, fasting is just a weight loss strategy.
As we think about fasting this week, I invite you to think about the words of Jesus…
Matthew 6:16-18
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Do you practice fasting regularly?
If yes, how would you describe those experiences?
If no, what is keeping you from fasting?
Have you ever considered fasting from something other than food?
Let’s talk about it on Sunday.
I found this humorous…
Have a great week.
~ Pastor Dustin
