We'll we're over the halway point now in this fast. Yesterday in church I talked about fasting and at the end I had 4 practical suggestions to make concerning fasting but chose not to make them at that time so I will post them here. I know several of you might be just checking the blog now and are making the commitment to start fasting today so maybe this is good timing for some practical ideas.
I would like to suggest three applications for fasting in today’s protestant churches. Replacement over punishment must be key in any application. The realization that Christ has “bore our sins in his body on the cross” and that there is nothing left to pay for must be prominent in our thinking. Fasting must be an outward manifestation of an inward reality. Fasting does not have to be a daily routine or even a twice a week routine. Fasting can be an occasional period of concentration for the believer.
First, I would recommend the replacement of media in one’s life with prayer for a defined period of time. God can use this time to speak his voice into our heart’s ear without the suppression of the pagan media.
Second, I would recommend regular fasting from anything that could become (or is) an addiction in our lives. Caffeine, sugar, and alcohol are all examples of things that can become objects of faith and trust in our lives; things that become god’s to us. Refraining from the momentary benign use of any of these elements for a period of time reminds us that God alone is our hope and ability to journey through this life.
Third, food is a god in our culture and it is too often excused as being a necessity. Water too is a necessity but if we inhale it through our nostrils it will consume our lungs and we will drown; so too with food. A regular break from food (a day with even just water) can remind us that we need God our Father and can thrive on the gift of food at a fraction the rate we tend to eat it.
Fourth, I would encourage you to privately practice the spiritual disciplines (fasting, reading of scripture, giving, etc.) regularly throughout the year apart from anyone knowing. Your personal spiritual health will contribute greatly to the health of this local church.
I'm in this with you!
Caleb Widmer
